CHAPTER TWO

It was his fourth day taking tuition from Amjad Kaif. He reached earlier from the given time because he wanted to say something to her, considering she was also waiting for it.

“Can I ask your name, Mrs.?”

“Yes, you can ask.”

She said in a tone like making fun of him.

“What’s your name?”

“Azra, you should have asked on first day. So, why you came early today?”

She said this time with her stiff looking tone.

“I just wanted to talk to you.”

“Yes I can guess it easily! I can see that you always stare at me like a fool teen ager. I think you came from a small village and never saw a woman before.”

“You’re right somehow,” he said sipping his tea, “I belong to a small city and I never saw such a beautiful woman, likes you.”

She erected her nose a bit in a sniffing manner, considering him below her stature or at least just showed him the value of his recent comment.

“So, you’re trying to flirt with the wife of your teacher? You cheap, tart villager! Don’t you think it’s improper or even indecent?”

“I don’t think so and…”

“Just shut up and remain in the room until he comes.”

She left the room quickly. He never anticipated her reaction could be that harsh. When his teacher arrived he was reading a book taken from his teacher’s bookshelf.

“Young man, just wait for few minutes.”

“Fine, sir! I think today again the traffic jam?”

“Yes, you’re right, my boy!”

His teacher seemed tired with dull spirits and had even forgotten his rhetoric style.

“What’s happened, young man? You’re not taking interest in the subject.”

His teacher said after drinking a glass of water, feeling much relieved now.

“I think I should leave the idea.”

“You’re so whimsical, Wajahat. Take time for your future plans. The professional decisions are much important than the personal life. Even the personal life is based upon such decisions. Understood, young man?”

“Somehow!”

“I think we should finish today’s class and have tea.”

“No sir, I think I should leave now, and take rest.”

“As you wish, boy!”

He said and soon left his teacher house. At night when he went to bed he was recalling her insulting words.

‘Azra, beautiful and bold, but she’s right I was also impolite.’

He murmured in a dreamy state thinking all about her. Soon he was asleep. Even in his dreams she was teasing him. He was running after her like a doting lover.

The next day he arrived again earlier and now could see her reaction was visible by her stiff facial expressions.

“Wajahat, don’t you think you shouldn’t come before your teacher.”

She seemed much stiff than ever.

“Azra, I just shared my true feelings with you.”

“Fine, what about me? I also shared the truth.”

“But the truth is you’re a most beautiful woman I ever saw. I don’t say that other people never saw beauty but really, believe in me, I never saw such a ripe beauty like you.”

“What, a ripe beauty? You idiot!”

She seemed infuriated by his plain comment.

“I mean a mature but most killing beauty.”

“You’re a complete rascal. Just leave my house.”

“Just listen, Azra.”

He stood and walked towards the door quickly.

“Just leave, my house!”

She seemed in much angry tone.

“Ok, I am leaving. Don’t mind!”

He left her house at once. When he reached at his house he received his teacher’s call.

“What happened, young man? Absent today!”

“Oh yes, I forgot to tell you.”

“What about taking admission in the university?”

“The idea seems not working. I’ve to give it up now.”

“Why, young man? In just five days you gave up your aim.”

“No sir, actually I realized that it would be impossible to reach at five PM in the English campus of the university. I’ve to stay at my department until five thirty.”

“So you should think about it before.”

“I’ll give you the month fees.”

“O, you fool! You think I am worry about it?”

“No sir, I am little tired now.”

“Fine, then take rest. Visit me when you’re fresh.”

“Thank you, sir!”

He cut the phone quickly.

After two days he received a call from an unknown number in the night.

“Hello!”

“Hello! Wajahat talking?”

“Yes, who’re you?”

“I am, Azra!”

“Oh Azra, thank you!”

“Thank you, for what?”

“Then, sorry.”

“You’re, just leave it. I called to tell you that you can come.”

“No Azra, actually it’s not you but I think I am.”

“I know it’s me. I am sorry if you felt that bad.”

“It’s fine, Azra. I know I’ve traces of simple life. Still I think you’re something so beautiful.”

“When you say it I feel I should slap on your face.”

“You can. I’ll consider it just an indication of love.”

“Poor and idiot. I just want to meet you. When you’re visiting your teacher?”

“Why not meet at any coffee house?”

“No, I don’t think it’s good. What you think I am your girl friend?”

“Then why you called me?”

“Just to tell you that you’re an idiot and also, a rascal.”

She cut the phone.

After a few days he just sent an SMS to her as: If I did anything right in my life, it was when I gave my heart to you.

He received an SMS by her as: You’re proving again a rascal. If you persist, I’ll tell your teacher.

