Out of the blue

It was a glorious morning, just the perfect day for traveling. The sea was calm and I could see dolphins frolicking near our boat. I can even see Male’ now. My mother is from Male’ but she married my father and moved to our island twenty years ago. Whenever I visit Male’ I stay with my aunt. She’s a lovely woman. As I stepped on the jetty I was bursting with happiness. Yes, my dream of meeting my favorite singer is finally going to come true.

When I came home in a taxi my aunt was serving lunch. I joined her family for lunch. My cousins Zuha and Zuba hardly ate anything. They toyed around with their food and left after a while. I stayed and helped my aunt to clear up the table. When I joined my cousins in their room they were whispering and giggling about something. As soon as I entered they stopped talking. I realized that they were gossiping as usual. But I was not interested in the grapevine. I wanted to know when and where I was going to meet Azhad the famous young singer.

I love Azhads songs and his music. When I was studying in Male’ he used to sing in the school singing competitions. I admired him back than even. But once I completed my studies, I went home and luckily I got a job. I was in a relationship for two years and my boyfriend dumped me to marry a girl who went over to our island for the holidays. During those lonely days I listened to his CD’s day and night. I do like him very much but I try not to show it. My cousins already laugh at my stupidity. Sometimes they can be very mean. Once they told me that why would a well known successful musician like Azhad like or even marry an island mouse like me? So I made a mistake by telling them because all of her friends happen to know about my secret little crush.

But I’m willing to forget all about it. Well, they happen to know a guy who is a very close friend of Azhad. So they are going to set up a get together where I would also be invited. So I can meet him and may be get him sign on my CD. Gosh, I’m so thrilled. I chat with them every day and ever since they have told me about it I’ve been planning this trip. I even bought a new dress to wear with matching accessories. Nothing will ruin this special day for me.

"Well, we were just going to tell you ", Zuha started. 

"Azhad is currently looking for someone to act in his new song with him", finished Zuba. 

"So what", I said irritated. I mean come on, I want to meet him. When this new video is released I would see it. So right now it’s not very important. 

"Hmmm’, Zuha started again, "Well since you are so beautiful, we showed him your picture and he wants you to do it’, Zuha said innocently. 

I was so shocked that I forgot to blink my eyes even. I just stared at my twin cousins to burst out laughing. But they didn’t, they just stared back quite seriously. I knew they were telling me the truth and nearly fainted with happiness. 

"So what do I have to do?" I screamed at the top of my voice laughing at the same time like a hooligan. My aunt even rushed in to check whether I’ve flipped.

We were seated in Dine More restaurant. Everyone ordered chicken submarines. I didn’t feel like eating. Since I agreed to star in Azhads new song, I’m about to sign the agreement. Zuha and Zuba claimed that it’s really important. On the way over here they even showed me their camera. They said that it’s such an important day for me that they decided to capture every moment so I could cherish it for life. How nice of them, I thought elated. 

When I man walked in I looked up with anticipation but was disappointed because he was someone else. But he came towards our table and my cousins happen to know him. He sat down heavily and informed us that Azhad cannot make it tonight, so he came with agreement for me to sign. Azhad would sign it later and send me a copy and hoped that it was no big deal. Of course it was a big deal, but I tried to smile trying to ignore the emotional turmoil I was going through. So I signed the paper without reading it properly, I mean it’s not that important. My cousins snapped away and I posed for the camera and we had a great time.

After a week, I asked my cousins when I had to go for the shooting and they started laughing. 

"You really think that it was true, it was all fake", they chorused. 

They’ve played pranks on me before and I never ever said anything at them but this is just simply malicious. How can they hate me so much when I’ve never hurt their feelings? I just lay on my bed for the rest of the day feeling miserable. I should never trust them. Their friends would be having a good laugh after seeing the pictures and the fake agreement I thought with rage. I decided to go home since I was so humiliated even though my holidays weren’t over. 

That night while I was packing my cousins came and spoke to me like they’ve done nothing. And before turning off the lights, Zuba mentioned casually, "by the way we’ve uploaded those pictures on facebook, you do know it’s just for fun, nothing personal".

My mom was glad to see me and made a special lunch for me. I was feeling much better now. However, every time I thought about the signing incident, I feel like throwing up. I’m so ashamed of myself that I want to crawl under a rock and hide forever. But life must go on. I flipped through my dairy and came across a page where I drew a big heart and in the center I've written Azhad plus Aika equals love. I was revolted by it, so I tore the page and threw it to the dustbin. Feeling lonely even though I wasn’t alone I walked outside and headed towards the beach.

