chapter 10

Chapter 10MishalI could not understand why Daniel had become so kind and welcoming toward me. Post the birthday party, he was trying to make a conscious effort to become friendly with me and initiate conversations. He followed me on Instagram the previous night and initiated a conversation with me when I was least expecting it. Following that chat, he started liking my every Instagram post, leaving appreciative and sometimes humorous comments underneath my posts. He also did not miss the chance to react to my Instagram stories. Why was he doing all of this? Was it because he was guilty of what he did? Or was it because he didn’t want me to tell about that incident to anyone else? Certainly, he could not be interested in me; he barely knew me. He barely remembered me. I knew he was into girls like Anna, who were sexy, beautiful, and classy. I stood nowhere in those categories, and I never had a problem with that. I was happy with who I was and where I was. My looks, my personality, and my financial status never bothered me. I had bigger dreams and bigger goals to achieve, and I could not do anything to jeopardize them. As far as my feelings for Daniel were concerned, I was happy to keep them only to myself. My love for him may have been unrequited and unexpressed, but it was enough for me. I did not want anything else. Some things are better if left unsaid. Sometimes, love is beautiful if left unreciprocated. Unrequited love is free from any obligation and judgment. As for me, I was not ready to be bound by any obligation and did not want anyone to pass judgment on my feelings. The next night, after dinner, Rayaan asked me to play Mario Kart game with him. I got a Nintendo Switch gaming console for him on his last birthday, and he absolutely loved it. Since then, he had started collecting different games. But his all-time favorite game was Mario because he enjoyed playing it with me.While I was too concerned about his increasing screen time, given the amount of time he spent in front of his gaming console, I made sure to set a time limit for him. He was only allowed to play video games for one hour every day of the week after I made sure he had completed his homework and finished his meals. As soon as his time limit exceeded one hour, I switched off the game no matter what he said or did. However, this schedule did not apply during weekends. He was allowed to play for more than an hour during weekends, whether it was playing video games or playing with his friends outside.  When our Mario Kart game ended, I instructed Rayaan to take a glass of milk and then go to bed. He did as I said because I had obliged his request earlier. He had no reason to disobey my command. Before heading to my room upstairs, I went in to see Amma in her room, holding a mug of tea in my hands. She was watching a sitcom on YouTube on her mobile phone. I decided not to disturb her because she seemed engrossed in the sitcom. Standing in the doorway with my eyes on her, I took a few steps backward and started to walk away. ‘Mishi, where are you going?’ Amma’s voice made me stop short in my tracks. ‘I’m going to my room,’ I told her. ‘Are you going to sleep?’ she asked, looking at me from her mobile screen. ‘Not now. I’ve got some work to do.’‘Acha, listen. Do not forget to fill up the water pots for birds before you go to bed. Okay?’‘Don't worry, Amma. I’ll handle it. Goodnight.’‘Goodnight, beta.’Growing up, I had always seen Amma keeping water and food pots for birds in different areas of our house. She kept the pots in the garage as well as our terrace. It had become a routine to fill up the pots with water and food every day so that the birds wouldn’t go hungry from our place. As soon as I walked into my room, I took off my clothes and changed into an oversized t-shirt and PJs. There was nothing like wearing your comfort clothes. Out of habit, I pulled my hair into a bun and wore spectacles before I walked outside into the balcony. Brownie was already in the room, resting on the bed, watching me. The first thing I wanted to check was whether or not he was on his side of the terrace. Apparently, he wasn’t. I did not know if I was glad or disappointed by not seeing him on the terrace. Shaking my head, I started to fill the pots with water from the water bottle.  ‘You do this to feed the birds, right?’ I heard a warm, familiar voice from a distance. I stopped midway, realizing it was him. Did he come to the terrace just now, or was he already there, and I failed to notice him? Slowly, I set the bottle on the ground and turned my head to look at him. He waved at me as soon as our eyes met. Clad in a casual light grey t-shirt and black PJs, he looked hot. ‘Wasn’t stalking on social media enough that you started stalking me here as well?’ I raised a brow at him, standing with arms akimbo.  He chuckled, resting his arms on the wall that connected our balconies. ‘I’m not stalkin’ ya here.’‘But you are stalking me on social media all the time.’‘I’m followin’ you there, not stalkin’ you. There’s a difference, mate,’ he clarified with a smile. That dimpled smile made my heart skip a beat. Before that lightheaded look on my face became apparent, I shook my head lightly and picked up the bottle to fill up the rest of the water pots. ‘So, what is it that you’re doin’ at this time?’ he asked. I wish I could tell him I was waiting for him. But I could not. ‘Why do you ask questions that you know already the answers to?’