Storm

by Saniya. S. Kohari

  The irritating part was, when I tried to make her understand, there were still hours to go for the party, she stared at me as if doubtful whether I really was the one she gave birth to, and her actual baby had not been exchanged with some lazy ass couple in the hospital. HafreakingHa!

  It was merciless the way she kept nagging me all day, not allowing me to set one foot out to meet my friends, unless I agreed with her damned condition.

  The charcoal eyed, petite woman, that is my mother, sure has soft features and a lovely face, but only I know she has some inner supermom/mother hen power in her. Otherwise, how in the world could anyone had forced me into the task of shopping! Yes, it was because of her, I helplessly got my ass in a mall...for shopping. I hate shopping!

  It was torture...Sheer torture! Only things I loved about malls were the ice creams and the mouth-watering burgers, found in so many varieties in one place. Yum!

  The food court called me with seduction and I was gliding towards it, ready to melt in my ice cream. I could taste it on the tip of my tongue, before I had even reached it, and... Bang! I collided with a short, plum, cute looking, almost silver haired woman.

  She was circling around as if lost.

  Steadying her after the collision, I smiled,

  “Hi there!”

  I turned to leave for the aforementioned divine ice-cream call, but she held my hand with the sweetest unsure smile I had ever seen,

  “Dear, if you aren’t in a hurry, could you please help me pick out a present for my Grandson?”

  “For his birthday...?”

  “No. I just haven’t given him anything in a while and I would like to.” she chuckled, unable to find words to explain.

  I did not need words. I was spellbound.

  “Wow! You give your Grandson presents for no reason?”

  She just shrugged,

  “He is a wonderful kid. I’m lucky to have him.”

  “You should be a teacher. Give such gifting guidance to my family.” I murmured in bewilderment.

  On second thoughts, what if on her teachings they make me her version of a good kid, like her freaking Grandson?! Hell no!

  Quickly I added,

  “Actually give only this guidance to everyone around me...my friends, parents, cousins.”

  She nodded, chuckling softly.

  “You are great by the way. I’m a fan.” I told her controlling my glee.

  Gifts for no reason...Wow!

  I was in another world when she shook me a little. She was still staring at me, waiting in anticipation for the answer.

  Can I say no?

  “Oh yeah, of course I’ll help you.” I assured her while thinking, ‘here melts my ice-cream dream.’

  I took her around a few male product stores. Those that sell useless gadgets, male accessories, clothes and what not’s. All full of testosterone energy, flushing my skin nicely, if you know what I mean.

  “So your Grandson is a...?” I left the question hanging in the air.

  I wanted to be sure that we were talking about a man and not a boy here. Not just because it would have poured cold water over my hot and bothered flush, but also as I wanted to know if I should be taking her to the kids section.

  “He is a thirty year old, very handsome, and charming guy.” The silver haired woman said with a smug smile.

  “Uh-hun... That is not gonna work.” I nodded, giving her a look that, I do not buy it.

  Smugness gone, she tried to reassure me; he was the next best thing to chocolate-chipped cake.

  I stopped her in time and explained patiently,

  “Look Gran.”

  To make sure, she was not crazy-about-her-age thingy kind of women, I asked,

  “I can call you Gran, right? Because though you still look like a catch...” I winked and she blushed.

  Giggling at her, I went on,

  “You see, some of your age just happens to show and I have manners. Besides, I play for the other time.” I gave her a wink, “Not to worry!”

  I don’t think she understood my last sentence. She looked adorably confused.

  So I got to the point,

  “As I was about to say, I can't just accept your word that he is charming, unless he can entrance me with his charm. Not everyone can do that. You call him charming, because that’s your job. He is your Grandson; you would say nice things about him even if he has a personality of drying paint.”

  She considered it seriously and gave me an impressed look,

  “I have to agree on that. Nobody would accept that their son or daughter has even a slightest bit of wrongness about them.”