I walked towards my favorite spot and sat down. I couldn’t pretend anymore, I started crying and to be honest I started a good bawling session. I don’t know how long I was there crying when I suddenly had a feeling that someone was standing behind me. I turned around slowly and had the shock of my life. There stood the famous singer Azhad with a sympathetic smile on his face waving at me. I thought I was hallucinating. He came and set next to me. I was speechless. 

He offered me his handkerchief and said, "my friends always laugh at me because I always happen to carry this". 

Oh my god, I cried silently. Oh no! I thought in despair. My hair was a mess, my eyes were red and puffy because I’ve been crying and I really needed to blow my nose and it would be noisy! I managed to croak a lousy thank you, waaa, I even sounded like a frog.

Well, that’s how I met my husband five years ago. He just popped up, out of the blue. I went to all that trouble to meet him and he was sitting next to me, just like that. Yes, my cousins were astounded when they found out. He told me that he noticed me on the ferry. You see, he came to our island on the same ferry as me that day. But I was so depressed about the unpleasant holiday in Male’ that I hardly paid any attention to the other passengers. He also came for a walk and happened to be on the same route as me. I was so happy that day even though I was quite a sight. First we were friends and then we had long phone calls and he visited me during weekends since my island is just an hour of boat ride away. Well, I believe we are destined to be together.

Rashad

If you have ever met Rashad, you’ll never be able to forget him. He might call you by another name since he is so forgetful but still you won’t be offended. You’ll be happy to see him and he would help you out in any way he can. That’s why everybody loves him so much no matter how much they lose by trusting him.

Rashad is the eldest of three children. As a kid, he used to be quite and well behaved. Once he completed his studies he got a job from an office. Married twice with no kids he is a content man. People refer to Rashad’s little blunders quite fondly.

One year ago his brother had to leave the country for a meeting. So, helpful Rashad dropped by every night to check on his sister in law. One night she packed food for her mother who is a widow living all by herself and a bag junk to throw to the junk yard. She asked him to deliver them to the respective places since he dropped by to check on her. Unfortunately, by mistake, he threw the food to the junk yard and delivered the bag of junk to the poor old woman. When his sister in law told him about it the next morning, he actually skipped work and went to the junk yard to look for it!

Once Rashad and his wife bought a new furniture set for their bedroom. After coming home, his wife sent him to buy a mattress for their king sized bed. He came home with a mattress that would fit a single bed. His wife was furious but since it was Rashad, she went back to the shop with him to exchange it for a mattress that would fit their bed. By the time they reached the shop they were about to close for the night and the shopkeeper was not pleased at all. That was the only time his wife ever trusted him on an errand.

Rashad is also concerned about his protruding stomach. One of his friends advised him to eat garlic. According to him, garlic burns flab faster than any silly exercise. Since Rashad wanted to get a surf board tummy in a week to impress his wife, he started eating garlic like a maniac. He ate up one kilogram of garlic in a day. As a result he was reeking of garlic from a hundred mile radius. But his friends put up with him without even flinching even though it was impossible for them to breath.

When his wife went off to Malaysia for a seminar, he wept in front of everyone in the airport. When the day of her arrival came he was busy cleaning the bathroom. First he emptied a bottle bleach followed by two more strong toilet cleaning liquids. His eyes started watering and he started to hyperventilate. He just barely staggered out of the bathroom and passed out. Still he made it to the airport on time to receive his wife with a weak smile and a bit shaken. She had to rush him into the emergency room from there.

He would be there when you are moving to a new apartment to help you carry the heavy furniture. He would be there for you when you need a lift in the odd hours like two in the morning. He would take care of your garbage like it was something he enjoyed doing. He is just so helpful and kind that people forget his clumsiness and the trouble they have to go through because of him. If anyone could get away with murder, I believe it would be everyone’s dear old Rashad.

Honey

We were in a shopping complex doing our weekly shopping. I picked up a bar of soap and dropped it into the basket I was holding. My husband was inspecting the body spray section when I saw him standing a bit further down the aisle. He was looking at my husband under his lashes, checking him out. I stifled a laugh trying to compose myself.

‘Oh please, my husband muttered unaware of the attention he was getting from Honey, ‘this won’t smell like bird droppings’.

He thought I was laughing at the spray bottle he was about to choose!

