Chapter 2
The previous day:
Salma knew today was different. For one, she hadn’t woken up with that feeling of throwing up this morning. And the not-so-playful kicks from the new temporary resident in her belly were also absent. Good, Salma thought, the little brat is finally letting me wake up in peace. Hard to believe the months had gone by so quickly. Seems like it was yesterday when the blood stopped flowing, and she mentioned it to Him. He greeted the news with that enigmatic smile that she had come to love so much. She still thought it a bit strange that He was not a bit surprised. Which was weird because she had been on the pill. They had discussed and decided on the pill, because they both hated condoms. Damn those rubbery things. Chewing gum with the wrapper on, as the man said. So she had been on the pill, and had been diligent in keeping track of her cycles and everything. But still something had snuck through. Some little sperm had defeated all her augmented and reinforced defenses and managed to fertilize an egg. And He was fine with the news. Was happy in fact. As if He knew it was coming. Salma never really thought about it before. It was something that was sort of at the back of her mind but she hadn’t found the right moment to ask Him about it.
At first it was all about whether the baby would be kept. Because they weren’t married, it would be a legal and social mess. And He had made it clear that they would not get married. Something about this not being the right time. That’s another thing Salma never understood. Why wasn’t it the right time? She loved Him, and He loved her back. He had a nice job with lots of money, they had an appartment. True Salma never figured out what He did. He had to leave the city frequently. Apparently they (whoever “they” were) needed him to go all over the world and do their work for them. At least that’s what He said. And Salma believed Him…didn’t she? So what if she didn’t know what He did…didn’t know where He worked…where He was from…wait a minute wait a minute…
Didn’t know where He worked? Didn’t know where He’s from? Suddenly Salma started feeling apprehensive. What the hell was going on…Of course she knew where He worked, who He was…He worked for…umm, ok, we’ll get to that one later ladies and gents, His family lives on…ok, so the family question is another blinder…but lets not panic yet, thought Salma. But she couldn’t help herself. She felt panicky. So she did what she always does when she feels panicky. She blamed it on her condition and got busy making a sumptuous breakfast.
Two omlettes, bread, butter, and a potato salad later Salma sat back in the living room watching TV. But her mind kept going back to the questions which she had never asked or thought of. Not in the last 8 months. Eight months? She had been with Him for EIGHT months?? And where exactly WAS here? Suddenly the panic was back. She suddenly realized she didn’t know where she was. Yes, she was home, but where the hell WAS home? It isn’t natural for people to forget their own address, is it? What exactly DID she know about her situation? And why the hell hadn’t she thought about all this before? “Calm yourself Salma, there’s nothing to worry about” she told herself. And as she said it she knew she didn’t believe it. She had a bad feeling. Something was different today, and not different in a good way either. She felt as if she had been asleep, her mind turned off all these months. And now that it was turning on again she was faced with a situation she just could not explain. She closed her eyes and tried to think of Him. That’s what she normally did when she felt anxious, or alone. She would always remember His face, His smile, and it would calm her. But she couldn’t picture Him now. Could not visualize Him at all. How could that be? What the hell was going on? The panic started rising. Salma turned off the Tv andf started pottering in the kitchen. She decided to cook a feast. Her larder was well stocked. She would make a special dinner for Him and He would explain everything and it would all be fine.
Little did Salma know at that time that it would be the last meal she would ever cook.
4 comments:
dhur bhoy laglo.
I think that you need to start planning out the whole and not just capsules. If you write serially, MAKE yourself write a chapter every day or week or two days. Because right now it reads like you're playing with a toy. You're thinking of one scenario and that's cool but how does it connect to a larger whole? The two chapters I've read are self-contained, like a little vignette that you came up with. But unless you keep on writing, there won't be any connection.
i think you're missing the point. you don't need to remind me how disconnected these chapters are. i know they are disconnected. I need to get these chapters out there and i basically need other people to tel me if those chapters are interesting. the connections will come later.
You're explaining this to someone who calls himself Dhaka Adman? You really are a nice guy.
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