Then Again

Chapter 8 - Sikander

The scent of her light jasmine flower perfume was intoxicating me as I stood behind Sahar, trying my best to remember what exactly I was doing standing at a McDonald's counter. The mere presence of her for the last hour had me in utter confusion. Where was I going? What was I doing? Nothing made sense anymore. All I felt was this numbing joy in me. The kind of happiness that makes you immune anything negative. When she first told me that she hasn't indulged in the simplest pleasure in life like eating a burger, I felt the slight hint of loneliness in her voice. It was subtle, but surely there. At that very moment, I wanted to tell her she wasn't lonely anymore, that even the smallest of joys will come true, that I would do anything for her.

Calm down there now macho man. No need to get all lovey-dovey on one girl that gives you the puppy eyes. You know how women are. It always starts with something very small, like I never petted a dog. Sooner or later it ends with I never went to Barbados and danced in white sand beaches. Women always want something, anything they can touch – and love ain't one of those things. Today this Sahar says burgers and a week from now it will be I never went to a nightclub, and a month later it will be I never was on a yacht. So come down Sikander, my man, take it easy. No need to pronounce your sonnet of love standing at the counter of McDonald's.

I wanted to tell myself that she was different. But I didn't have the courage to it a thought. Maybe the inner meticulous and pessimist Sikander was right. Maybe Sahar was just like every other woman I met – greedy and soulless. But everything I have seen about her and know about her thus far was the total opposite of what I was thinking.

"Uh-um, sir, your order please", the gentleman at the cash register looked at me and was waiting. I had completely forgotten that I brought Sahar here for a quick bite to eat. I looked at the menu items that were pictured in this overhead display. Sahar was standing in front of me rummaging through that huge rucksack of hers. I didn't understand why she brought that awful looking thing around. Most women I knew opted for high-end branded tiny purses, small enough only for loose change, and this woman here chose functionalism over fashion again. As she was rummaging the Mary Poppins's sized bag her tiny little elbow jutted into my stomach. I hardly felt the blow, comparatively, Sahar was an ant standing next to an elephant. But that slightest of touch sent shivers up my spine. It tingled all the way up to my neck. With that slightest of touch, I forgot what I was saying to the counter guy.

"Ummm, yes and large nuggets, and an Oreo McFlurry, and I'll have a double cheeseburger, umm and, I'll have the large fries, oh and the McRoyale large. And...that's it", I was trying to go as slow as possible because that little elbow of hers against my back was setting me into a feeding frenzy. I was slowly becoming a shark that smelt its prey's blood.

"Sir your total is 4,582 rupees", the cashier was printing out our receipt when I realized I had ordered a shit ton of food.

"Wait! Make it separate!", Sahar all of a sudden screamed.

"Excuse me Ma'am?", the cashier was utterly confused and a little irritated as we were holding up the line now.

"So, my order that I ordered make a separate receipt for it, and this guy will pay for it. And everything he orders make a separate receipt and I'll pay for it", Sahar was looking at the cashier now pocketbook in hand, determined to get her way.

"Sahar, we're already holding up the line, we can sort it out later".

"AH-NO! We had an agreement", she was gesturing to the cashier to get on with it. "Come on, get on with it".

The cashier looked at me and then looked at Sahar, then back at me and smile.

"Okay, Ma'am, if you say so. The total amount for the sir's order is 3,920 rupees with tax", Sahar was left baffled, he mouth fell wide open hearing that amount being paid for a single person. But then again, I did order enough food for a group of four, although I'm sure it would be very little for me. I smiled down at Sahar while she pulled out her debit card to pay the cashier.