We paid and walked out with the shopping bags. My husband went to get his motorcycle. I saw him again, holding his shopping bag with his hands trying so desperately to stand like a girl. His jaws and chin looked blue, due to constant shaving every four hours. He was wearing green sandals to match his green shirt. He was also biting his lower lip I believe in an effort to look coy and blinked his eyes like a rooster flapping its wings before they attack a hen for sex. Of course he looked hideous and pathetic. Why can’t he just be a man and live like everyone else.

I quickly looked the opposite direction and dumped the bags on the basket when my husband drove up to me.
 As we drove off I asked my husband, "Did you see the way Honey was dressed?"

"What? Where?" He said bewildered.

“Jeez, how could you have missed him sweets, he was standing there in front of us", I replied.

"Oh! He exclaimed. I thought that there was something wrong with that woman, she looked like a man!"

Together, forever!

Jacob buzzed his secretary to come in and straightened up in his comfortable chair. As his secretary Jill walked in, he flashed his best smile at her and winked. She looked straight ahead as if he didn’t even exist. Jacob was pleased with himself. She couldn’t even look at him because he was irresistible. She looked as if she would go down on her knees and beg him to take her then and there, he thought smugly. ‘Now Jill, cancel all my meetings for the day, I have to attend a personal meeting so would you kindly take of everything’, he said. She just nodded her head and kept on looking at the blank wall behind him. He stood up to leave and sucked in his stomach and walked out of the room without breathing. He thought he heard Jill mutter ‘stupid old fart”.

As Jacob drove towards his grandson’s school he couldn’t stop checking himself in the review mirror. Not bad he thought, a few specks of gray here and there, he was doing well for himself. He was fifty three and his large belly spilled out like a huge sack of potatoes. He chose to over look such minor flows and concentrated on his smile. No woman could ever ignore his sexy grin. ‘I’m still hot’, he assured himself as he stopped in front of the school. Soon he was on the road again. His grandson Michael sat looking out of the window with a sad expression on his face. Poor lad, Jacob thought. He doesn’t deserve this but what to do, he thought exasperated.

Michael was just eight years old. His parents were separated and he missed them immensely. His grades were slipping and he withdrew himself into his own misery. He doesn’t play with his friends during recess. He just sits in a corner all by himself gazing into the distance, lost in his own thoughts. He cannot sleep well at night. He wakes up screaming, drenched in sweat and throws tantrums for no apparent reason. His school nurse and his teachers were concerned. They have suggested that he sees a psychiatrist to figure out what was wrong. His parents and grandpa were worried too. It’s been a tough year for him.

Soon they were seated in the sitting area of the psychiatrist’s office. The silent atmosphere of the office made Michael nervous and he started to fidget. He nearly hit the ceiling when his grandpa’s mobile phone shrilled. The receptionist threw a dirty looked towards Jacob and she looked irritated. Jacob flashed his best smile and stepped outside to take the call.

Michael was suppose to meet the psychiatrist with his parents. He wondered whether they were already here. The receptionist informed them after calling Martha, his psychiatrist that he would join them after a few minutes and to make themselves comfortable. He stood up and walked towards the neglected fish tank placed in the left corner. He looked at the dirty fish tank with two little fishes, swimming aimlessly in the murky water. Maybe no one fed them, he thought. He walked forward and then he thought he heard his mom and dad. It was coming from the familiar room where he talks to Martha every day. He pressed his ears to the door and his mouth fell open with horror. He could hardly believe his ears. He started to shake and tears rolled down his little cheeks. He didn’t want to stand there anymore, if he was such a nuisance, he would run away and hide. He would never show his face to them. He ran away as fast as he could and was out of the back door within minutes.

Martha was worried. She hasn’t expected this from them. They certainly have more issues than poor little Michael. Michael and his grandpa were already here. Her heart fluttered at the thought of his grandpa. She couldn’t believe herself, she had a crush on him and at this age. She flushed and blushed and smiled coyly to herself like teenager. Ian and Mary were practically at each other’s throats. ‘I’ll leave you both now, try to compose yourselves and I’ll be back with Michael’. ‘We certainly have to have a session for both of you as well, but we’ll decide on that later’, Martha said crisply and walked out.
Ian and Mary looked at the floor unable to meet each other eyes after what just happened. Mary could not believe that they had a row in front of the psychiatrist. Ian felt miserable but he lost control and blurted out things that he didn’t mean. He never regretted the fact that they had a baby in the first place or he never wanted to give him up of adoption. He looked at Mary and his heart softened. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean what I said, he said weakly. ‘Me too’, she whispered.

