Hi everyone,
I hope you are well, and I guess this is the last story for the ‘Nothing Happened’ set. There are about four more, and this is the fifth so I think that is even for one little book.
I’m happy with this collection, because normally when I have ideas I let them cook in my head for a while, with some steam,spices,tarka,salt and sugar mixed in with time. But time I worked and wrote rather quickly and did the written as soon as the idea popped. I think I should do more often, alongside working on my punctuation and grammar.
Any way, I will have this set published as a little book, with an epic cover. Because I love a good book cover. And I’ll talk about the book more when it happens.
Thank you 🙂
The waves were hitting the sand softly, and the beach was blue and empty, clean,smooth with no trace of human life. White foam stood over the sand, and the water drifted in and out of the sea; while the song of the dolphins grew louder and louder, matching the light whistles of the strong wind, flowing in and out of the sea and the city.
Karachi was still asleep, if it ever did. There was no sound in the streets, no songs and no gun shots. The sun was coming up directly at the balcony, of a certain girl, who was supposed to be getting married. Her face was down into her pillow, and somehow she could feel that the sun was finally there at her side. It was the sudden heat that brought her to life; she pulled herself up, walking the small the distance to pull the faded curtains aside to have the light hit her face without complaint. She took a deep breath of the city air and gazed down to see dogs alive and running in the streets.
‘I’ll have fun today”, she turned smiling, pulling the curtains apart.
She did what she did everyday. Took a nice long bath with a splash of lemons for her skin and hair, wore her best dress and did her black hair tight and firm. She was lining her eyes with kajal with the wide mirror, when her mother called her.
“Honey!” she almost yelled with a dignified tone, “Come down and have breakfast with us”
Honey did not reply or say anything, but she quickly picked up her purse, put on her dupatta. She was walking down the stairs, to feel as if she was forgetting something. But she didn’t think much of it and made her way to her parents who were having tea at the table.
“Finally”, her mother smiled she put down her buttered toast. Her father also greeted her, and sipped his tea with great delight, and she sat down opposite to her mother with the delicate poise that rich raise their children with. It was the same with the way she held her head and kept her mouth.
“You’re as bright as the morning”, the mother shook her face.
“And as lovely as the night”, her father held her hand.
“Baba!” she pulled her hand away playfully, “Stop it. You two only say that because I am your daughter.”
Her breakfast was brought in by the servant girl. It was a fried egg, with some toast and butter. It was her favorite way of starting the day before she went out.
“Bajee Chai yah kuch aur”, the servant girl asked her.
“Meray liyay lemo pani lay ana”, she replied softly.
” Our girl is conscious of her weight”,the father glass his tea loudly.
“Why not, she is getting married soon. And by today her Mehndi dress will be here, I had to made in Anarkali all the way in Lahore” the mother looked carefully at the happy girl.
“You’ve lived in Karachi all these years, but you’re still in Lahore”, the father remarked in a funny tone.
” Somethings don’t change husband. We just can’t change how we feel”, she spoke with a strain in her voice but quickly changed her tone, ” But any way Honey’s dress will be here soon, and I can’t wait for her to try it on.”
Honey nodded and honestly she couldn’t wait to be married, since she had been engaged for over a year, two if you were to count her relationship with her fiance. She did love him. She definitely loved him.
“Isn’t he supposed to be home by tonight”, her mother asked all of a sudden.
Honey was confused about the exact day he was supposed to fly back from the Islands. She tried to remember what he told her over the phone the other night. Just then the servant girl came in with her lemonade.
“Mama I can’t recall, but I’ll find out soon enough”, she nodded promising her mother the details as she sipped her lemonade gently, leaving her lipstick on the glass. She then looked down at the waiting egg, and sliced the yolk open with the strike of a butter knife.
The sun was about to set outside of Honey’s balcony. She was busy looking for something she knew she was missing. The cupboards were wide open, all her bags were emptied, and even the pale sheets of her bed were pulled away.
She stood there in the silence as her anxiety grew as the light faded by the minute, she was about to sigh but her cell phone began to ring loudly. It was on her bed, and she crawled onto the mattress to answer it.
“Who is this?”, Honey smiled and almost giggled into the phone.
“Is that any way to talk to your husband?” a strong voice answered her with the same mirth as the girl.
“Almost husband”, she made herself comfortable on the bed.
” Still Honey” he sighed, ” How was your day?”