He sent another SMS: You stole my heart but I’ll let you keep it.

This time he did not receive her reply. On Saturday evening he received her call.

“So you want to meet me, Wajahat?”

“Yes, but your tone indicates that you’re in a revenge mood.”

She chuckled on the phone. He wished he could see her in such mood.

“No, rather I am amazed by your thousands times used love quotes. Why you sent me such cheap things?”

“Just tried to impress you, for a love I’ve for you in my heart.”

She chuckled again. He felt like her sweet voice was spreading honey in his ears.

“Again, choosing wrong and cheap words. Poor boy! I can anticipate this as you’re a younger and a poor fool villager.”

“No, ma’am, I am twenty-eight. I am in this city since I was a fourteen years old boy.”

“You still seem a boy but just leave it. I also want to meet you.”

“In your house to slap on my face? Tell your husband about me?”

“No idiot! Little cheap rascal! Just to listen the right thing and guess whether you’re trying to flirt me or…”

“It means you’ve also tender feelings for me?”

“Idiot and much dull fellow!”

“You can add more words but just accept my love.”

“First you’ve to show your foolish, dunce, asshole face.”

This time he chuckled. She smiled after hearing it.

“So what about tomorrow evening at six PM at any cozy coffee house.”

“Ok, done. You know a good place near by my house?”

“Yes I know. I’ll tell you the exact location tomorrow.”

“Ok, bye!”

She cut the phone.

The next day they were sitting in Sunny Coffee. She knew about the place though she had different plans for him.

“So, this is the place you think is good for discussion?”

“Yes, I think so.”

He said looking at her with an innocent smile.

“Now, don’t look like a clown. Say what you want to say.”

“You’re much bold than I expected. I just want to say that…”

He just paused while looking into her green penetrating and steady eyes.

“Yes, you can say anything you want. Today I’ll not slap on your face. It can be on any other day.”

“I just want to say that you’re the most beautiful and graceful woman.”

He was trying to choose proper words.

“You’ve ever saw, then what? Again with such old love quotes. I am bored with it. These are thousands times repeated in our daily soaps. Say something different. Just answer me why you stare at me all the time whenever I came to Amjad’s study? And also what’s the beauty in your own words? Don’t use and utter any word like those trite love quotes.”

“In short you really stunned me. My wits are gone whenever you’re nearer to me. I am a confident man but your ripe beauty…”

“Stupid, nincompoop!”

“Sorry, but you’re no longer younger.”

“You’re a cheap and tart villager. Poor man!”

“You said that you wouldn’t get angry and now.”

“Fine, just have the coffee.”

She said and took a deep sigh feeling him a poor villager who could not tell in proper words what was running in his brain. They both sipped the coffee silently while she was looking around to calm herself.

“So you think I am ripe, means finished?”

She said after a while.

“No, you understood it wrong. I mean you’re a full and complete beauty now. Not an inexperience young and fool beauty any longer.”

“Hmm, lustful filthy man! So whether this is a favor or bad compliment?”

“I think a praising.”

“Say all and don’t be shy like a poor villager.”

“Yes, now you understand. I mean that like a wise experience person. Your wits and your beauty have reached to the peak.”

“Thank you but still confusing. No lover praise like that.”

“Then I would use those trites. What you said?”

“Yes, trite, not trites. The word or phrase no longer fresh or original. Love quotes and also, fools like you, are always abundant to find.”

“Still, you thanked me.”

“Yes, just because I want to hear the real motive.”

“Believe in me I’ve no motive. I was even not thinking about any woman for marriage now. But when you came out of your house I got lost my heart all my senses.”

“Hmm, hmm, poor boy. Useless old fashioned trite.”

“So you don’t believe in me?”

“Yes, because I am not that poor thing. I am not a fool young girl.”

She said in angry tone and stood quickly to leave the coffee house. He paid the bill immediately and followed her.

“Just listen, Azra! I just want to say something.”

“Now what?”

“I just want to say that, just come in the corner.”

She felt him serious and stopped. They came in the corner of busy road occupied footpath.

“Now what, say it quick?”

“I really like you and if you want a real reason or motive then listen,” he stopped and looked around, then quickly concluded his views in low voice, “Your ripe and plumper body and your bigger boobs; your bigger things behind really seduces me. I always dreamt a woman likes you.”

She just smiled and walked towards the road. She waved her hand quickly towards a passing empty cab. The cab stopped near her. Soon she disappeared from his sight.

“Wow, what a beauty to watch, while walking fast!”

He said again in a low voice and took a deep breath walking towards the road to stop a cab for him.