Martha touched up her make up and walked down the narrow corridor to greet Jacob and Michael. She was disappointed to see the empty chairs. She turned towards the receptionist who was busy playing Farmville on facebook and asked, ‘where are they’. ‘The kid went over there to be fascinated by the scrawny fish and the moron just went out to answer a call’, she drawled. She walked out and bumped into Jacob who was coming in. She blushed and managed a squeaky hello. Jacob flashed his best smile and they stood there gazing at each other. The receptionist looked at them and she found this hilarious and guffawed like a lunatic which eventually brought them back to earth.

Assuming that Michael had gone in without greeting Martha, together they went to meet them in her office. As they walked together Jacob’s hand brushed against Martha’s. She felt jolts of electricity passing through every nerve of her body. She looked up feeling dizzy with excitement and once again Jacob flashed his best smile. ‘I must get him to brush his teeth for often, Martha thought gaily. But they were surprised to find Mary and Ian all by themselves.

They searched for him in the office but he was nowhere to be seen. By then Mary started panicking and Ian looked helpless. Beads of sweat broke over Jacobs face but he took charge and ordered Martha to check the office while Ian and Mary went out to check. The receptionist looked up bored and drawled, ‘where can he go, it’s a dead end, come on people, get real’. ‘This is an isolated building among the woods’. “A tranquil atmosphere for the troubled’ she made a face while she mimicked Martha who refused to move the office to the city however much she insisted. Martha was furious but decided to let it go since Ian and Mary were getting hysteric. ‘Too bad no one would hire you, I just took pity in you because you are my niece’, she thought triumphantly and congratulated herself for refraining the outburst which was so tempting at that moment by clapping her hand thunderously in her imagination.

Jacob hurried through the back door. Where have he gone, please don’t be in trouble, he prayed under his breath. As soon he stepped out he saw Michaels shoe under the tree. He saw him sitting on a branch of the old oak tree. Soon Ian and Mary walked through the door followed by Martha who was insisting that they call the police right away. They all looked up and asked him to come down. He refused and kept on crying. ‘Nobody loves me, nobody wants me’, he cried, showing his real emotions for the first time. No sweetie, we all love you, please come down, Mary begged. But Michael continued as if he didn’t even hear his mother. I want everything to be normal, I want to live in our home with dad. I want to go and stay over at grandpa’s cabin for the summer, just like we used to. Ian put his hand around Mary’s shoulder and said in confident voice, you are coming home Michael, we’ll live happily ever after. It took they about an hour to convince little Michael that they did love him and everything was going to be alright. Mary rested her head in his shoulder and watched their son slowly climbing down the tree.

They did decide to get back together while they were left alone in the room. They did realize for a fact that since their separation Michael has lost his balance and they both knew that he was suffering. Besides, they loved each other, but the problems that they had were unsolved for a long time which made it impossible for them live under the same roof. But now, they have realized how much they have missed each other and they wanted to be there for their loving son.

Michael was happy. His shoulders weren’t drooped and his face was lit up by a bright smile. He was going home with his parents. As they drove off they saw Martha and Jacob standing in front of the building. Obviously they were flirting. Do you think they are in love? She turned to Ian and asked. ‘I think they sort of click, don’t you, Ian replied. Ever since his mom passed away six years ago his dad has been like this. Maybe once he started getting attention and love from Martha he would stop his excessive flirting, he hoped. Besides, Martha does seem to like him compared to the treatment he used to get from others. As they collected their belongings from the apartment where Mary and Michael lived and drove off towards their home both Ian and Mary knew that they would once again face obstacles. But this time they would act like adults and work it out. They would talk and solve their problems and live a happy life, together, forever.

Just be happy

Every day when I got to work I see a man sleeping in a chair. He wears a uniform so I assume that he is a security guard. As the cars and motorcycles zoom by, he sleeps like a log. What I actually noticed about him is the dreamy expression on his face. He is just curled up in a plastic chair which I believe would be very uncomfortable but the way he snores away every morning looks very tempting.

One day in particular I remember because it was raining heavily. As usual he was curled up in his chair and he had a towel wrapped around his head just like the young girls wrap a scarf around their head. It was very funny and the dreamy, I’m in bliss expression was visible. I think I saw little smile rippling over his face. Maybe he was dreaming about his lover! It was cold and raining like crazy. I’m sure he would get wet and feel cold as the rain crashed down on the pavement and sprayed at him. It was amazing how he could sleep in such weather.

A few days later I saw him awake for the first time. He had big eyes and he looked like he just woke up. He looked really awe struck, looking around him like a new born baby. He was talking to someone and he looked happy. So I concluded that this person is living a very happy life even though he faces hardships. Life is not a bed of roses. Sometimes we cry, fail, succeed and even flourish in whatever we do. But the most important thing is to be happy, no matter what life serves you.