“Just fine. It’s better now”, her lips twisted, ” I’ll be going soon, my friends are throwing me a party. What have you been up to?”
” Just work, and then I went around the Island and swan in the water. It’s almost night-time here”
” Strange”, she stood up staring out her window,” The sun is about to go down in Karachi”.
Just then Honey felt something sting her foot and she made a sound that made its way to the person on the phone.
” Are you okay?” the voice grew vigilant and concerned.
“Relax love. I’m fine”, she searched the end of her bed with her soft hands until she touched something small but sharp. She picked up with her fist, just to gasp when she realized that it was her engagement ring.
The shining sapphire was staring at her from hand, and Honey became silent and was ashamed almost that she could not remember her own engagement ring. It was the one he picked out himself and proposed to her in private at night, by the sea.
“What’s outside your balcony?”, the voice asked her breaking the uncomfortable atmosphere in her room.
“The night is outside my balcony”, she whispered in a somber way.
“Why don’t you go out and see, you might find something you like?” he suggested and hanging up , adding to her curiosity. Still she did what he asked her to do while putting the ring on her finger, and moving out into her balcony. And there he was in the black and blue streets straight beneath her, with his teeth all in a smile and his eyes like the sky, his blue eyes steady like the night sky.
” He’s back,” Honey whispered to herself, “Shahid!”, and she ran straight down to him, not forgetting to turn the lights out behind her.
The night can hide anything in its darkness. The night can take something innocent and change its face to shadows and demons, and in the night even the air becomes heavy with secrets and the influence or hushed voices that linger in the blackness. However, in some cities the night is the height of civilization, and the those who don’t need sleep know why.
Honey was with Shahid now, in his black car driving towards the restaurant where her friends were waiting for her. They enjoyed the long distance and traffic together, and he told her about his time in the Islands, and she listened with keen interest beaming in her eyes, since she could see him now. There was a slight chance of rain, which made her cringe, but Shahid assured her holding her hand tight, he knew in his bones that it would not rain and that the sea would be calm.
” How can you be sure?” Honey teased changing the radio station.
“I know things”, he winked at her and shifted his eyes back at the road.
“This is the place hon”, she pointed at one of the larger buildings on the block,” We’ll be having dinner on the roof”.
“Fancy”, he noted,” When should I pick you up?”
“You don’t have to…I’ll just hitch a ride with the girls” Honey held his hand before getting out of the car.
“If that’s what you want”, he nodded and waited for her go inside, then he drove away into the night.
Honey made her into the elevator and shared an awkward journey with a boy about her age. It was a slightly long way to the top under the white light. The lift finally stopped and Honey stepped outside into the colder air searching for her friends. She found them waving to her right at the edge on a small table for the three of them. She waved right back and walked towards them, ready for all the questions they had.
” Are you excited for the wedding?” Manal asked playing with her dessert.
“Obliviously! It’s her own wedding” Simran put down her down her coke bottle.
All the while of them going back and forth about it, Honey was busy stuffing her face with briyani, chewing into the hot potatoes. Just then Manal had to take a call and left the two alone.
“Why did you decide to get married this early on? Is it arranged?” Simran asked eyeing her distant friend.
“I think I love him, but more than that I think he actually loves me”
“But still…you’re pretty young”
“I don’t any problem, I guess there are some people out here who have goals, or have something to prove. They want to give themselves to something and make a name for themselves or just let their parents decide for them,but I don’t have any talents. I know I’m not that beautiful, and that I’m hard to notice, but I could have a chance at happiness” Honey looked at her friend making sure she understood, and tapped the oily rice with her spoon.
“Well you have some luck…Shahid is handsome”, Simran attempted to whistle, which made Honey laugh.
“He is” she blushed,” I’m not sure why he’s with me”
“With those sharp blue eyes”
“Yes”, Honey smiled thinking about him, and how he would roll his eyes in annoyance.
“You’ve changed a lot since you’ve been with him”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“I’m not sure…do you ever miss him?”
“No not really, I’m happy being stable” Honey lost her smile, and looked down at what was left of her dinner.It was delicious but now it crumbled into a bad after taste on her tongue.
“What will you do afterwards?” Simran asked unaware about the change in her friend.
“Not sure…Karachi looks nice from up here, all the lights make it shine”
“It is the city of lights”, Simran sighed as they admired the view from above. The light breeze made them forget about the heat, and the quite made them forget about the people, and the strong lights made Honey forget about everything, and that’s how she always wanted it.