  I nodded supplying,

  “Even if they are fifty shades of wrong! Yes.”

  She got puzzled.

  I went on excitedly,

  “Have you read Fifty Shades of Grey? I'm yet to read the final part though.”

  She bunched her eyebrows and I gave her a once over...Granny shoes, Granny cardigan, Granny slacks, Granny hair.

  I patted her shoulder with a slight smile,

  “Probably not.”

  I moved her along, as we decided to check out the suit options after rejecting everything else available.

  “But trust me he is a very handsome man.” Gran told me when we tried to explain the salesperson what exactly we were looking for.

  “Gran, handsome is an old English word. Most people use it as a courtesy rather than a compliment. Just so the guy does not feel bad about himself.” I muttered carelessly as I checked out one dinner jacket after another.

  The salesperson stared at me with mouth hung open.

  I ignored him. He probably did not agree with my view. Therefore, I did not give shit about his reaction.

  That’s what I do when someone does not agree with me. I mean, c’mon! I cannot keep knocking sense in the idiots of the world. Please!

  Gran on the other hand, was on my wavelength. We had become sort of friends.

  Therefore, when the salesperson showed her a boring brown suit, she made a nice disgusted face saying,

  “My Grandson is a good-looking man. This is too dull.”

  She turned to me hopefully for my reaction. I nodded, but still gave her a piece of advice, “Good-looking is old news. My Grandpa is good-looking.”

  Is she still married? If not, she could be a nice fit for Grandpa.

  I cannot really ask her straight out, can I?

  Well, maybe some other day...

  Clearing my throat I went on,

  “So as I was saying, forget good-looking. Is your Grandson sexy?”

  Gran nodded enthusiastically,

  “He is smoking hot.”

  I was impressed.

  She turned to the salesperson saying in a smug tone,

  “Get me something worth his heat.”

  Whoa!

  “Now that is what I'm talking about, Miss Badass!” I threw my arm around her shoulders and she blushed like a beetroot.

  That is how we bagged a flashy tailor-made, sexy as hell black blazer.

  “Sweetheart, you really are wise for your age.” Gran checked me out with a sweet smile and a meaningful gleam in her eyes, as we searched a dress for me.

  I knew that look. Adults got it when they had marriage on mind, stars in the eyes. Yeah, she wanted to hook me up with her Grandson. That was not going to happen. Nah!

  Immediately, I tried to hide my real age in case she guessed it,

  “Oh it’s just my face. It looks younger. Although, I’m not a baby, everyone thinks I am. In fact, I’m smart and mature. Yeah, very maturely...mature.” Now I understood I was rambling, as she got a knowing amused look on.

  While I tried on dress after dress she and I had picked together, she said casually,

  “You should have come here with a guy. A man knows best what would go well on a girl. Just like, you chose the best thing for my Grandson. Because a girl knows best what would look good on a man.”

  Again, Grandson...

  Nonethel
ess, I tried warding him off by making a joke of it, winking at her,

  “Because they’ll have to bear it, if it’s too sour on the eyes?”

  “Exactly!” She giggled like a teenager.

  As we chose a black classy number for me, and made our way out of the store, she went on smoothly,

  “So you surely have a boyfriend of course. Why didn’t you come with him?”

  That is it. She wants to know if I am single, ready to mingle with her pain-in-my-head Grandson.

  “I like to pick my own clothes.” I answered safe and final with no space for further questioning.

  We were walking towards the exit of the mall, when I stopped her unable to bear it anymore and stated in a serious voice,

  “Let’s go back upstairs to the food court.”

  She became confused, and shook her head saying softly,

  “Honey, I think we must get going. The weather is bad as it is and looks like it’s about to rain. You have to get ready for the party as well, right?”

  ‘When does it not rain in Seattle?!’ I rolled my eyes, thinking to myself.