The more I thought about him, I realized that he could curse and be angry all the time because he had lousy job and end up as a desperate or frustrated man. But he chose to make the most of it and be happy. So let’s be happy no matter what. Let’s be grateful for what we have. Let’s simply enjoy life as it comes and make a difference.

Lucky Gal

It was a beautiful morning. I woke up and looked around me. My friends have not woken up yet. We have been in this warehouse for months now. After a while somebody opened the big door loudly. Soon lots of men barged in and started carrying me and my friends towards a truck that was parked outside.

We were all so scared. Some were even crying but these heartless men don’t seem to care about us. They chose to ignore us and closed the door. Since it was a hot day the truck was like an overheated oven. It was dark, stuffy and uncomfortable. I heard many vehicles zooming by our truck but none of us shouted. We just sat inside waiting with a hammering heart, scared witless because we had no idea what would happen next.

I slept even though it was uncomfortable and the next morning the door was opened again. Bright sunshine flooded in and we were flabbergasted for a minute. We saw people staring at us and we were so scared. Soon a man came clapping his hands in a rather odd manner and exclaimed that he wanted me. ‘I just can’t wait to get my hands over her’, he cried. I felt like someone threw a bucket of cold water at me. He winked at a young boy and he came and picked me up and carried me to his room. My god, what does this strange man want from me.

Once inside the room the boy left me on top of a bed I think. I closed my eyes praying that this man would leave me alone. I thought I heard a snip and when I opened my eyes I saw him holding something. Oh no, is it some sort of a toy? Is he a lunatic, but who could save me now? I felt a bit better when he started to caress my body and making soothing sounds as he came close to me. Within a few minutes I felt a sharp pain and I passed out because of the pain and I couldn’t endure it.

The next morning when I woke up I felt sore and every part of my body hurt. I realized that I was not alone. There were plenty of faces I knew from the warehouse. We were just hanging around when somebody burst in screaming the life out of everyone, ‘she’s here’. I knew instantly that a very important person must be coming. I hoped that this person would save me from this mad house. I looked at the entrance and in came a skinny woman with bee stung lips. What do they see in her? Everyone rushed to greet her and were making a big fuss to please her.

She walked around looking at us like we were on for sale. She stopped in front of me and whispered, ‘I like you’ and turned to the funny man who always happen to be clapping his hand in an odd manner and said ‘perfect, like always, I want her’. So I was off with her in her posh limo god knows where. I was anxious to know where she was taking me. I looked at her nervously. She is not that bad looking but there’s something about her mouth that doesn’t go with her features.

I relaxed against the soft velvety cushions and thought about my life. As long as I remember I’ve been handed over from one person to the other. I longed for a real home where I can relax and be happy. I don’t know how long I was in the car. I must have dozed off and the skinny woman must have taken me inside. How nice of her, I thought gratefully. However I felt that I have changed or to be more precise, I have blossomed. Somehow I must have filled up or something. Well, I certainly felt more like an adult, I suppose.

I noticed that it was awfully quite and then I saw that everyone’s eyes were focused on me. There were lots of lights and people around me. I didn’t see the kind skinny woman anywhere, she must have given me up I thought sadly. Just as I looked up I saw the most handsome man I have ever laid eyes on in front of me. I could hardly breath. He was looking at me with those sexy eyes and I felt my heart melting with pure desire. He was looking at me with such, I don’t know…hunger and then he stood up and came towards me. My heart was doing somersaults by now and then he grabbed me from the front and ouch, I felt like he ripped my body and I was unconscious.

Yes, now I have no home and I hangout with my junk yard buddies. After they discarded me in the dump I found out that the bee stung woman was the famous Julia Roberts and the hot sexy man was Richard Gear. You might wonder why they got rid of me, well as it happens I happen to be too sexy. Julia was wearing me on one of the scenes where he takes her to the hotel and since she looked so irresistible Richard lost control….yes, they had to omit the scene in the end. By then I was ripped so badly that the funny man who clapped his hand in an odd manner could not fix me as there was no more material left.

So they just threw me to the dumpster. I might not have a closet like I dreamed to hang around all the time and be worn once in a while but I’m the most popular gal in the dump. After all, few lucky gals like myself have had the privilege to meet famous people like Julia Roberts and Richard Gear. So everyone looks up to me and I’m truly happy here even though sometimes it is a bit difficult to cope with the revolting stench.