‘Oh?’ He made a surprised face, and I didn’t miss it. ‘Is it for the birds?’I nodded. ‘Yes, I’m filling up these pots for the birds.’‘Sweet,’ he said, grinning. ‘Yes, it is.’ I set the bottle on the ground and looked back at him. ‘So, did ya think about what I said?’I pulled up my brows in confusion. ‘Think about what?’‘About what I said,’ he simplified in a deadpan voice. I frowned. ‘What did you say?’He stifled a laugh. ‘Don’t be annoyed. It’s cool.’‘No,’ I scowled. ‘Tell me, what did you say?’He crossed his arms across his chest. ‘Alright, if you insist.’I waited.Uncrossing his arms, he leaned his arms on the wall again. ‘Someone fixed your car stereo the other day. Does he get anything in return?’I sighed. ‘Oh, God. Are you still stuck on that thing?’He pouted. ‘What thing, mate?’‘The treat that you were asking for?’‘Well. I did not ask for a treat explicitly, but it’s okay if you wanna talk about it.’ He beamed.  ‘You’re not gonna stop unless I do something for you in return, right?’‘No,’ he continued grinning. ‘Okay. Here’s the deal,’ I started explaining. ‘I can offer you something in return but in my own way, and you can’t get to turn it down.’He contemplated. ‘What does that mean?’‘It means I can choose the way I want to return the favor, and you won’t have a problem with it.’‘But what if I don’t like it?’‘As I said, you don’t get to turn it down.’‘That’s disappointin’, mate.’ He made a face. ‘So, is it a deal or no deal?’He pulled up his brows. ‘Uh…’I waited for his response.‘Yep, okay. Deal.’I clapped my hands in excitement. ‘Great!’‘When do ya plan to surprise me then, neighbor?’Neighbor or mate? Who was I to him? He needs to decide that first. ‘Tomorrow.’ I smiled at him. ‘Whoah. Sounds fun. I’m excited. Like really really excited.’‘You should be,’ I retorted. Brownie rubbed on my foot and I picked her up from the ground. ‘Your cat is cute.’I made a scowling face. ‘Don’t call her a cat. She has a name.’He raised a brow. ‘And that is?’‘Brownie.’‘Sweet.’ He smiled. I smiled back at him and turned around to go back inside my room. ‘Hey, wait, neighbor! Brownie!’ he called out. I turned around to look at him. ‘What now, Daniel?’ He smiled. ‘Can I have your number?’‘What?’ I was surprised yet again. This boy was full of surprises.  He raised his brows in anticipation. ‘I’m sorry, but this is not your place to decide. I am going to return the favor in my way, remember?’He pursed his lips in disappointment and then looked away with a nod. I could not help but smile at his expression. ‘Goodnight, Daniel.’He looked back at me. ‘Goodnight, neighbor. Goodnight, Brownie.’DanielEver since Mishal agreed to return something to me as a favor for fixing her car stereo, I couldn’t help but wait for her next move. Meanwhile, Mum and her family had decided to go and get the Covid-19 vaccine shot. I was sitting in the lounge, watching a football match. After the match ended, I got off the couch and came back to my room. Putting the AirPods in my ears, I started listening to some of my favorite tracks, one of them from Pink Floyd, and closed my eyes while resting my head against the headboard. Mum tapped the door of my room to grab my attention. ‘May I come in?’Pulling the AirPods off my ears, I nodded at her and then paused the song I was listening to. ‘Why did you come upstairs all of a sudden?’ she asked as she sat on the edge of the bed. I sat straight on the bed, giving her a nonchalant look. ‘Just like that. Nothing serious.’‘We’re all going to get the vaccine shot. Don’t you want to come with us?’‘No, Mum. I’m fine at home.’‘But what about your vaccine shot?’ A concerned expression crossed her face. ‘I’d get my shot from Australia. I don’t need to get it here.’‘What if you can’t travel back if you’re not vaccinated?’ I shook my head. ‘No such rule applies to the Australian citizens. I can go back whenever I want, vaccinated or not.’‘Are you sure?’I stifled a laugh. ‘Of course, Mum. I know what I’m doin’. I’m no kid.’She shook her head in disbelief. ‘As you say so.’ She stood on her feet, looking at me again. ‘There’s dinner in the fridge. You can have it whenever you’re hungry. Okay?’‘Sure, Mum. I will, thanks.’‘See you then.’ Mum made an exit from my room, leaving me behind alone. I wallowed in my self-pity once I realized I was home alone. Being alone in a huge house like the one I resided in felt liberating. It felt like I had the entire place to myself. I knew this feeling was fleeting, and I would have to come back to reality sooner, but I didn’t care. I went downstairs and walked into the kitchen as I had started becoming slightly hungry. I opened the fridge only to find out the white sauce pasta made by Mum. It seemed like this family loved eating Italian food. Despite being a fan of Italian cuisine, I did not eat the pasta. I just didn’t feel like it. I missed eating Australian cuisine, and unfortunately, I could not find any of my favorite dishes in Pakistan. I looked inside the fridge to find something else to eat, but there wasn’t anything. I fished the cigarette pack from my jean pocket and lit one. Just then, the sound of the doorbell grabbed my attention. Without having any slightest idea who could be on the door, I made my out of the kitchen and down the hallway to unlock the front door, taking a long drag from the cigarette. To my luck, it was Mishal standing on the door, holding a plate in her hands. ‘Hey, neighbor, how are ya goin’? I asked, a huge grin on my face. She squinted at me and fixated her eyes on my lips. I caught her stare and knew she was looking at the cigarette. I took the cigarette away from my mouth. ‘What?’ I asked her.‘Can you please not smoke in front of me?’ she requested. ‘Sure.’ I threw the cigarette away. ‘Happy now?’‘First, you decide how you are going to address me. Would you address me as mate or neighbor?’‘Does that matter?’ I chuckled. She made a thoughtful face. ‘Um, no, it doesn’t, really.’I chuckled once more. ‘What’s that in your hands?’She looked at the plate and then handed it to me. ‘Oh. I brought this for you.’‘Really? For me? Why?’ As I took the plate from her, our fingers almost touched. She froze for a few seconds as soon as that happened and then passed me an alarmed look. Before I could meet her eyes properly, she withdrew her hands immediately. Her face was flushed, and she looked away.  ‘Mishal?’ I called her out using her name.She turned to look at me again, the look of awkwardness still on her face. ‘Yes?’‘What’s this?’ I asked, fixing my eyes at the plate in my hands. ‘I made Chicken Parmigiana for you.’My mouth fell open in shock. ‘What?’‘What, what?’‘You made this for me?’ I double-checked to be sure. She nodded. ‘Yes, I did. This was my way of returning the favor to you.’ ‘No fuckin’ way!’‘Excuse me?’‘Sorry about that, but how did you know I was craving an Aussie dish a few minutes ago?’‘Were you?’‘Yes! I was!’ I exclaimed. She shrugged. ‘It must be a coincidence. I randomly checked for the most popular traditional foods eaten in Australia on Google, and I came across this dish. So I thought I should make it for you. Hope you’d like it.’‘Like it? I love it!’ I closed my eyes to inhale the aroma of the dish and then opened them again. ‘This smells so heavenly!’ ‘I hope it also tastes good.’‘I am sure it does.’She smiled nervously. ‘You’re a genius, mate.’ I gave her a quick flying kiss. She looked away, shaking her head, a shy smile plastered on her face. In an attempt to not make her feel whatever the way she was feeling, I changed the subject. ‘Uh, you wanna come inside?’She looked back into my eyes. ‘Um, no. I have to head back home.’I nodded slightly. ‘Sure. I’ll pass on your regards to Mum.’‘Um, okay, thanks.’‘You’re welcome.’She waved at me quickly. ‘Bye.’‘See you soon.’ I called out behind her as she made her way back to her house. I kept looking at her until she disappeared into her house. I was disappointed when she did not turn around to look back at me, but then I looked back at the plate I was holding, and I forgot everything. My stomach growled with hunger, and I did not want to think about anything else except Chicken Parmigiana. ***I was blown away by Mishal’s extraordinary cooking skills. It was like I had devoured the best Chicken Parmigiana of my life. I don’t think I’ve ever had such delicious and mouthwatering food, even back in Sydney. After putting the dish into the sink, I washed my hands and opened the Instagram app to text Mishal. You are mind-blowing, woman. I’m amazed by your cooking skills. So damn talented. After texting her, I headed back into my room. I turned on my laptop and started to browse new releases on Netflix. That night I felt like having a movie night. So I chose the movie I wanted to see and then changed it into my nightclothes. As I relaxed into my bed, I heard the sound of the gate opening and then the car pulling over the garage downstairs. Mum and her family were back. Ignoring them, I stuffed the AirPods into my ears, set the laptop on my lap, and hit the play button on Netflix. Before I could become engrossed in the movie, Mishal sent me a text on Instagram. I’m glad you liked what I made for you ☺ I smiled at her text and began typing another message for her. Daniel: Now that we are over with the previous deal, can we pass on to the next deal? Mishal: What’s the next deal?Daniel: Can I have your number?Mishal: Why do you need my number? Instagram messaging is the best place to communicate. Daniel: I’m not sayin’ it’s not. Mishal: Then why do you need my number?Daniel: Just to text you under circumstances where I don’t have access to the internet, and I can’t get to text you on Instagram. Mishal: Haha. You are so clever. Daniel: And, you are so reluctant to give me your number. *rolls eyes* She’d seen the message but did not reply. I took that as an opportunity to write another message for her. Daniel: Don’t worry, mate. I won’t leak your cell number. I won’t even text you or call you at odd times. I will delete your number whenever you ask me to. Mishal: Hahahaha.Daniel: I’m serious. I mean it. In the next message, she surprised me by sending her cell phone number. Ditching the Instagram app, I saved her number in my contacts and then sent her a new message on WhatsApp. Daniel: Thank you for the number, Michelle ;)Â