  Though I had to accept, she was right; it was wierd seeing that it had been sunny all day, until now all of a sudden it turned windy like anything. Not a speck of sunshine in the sky...God surely was planning something!

  “Oh forget the party! The evening is still young. When they say late evening, it is actually going to start late at night by all standards. You have to have an ice cream with me.”

  She gave me a puzzled look.

  “Uh...to...uh...” I tried like hell to come up with the perfect excuse and got it, “To mark this first meet of ours?” I grinned, patting myself on the back.

  “Dear, I can't. In this weather I’ll get a sour throat.” she stared at me apologetically.

  Damn, old people! I'm never getting old.

  “How about a burger? Malls are God-sent wonders where you get all kinds of burgers, from all the brands at one place. You have to join me for a bite. I’ll have an ice-cream and you can have a hot sizzling burger to protect your throat.” I smiled proudly, seeing that I had successfully tempted her.

  She seemed to be on the verge of accepting, so I nudged her in a friendly way, “C'mon...In this weather something fried and hot will taste even better.”

  She smiled and nodded, opening her mouth to say the word of acceptance. But, her phone rang before I could tag her in.

  It was the freaking Grandson! Apparently, he had called to inform her, he has come to pick her up. Was in the parking lot and currently walking towards the mall's entrance, where we stood.

  “He worries a lot about me. He had come to drop me here and now is worried sick, as to why I haven’t called to ask him for picking me back.” Gran smiled lovingly, shaking her head in adoration for him.

  Yeah, yeah...Pardon me if I find him anything but nice right now.

  I was getting late. I had to get ready for the party. In addition, I was this close to my ice cream before he tanked it!

  Gran then went on to insist how about they give me a lift in their car, if I was without a ride.

  Now I could not really tell her I still did not know how to drive. The only lame senior in my class probably.

  Other then ruining my image in her eyes, this fact would make her doubts clear about my young age. I had to keep the farce up, act mature and stuff. Make her believe I was elder then her Grandson, so as not to be forcefully stuck in his company. Because I was still not sure, if he really was smoking hot or she just made that up. Nonetheless, ice cream trumps hot guy.

  “I have a car. And I drive all the time.” I told her with full attitude.

  Drive all the time! Seriously Sani?!

  “I mean for work stuff. I work tirelessly. Yeah...” I nodded more to myself than her, who was hanging on to my every word.

  “So...umm...You stay tight here till he arrives and I’ll go back in, to buy something I had totally forgotten about earlier.” I made it up so she does not think I had this weakness for ice cream.

  “At least meet him dear. He will be here any moment. Had it not been for you, I could have never found such a perfect jacket for him.”

  I helped her to the door of the mall, where he was going to come for her.

  Shaking my head, I apologized,

  “I'm so sorry, but that will delay things. I have to rush, as I need to reach home on time to get ready. Therefore, I cannot stay. I have to go in there again; you know to...uh...purchase this work stuff. Tell him I said bye!”

  What else was I supposed to say for a stranger?!

  With that, I flew! Literally flew to the heavenly ice cream. It was my much-needed poison to go through with the rest of the evening, which I knew would be boring as hell, with guests throwing fake smiles and cooing over the bride and groom, they might not give two shits about later on.

  I reached Zee's place soon enough, having filled myself with ice cream and my hands with dress, accessories and of course strawberry smoothies for Zee and Umber as a buttering apology for being late.

  Umber had called up earlier to tell me, now that I was about to make them unbearably late, I should get my ass directly at Zee's, where we could get ready and save the time for him having to come pick us up for the party.

  It worked both ways, saving me from Mom's lecture.

  Two hours later-

  “Stop being a girl and get the hell down Zee. I’ll pat you with some cream in the car, if you’re that desperate to make your skin glow. Let’s go already!” I yelled from his hallway.

  I was still in his house, regretting to have asked him for a ride, since we were going to the same party. He had a habit of taking too much time to get ready. I should have known better.