“I don’t ever want to leave this place”, Honey stood to get a better view and feel the breeze sting her hazel eyes.
It was Sunday the next day, which meant that the beach would be either empty or full of footprints. Somewhere on the beach you could find camels, with the shepherds who sang old songs as they walked towards the decadent villages.Out in the distance there could be seen sailors, hunting fish and they always came with someone having drowned.
Shahid thought it would be nice to be at the beach with Honey, he planned the day out as he drove to her house with his mother. They got there when breakfast was being served, and they joined in and talked about the wedding. Honey was drinking her light chai, while Shahid had some toast with blue band.
“Let me show the Mehndi dress I had made, all the way from Lahore”, Honey’s mother spread the simple but bright gown in front of her guest,” It would look like the moon came down, and hopefully it won’t get stained with Ubtan”
“I hope it’s the natural kind”
“Of course”
“We brought the Walima dress with us”, Shahid’s mother spread forward a heavy but pale ferozee dress, and it dazzled the latter so,”We picked the best one.Just the right one”
“Well you know what they say…marriages are made heaven but celebrated on earth”, they laughed together, while their children sat there in silence.
“We have everything here and ready but the actual wedding dress”, Honey’s mother shook her head,” That fashion designer is no better than a common darzi” she pulled her face to the side and back.
“We’re leaving now”, Shahid exclaimed wiping his face with a napkin,”Let’s go Honey”.
“Don’t be long” his mother reminded them as they fled the scene.
The day at the beach was sweet like the salty breeze. Honey made sandcastles and Shahid close to the waves collected shells. Later they walked along the place and just talked, which they hadn’t done in a while. They enjoyed seeing the dolphins pop up and whistle in the distance.
Later they drove around the city, had a few snacks and bought some sunflowers,which they forgot to put in the car,and they nearly escaped having their cell phones stolen from them. It was a good day so far, and they stopped for lunch at some random place.
“What do want to have?” he asked from behind the menu.
“The pasta…and you?” she replied from behind her menu.
“The fish”
It was nigh time when they were walking through the empty streets, since the car was far behind them. Both of them with silent, and taking in the calm atmosphere. On one else seemed to be there, and that bothered Shahid, he would have felt safer if at least one other person was there. Honey felt nothing but bliss, but it soon melted away with a rising heat that only she felt. She could sense the distance from the beach they had reached into the city with the change in scent, her nose was stung with the air of industry and smoke.
The lights went out in a flash, and she suddenly panicked, in the deep darkness, unlike the boy. He felt no more harm, since no one could see them now, no danger or thief could find their way to them.
“We can see the stars now Honey”, he whispered reaching for her shoulder.
“I don’t want the stars Shahid”, she sighed without emotion,”I want the lights”.
He rolled his blue eyes in annoyance,” You can’t always get what you want”.
“I need the city lights back”, she laughed in the darkness.
“I can’t give them to you…you should forget about them and him”, he hissed with a stiff jaw.
“I can’t” she screamed, adding to his alarm.
“Why do you have to ruin everything with the past” he yelled back at her,” It wouldn’t be this hard is you stopped talking about it”
“I’m cold like you, you seem to walk by everything you can’t everything like a coward and you expect me to do the same”, came out a scream.
“Shut up!”his hand caught her arm in a tight grip.
“Don’t touch me!” she struggled and tried to kick him – anything to get away.
“I’ll touch you whenever I want! You hear me?”he shook her and swiftly ran pointed nails on his face. He let go, falling back a few steps, holding his hand against his bleeding face. Honey free ran ahead on the road, tripping, panting and getting up again to escape.
“Get back here!” he ran after her, and pushed her down to the ground. She struggled underneath him, kicking him from the back,pushing him, until they were fighting each other for power and air. He forced his hands around his neck and pushed his weight down on her, but she hit him straight in the stomach. The sudden caused him to fall on his back with a loud echoing cry, and she sat right above his face,frantically finding a glass bottle on the side and began smashing it into his neck. Until finally with jolt between her legs he took his last breath.
Honey sat there on top of Shahid for a second, until she realized that had cut her to,and she looked down at his dead face, his dim eyes staring into the distance.Her breathing grew faster and faster,and sweat ran down her bloody face.
Everything was still as a ghost now,she opened her mouth to say something or make a sound and from the distance a bright yellow light of a truck hit her face, and she held up her blood stained hands to cover her face from the light.
Maheen's Muse 