Bangladeshi Teenagers

Chapter: 21 ■| Alisha & more |■

Unedited: 

I'm sitting in the front seat of our premio, with Alisha and mom in the back seat and Ishfar bhaiya on my right, driving. Yasir made up some excuse about feeling nausea and stayed back at home.I'm so jealous of him, I wish I could switch places.

Well that's because the people I'm with now, are suffocating me to bits.I absolutely hate two of them, and love the other one to infinity, who's innocent enough to forgive her insolent daughter. Their laughter over random things makes me cringe.I mean it, cringeeee!

"Hey Aha, Do you know where we're going?" Ishfar bhaiya asked with a smiling face. I could feel mom smiling behind me, maybe she doesn't know I'll never be normal around them. Or maybe she knows, still tries. 

Oh mom, you know everything, then why? Why are you so good?

I wanted to shout it at her, but instead I reply to Ishfar bhaiya, "No bhaiya, I don't know."

I'm scared I may have sounded rude, because I  had replied with a stern voice, with absolutely no expression on my face. Ishfar bhaiya looked back at Alisha apu, and thanks to the window glass, I could see Alisha apu wave her hand and mouthing something like "It's okay."

I wanted to break the window glass.

Instead I looked at Ishfar bhaiya with a random expression. It wasn't a smiling face, but wasn't rude either.I asked, "Where are we going anyways?"

Alisha smiled and answered from behind, ' Ahallya, we're going to Gloria Jeans for an evening coffee."

Mom and Alisha both smile as I turn back.I control myself from using a curse word at Alisha, because mom was there and this was the first pleasant evening we've shared in years, and I shouldn't let my stupid ego destroy it. From the conversation they're having behind, I get to know that Alisha had informed about their arrival one month ago and mom kept it a secret as she wanted to surprise us. Wow mom!!

I keep quiet for the rest of the journey, and got down the car as we reached the cafe.It was already turning dark outside, and to be honest Dhaka city looked really different in the Gulshan area.The orange lights from the moving cars reminded me of Jessore. How I miss that city :(

*Dang*

My mobile knocked me back to reality, and it was a message from Ayaz.

Ayaz Ahmed, 5:59 pm.

:(

I smile at the message, a sad one.Usually he writes a paragraph for messages, but today he has just sent a sad smiley.

Ahallya Hassan, 6:01 pm

Ayaz, don't be sad. You only live once, right? :)

He replied after 2 minutes.

Ayaz Ahmed, 6:03 pm

Ahh, only if you understood :(

We had entered the cafeteria already at this point, so I turned off my mobile and decided to concentrate in present.No jessore, no Ayaz.

Alisha and mom kept on talking. Ishfar bhaiya was busy with phone, constantly chatting with someone. Who?  I  observed Alisha apu calling him twice, but he didn't hear. He was too busy. Was Alisha apu really happy with him??

"Alisha apu, try out the white chocolate coffee." I said, to distract her. 

Alisha apu stared at me, and looked as if she wanted to cry. This was the first thing I've said to her in 3 years, except pleasantaries. Mom smiled, and I smiled back. Ishfar bhaiya also looked up from his phone, surprised at my normal behaviour. He smiled too, and I don't know why, I smiled too. I felt normal for the first time in years.

Next 10 minutes was fun. Alisha apu and mom started to plan for a family trip to India the coming april, which makes it two months later. Ishfar bhaiya was still in his mobile, nodding every time mom said something, but I had a hint he didn't hear a thing. To check if I was right, I forced a smile in my face and asked, "Bhaiya, are we gonna go to chandigarh city?"

He looked surprised, "Chandigarh? Isn't it in India?"

"Yes," I smiled, "Mom and Alisha are planning to visit india this april." 

"Oh," He replied, but he didn't seem happy.He shot a look at Alisha, and suddenly she turned really silent. Mom couldn't get it, but I saw something in those eyes- Anger, dominance, hatred. I don't know why, but my heart froze.

He excused himself out of the cafe, and came back after like 30 minutes.

" Where were you?" Alisha asked.

"Just an important call." He just sounded like he was lying.

He went up and brought our BBQ sandwiches with white chocolate coffee. Alisha stretched out her hand to take the coffee in her hands, and I saw scars in her hand. I widened my eyes as I stared at those dark brown patches on her wrists, and also neck. I was sure those were.... ciggarette burns. Alisha had just caught me staring at them, and she immediately put her hand down. 

Oh my god.

Oh my god.

Okay Ahallya, don't freak out.

Oh my god.

At this point, somebody tapped my shoulders. I turned back and was totally surprised. Akash was standing with a smiling face, with ayaz on his left.

"Wassup? Didn't expect to see you here." Akash smiled. 

"Me too, Akash. And hello there, Ayaz." I waved at Ayaz.

He waved back, and offered salam to mom. Akash followed him. Mom smiled at both of them, she was exceptionally happy today.

"Guys join us, we have enough left in our plates." Mom offered them.

"No aunty, it's okay." Ayaz rejected her politely.

 I observed that, well, in some ways, he was more charming than Akash. And well behaved too. Just he had depression problems, something he never talks about.

"Guys, meet my sister Alisha, and my brother in law, Ishfar bhaiya." I said to both of them, and they turned their gaze to Alisha and Ishfar. 

And both of their faces turned blank. And then angry. I observed that they were both staring at Ishfar bhaiya. And well, Ishfar bhaiya's face had turned almost ash. In fear.

I shot a questioning look at them. They were still staring at bhaiya.

Akash's POV:

What the actual hell.

Hell.

This man is Ahallya's brother in law. And the girl beside him is his wife, which means it's Aha's sister. Then what the hell did we just see outside?

We came here half an hour earlier, but that stupid Ayaz forgot to bring his wallet. We waited while his driver went back to dhanmondi to bring his money bag. We were busy in slight chit-chat, just then this man, Ahallya's brother in law, stormed out of the cafe with his phone. We both stared at him as he went forward to wrap his arms around a girl's waist, who was wearing a Scicosso knee-length dress.

"Valentine's season going on." I laughed at Ayaz.

Ayaz laughed too, "You don't get to see such scenes frequently in dhaka. They don't even care that they are in public."

We couldn't hear much of their conversation. Just that girl mouthed "I love you," and got into a branded car. As soon as she went out of sight, that man stormed back into the cafe.He shot us a dirty look before he went in the cafe though, as we both were staring at them the whole time.

"Shit." Ayaz and I both said together. And laughed.

 We didn't know it was serious back then.

I need to explain to Ahallya that this man is a cheater.

And a trouble.