  I knew what he would say; c’mon, the night is still young!

  Well, the night was young, now it had turned freaking cougar like old.

  Zidaan Kaazi, eight years elder than me, usually fun to be around and since he almost agreed on just about everything with me, I had to love him. But at times like these, my love went out of his beautiful French windows just like my patience.

  “I don't dress up! It’s just that some of us have work to do, rather than simply enjoying college. So I was taking a shower after a tiring day.” Zee came down the stairs towards me.

  Looking dapper in a grey suit, his eyes gleamed with mischief, as he smirked at me. While, his brown puff of hair that usually fell on his forehead giving him a boyish look, were jelled sideways this time in classy perfection.

  “It’s my final year of college and it has started just two weeks ago. What else do you expect me to do if not have a little fun?” I threw my hands in the air at his indirect hit.

  Zee nodded in understanding with a sombre look on his face,

  “Right...Because after graduation you’ll have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

  “Ass!” I gritted my teeth and turned my face away, crossing my arms so tight as if I was not going to uncross them for life.

  Now do you see why he annoys me? When it is about me, he often tends to lose his chilled out attitude and become overprotective, all mature kind of guy. As if, I was born yesterday. Hah!

  Leaning close to my face, Zee whispered,

  “Nonetheless, I won't mind your foundation cream or whatever it is Sani. If it could make my shaved cheeks even shinier and desirable. You know, just in case some girl takes a liking for them in the party and wants to kiss?”

  I rolled my eyes and he winked at me, tapping my nose. I could not help but chuckle, loosening my arms. I may not like him all the time, but I had to love him. After all, he was my best friend.

  “Sani, I'm ready to leave!” Umber shouted cheerfully as she hastened towards us in high heels.

  She was my second best friend after Zee.

  “Yeah, right. Because we were waiting for you with bated breathes.” Zee muttered, rolling his eyes at her.

  She ignored him, and started checking herself in the little mirror, whi
ch she had pulled out from her clutch. Zee sighed in tiredness beside me. To be frank, I was on the verge of it too, since she was trying to touch-up her perfectly dressed self...Again!

  Although not a hair was out of place, which she had bunched up above her neck in some kind of do, I never like to try on mine. She has silky straight mid brown hair, while I’m blessed with jet-black, not at all straight but wavy, with soft curls at the tips, which I always have to manage. Her peach coloured gown looked beautiful on her very slim figure.

  Unlike Umber, I had gone for the non-girly, non-cute look, wearing a black floor-length gown. As I knew, black always goes perfectly with my creamy complexion. The gown had a round collared sheer neck. The dress fitted me like a glove, on all the right places of my curvaceous figure. From the waist down it was smooth and fell like a skirt, making me look subtle yet classy. I had left my hair open to tumble down my shoulders in soft waves. With shiny black stone studs in my ears and a white gold bracelet jiggling in my hand, nude gloss on my lips and smoky eyes. I was ready.

  This party though not that important occasion for us, still on Umber's insistence we had gone to the beauty salon for our hair, facial and other skin polishing kind of things done.

  God save me, even after being dried and sucked off all the money, Umber was not yet satisfied!

  Getting impatient, I glued a radiant smile on my face saying,

  “You look more than pretty. Mission accomplished!”

  I gave her thumbs up and she smiled gleefully in excitement, finally putting the mirror back in her clutch.

  Her black eyes softened, seeing us ready after her fair warnings to be on time. We were going to a family friend’s wedding reception and as always, Umber was a bubble of excitement when it came to wedding parties. Me? I do not like such show-off kind of things. I just went to eat delicacies I know I would not have to pay for, and a nice bitching session with Umber about anyone we found, thoroughly bitchy!

  We left the house, and I was just about to open the front passenger door of Zee's car to get inside, when he grabbed my wrist, making me turn.

  I raised my eyebrows confused.

  Jerking his chin towards me, he said softly,