Kissa

"The New Twest"

*Kissa*

*Chapter #5: "The New Twist"*

I took a breath. Opened my lips. Maybe I was about to say something.

My heartbeat sped up. My eyes were fixed on Ali's face. In the garden only the leaves were rustling.

At that moment a voice came from behind.

"Young man!"

It was Dad. A cup of tea in his hand. That same open smile on his face.

Ali straightened up at once. Respectfully he said, "Uncle, please come."

Dad sat down on the corner of the bench.

"Son, you should sit with us sometime too. We will listen to you, Advocate."

Ali smiled. "Uncle, just order me. Time spent with you is an honor."

Dad took a sip of tea.

"How many cases do you have now, son?"

"Five or six, uncle. Today's case was important. I had to stay awake all night."

"Did you get any big case?"

Ali lowered his gaze. "No uncle. Just a farmer's land case. A landlord had illegally taken his land. I want that land returned to him."

Dad nodded. "Well done, son. There are few lawyers like you."

Dad and Ali were talking. There was peace in the gathering. Only tea and sunlight.

Then I stood up.

"You both talk. I will bring tea. Dad, your tea has gone cold too."

Dad stopped me with his hand. "Daughter, just bring for yourself and Ali."

I smiled. "Dad, check the taste of tea made by my hands. I will be right back."

I went into the kitchen. Put the kettle on the stove. Added tea leaves.

Only one question was in my mind. What did Ali want to say?

I took the tray outside. My steps slowed down. My heart was beating hard.

I placed the tray on the bench. "Here, tea."

Ali picked up the cup. Our fingers touched. I lowered my eyes.

Dad stood up.

"Come on son, I will go inside. You both sit and talk."

The door closed. Silence fell in the garden. Only the clink of the cup.

Ali placed the cup down. Looked straight at me.

"Kissa... are you alright? Did you sleep last night?"

I put the cup to my lips. "Yes Ali. I slept."

"Liar." He smiled faintly. "Your eyes say you kept thinking all night."

My heart sank.

"Ali, you are making me angry. My mood improved with great difficulty."

His face fell. "I don't want to make you angry. I just want to ask..."

"What do you want to ask?" I said in a sharp tone.

Ali shook his head. "I know Kissa..."

His sentence remained incomplete.

A voice came from behind, "So you both are sitting here hiding?"

It was Noor. A plate of biscuits in her hand. She sat down on the grass in front of the bench.

"Here, biscuits with tea."

"When did you come?"

"Just now. Mom said Kissa and Ali are in the garden."

Ali said, "Nothing special, Noor. Just court cases."

Noor winked. "Yes yes, court cases. Sister, why do you look sad?"

"I am fine, Noor."

Noor turned to Ali. "Ali, you teased Kissa, didn't you?"

Ali raised both hands. "I swear to God, Noor, I didn't say anything."

Noor said, "Your faces look the same to me today, I don't know why."

Hearing her words I smiled a little. For the first time since morning.

Noor took a sip of tea.

"By the way Ali, what happened in court today? Did the farmer win?"

Ali became serious. "Not yet. But I am hopeful I will win very soon."

"Long live my brother!" Noor clapped.

Tea finished. The sunlight grew dim.

Noor stood up. "And she told both of us, come let's go inside, Mom is making kheer."

I looked at Ali. In his eyes was that same incomplete sentence.

"Kissa..."

Noor held my hand. "Come sister. We can talk later."

I stood up. My heart was restless. The talk remained incomplete.

Noor and I went inside. Ali remained alone. He picked up the empty cup. Ran his finger where my lips had touched.

Softly he said, "I wish I had said I earlier."

The evening shadow grew darker.

---

Mom was making kheer. But my attention kept going to the door again and again.

Then a car stopped outside. A loud horn.

The door opened.

"Haris has come!" Noor shouted.

My hand stopped. Haris. Brother. Who used to say "I suffocate in village soil."

And today he was standing at the door. Sunglasses on. A travel bag in one hand, the other in his pocket. That proud smile.

"Hello." There was no warmth in his voice. Only formality.

Mom came running. "Haris! Without telling?"

Haris gave her a light hug. "Thought I'd give you a surprise. I was tired from work."

I stepped forward. "Brother, you? Really?"

Haris patted my head. His gaze went behind me. Ali was coming in.

Haris's smile became crooked.

"Oh, so the Advocate is also present?"

As if Ali was some ordinary clerk.

Ali stopped when he saw him. "Haris. When did you come?"

Haris removed his sunglasses. Looked him in the eye.

"Just now. I came right in front of you."

His tone was sharp. Like an arrow.

Haris looked Ali up and down.

"So how is the money in law? They say new lawyers don't even get cases."

Ali tried to smile. "Thank God, Haris. If you work hard, you get your share."

Haris put the bag down.

"There is a difference between hard work and sense, Ali. You keep fighting small issues of village people. We do big deals in the city."

I could not hold back. "Brother!"

Haris said, "Truth is bitter, Kissa."

Mom intervened. "Haris, you have traveled. Go wash your hands and face. Kheer is ready."

Haris started climbing the stairs. While going he lightly patted Ali's shoulder.

"Relax, Advocate. I was just joking."

But I knew it was not a joke.

Ali stood there. No emotion on his face. Only silence.

Haris went upstairs.

Noor squeezed my hand. "Kissa, is Haris always like this?"

I said, "Noor, his tone is like that. But he is not bad at heart. And one more thing... don't call him Haris brother. No one calls him that except me."

Noor looked at me with worried eyes. Maybe thinking how many days she would have to bear this difficult person.

*To be continued....