Kissa

" Rooftop Jitters"

*Kissa*

*Chapter #6: "Rooftop Jitters"*

I looked at Noor. Suddenly a hint of innocent worry appeared on her face.

I immediately said, "Noor, why did you get worried? I am here. Do not take any tension at all. Forget all this, tell me what do you want to become?"

Noor immediately said, "Kissa, I want to become a doctor. So that I can become a doctor and treat people like Haris."

Hearing this from Noor, I burst out laughing. Then both of us started laughing loudly.

We laughed so hard that we were out of breath. Noor kept saying, "Yes Kissa, I will check his blood pressure every morning, and give him medicine for his ego in the evening."

At that moment, the sound of someone clearing their throat came from behind. Haris had come and said, "What is this? Have you people opened a madhouse here? Do you know any work other than laughing or not?"

Noor immediately replied, "We do. Now that you have come anyway, now we will have to practice crying too."

I stopped my laughter with great difficulty and immediately controlled the situation.

"Haris, is everything alright? Did you need something? You could have called out."

Haris said, "Yes, does anyone here know how to make coffee? I am tired. Thinking of drinking coffee and going to sleep."

I said, "Alright Haris, you go to your room. I will make coffee and bring it."

Then I took Noor to the kitchen. The kitchen was new to me, I did not even know where which item was kept.

Noor understood, she said, "Kissa, I will make the coffee. You just keep me company."

"Kissa, tell me truthfully, does Haris always keep getting angry like this?"

"Yes Noor. City life has affected him. But he is not bad at heart. His way is just a little different, Haris's."

Noor raised her eyebrows, "Different? Kissa, you are different, sweet like honey and caring. Haris reminds me of Grandfather, he also used to always be angry."

I smiled. "Be quiet Noor, it is night. If you make us laugh more, both of us will get scolded."

Noor, while picking up the cup, said, "Laugh Kissa, it is free, I will not charge money for making you laugh. When I become a doctor, then I will charge my fees."

I lightly patted her head. "If you really become a doctor, then you will cure the most stubborn patients in the world."

The coffee was ready.

"Here, Kissa, take a little sugar too. Maybe Haris's ego will melt too," Noor said.

When I was coming back after giving Haris coffee, Ali was waiting for me near the stairs. The light was dim. Only the moon outside was on his face.

Ali just said this to me, "At eleven o'clock at night I will wait for you on the rooftop."

Saying this, Ali started to leave. I called out from behind, "Alright. Will you drink tea or coffee? I will bring that too."

Well, Ali did not reply. But he smiled and started going down the stairs. Today, there was that same old Ali in his smile.

Noor's voice came from the kitchen, "If there is a coffee plan, then I will reach the rooftop at ten thirty itself." Then the sound of laughter too.

I came down and said, "Noor, you too. Will you let anyone sleep or not?"

Noor winked. "Kissa, only those whose hearts are empty get sleep. Your heart now has only questions. Eleven o'clock rooftop... there is definitely something."

I said lightly, "Nothing at all. It is just... the talk was left incomplete, right. I have to complete it."

Noor said, "Alright. I will come to the rooftop at ten thirty and see who is drinking coffee and who is completing the incomplete talk."

I said, "If you come, then before your doctor degree I will shut you up."

Noor laughed. "Sister, if you shut me up, then how will I treat patients after becoming a doctor? Haris's?"

Both of us laughed again. We talked a bit more in the kitchen. Then I came to my room.

Opened a book and sat down. I had forgotten about the rooftop talk. Mom came to my room to check on me and said, "Kissa, why are you still awake? It is twelve o'clock."

Hearing this, the alarm bell rang in my head. Uff! Ali had called me to the rooftop at eleven.

I immediately got up and ran out of the room. There was silence in the house. Only the ticking of the wall clock could be heard.

While climbing the stairs I was out of breath. The rooftop door was slightly open.

Outside, the moon was at its peak. The air was cold.

Ali was standing there. Hand on the wall, looking at the sky. He heard my footsteps and turned to look.

I smiled and said softly, "Is it eleven o'clock?"

Ali smiled and shook his head and said, "No, you came early. I was thinking you would not come at all."

I said, "I had forgotten. Mom had come. Then I remembered."

There was silence for a few moments. Only the rustling of the wind.

Ali asked, "Kissa... there are some things I want to talk to you about."

I said, "Really? Now will you even take permission to talk?"

Ali took one step forward. "Kissa, I have been watching you since morning. You are quiet... but silence is also thinking. What is going on in your mind?"

I raised my eyes and looked. "Are you a lawyer or a mind reader Ali?"

Ali smiled lightly. "I am a lawyer. I catch people's lies. And your silence is lying."

I touched the railing with my finger. "In my mind? I was just thinking why life is so predictable Ali. Breakfast in the morning, tea in the evening, people's advice... everything is set. Where is the fun?"

Ali: "You have to create the fun yourself Kissa. Destiny does not come on a plate."

I looked straight into his eyes. My tone was sharp.

"Exactly. That is why I will make my own plate. No one else will decide my recipe. Not family, not relatives, not city thinking."

Ali went quiet. Then he said softly, "Are you not afraid?"

I laughed. "The one who has no options gets afraid Ali. I have plan A, I have plan B, and if both fail then plan C - I will start over myself. Fear belongs to those who will break if they fall. Even if I fall, I will get up and take a selfie."

Ali shook his head. Now there was respect in his eyes, not sympathy.

"I understand. You are not helpless Kissa. You are the full version."

I smiled and said, "And you are my friend. A friend's job is to pick you up when you fall, not to show you the way. I am my own GPS."

Ali said, "Done. I will not be your GPS. But if your battery ever gets low, I will be your charger for sure."

We both laughed. Now there was no silence on the rooftop, only peace.

From downstairs Mom's voice came, "Kissa! Who is on the rooftop?"

Ali and I both looked at each other. Then I said softly, "It is me Mom. I came to get some fresh air. Could not sleep."

Mom said, "Okay. Go to sleep quickly. We will all have breakfast together in the morning."

I said, "Yes Mom."

Ali said, "Kissa, we will finish the talk later. Promise me, you will be truthful with yourself."

I shook my head. "Promise."

Ali started going down the stairs smiling. While leaving he turned and said, "Tea or coffee?"

I smiled and said, "Morning."

We went down.

In the morning when I opened my eyes, sunlight was coming in through the window. Everyone was sitting at the breakfast table.

I came too to have breakfast. Bread, eggs, tea.

Haris took a sip of tea and said, "Village breakfast is really delicious. In the city it is sometimes mango juice, sometimes orange juice."

Ali said, "Then how many days will you enjoy village breakfast Haris?"

Haris said, "If no one ruins the fun in between, then just a few days."

Ali said, "Oh, who has the guts to ruin your fun?"

I said, "Haris, leave the city talk. Tell me, how was the pudding last night?"

Haris said, "The pudding was good. But the coffee was useless. Who made it?"

Noor immediately said, "The coffee was useless? Haris, be grateful someone made it at all. In the city you must make it yourself."

Haris said, "Yes I make it myself. But at the office. I am not free like you people?"

Ali said, "You have to take out time Haris. For relationships along with work."

Haris said, "Relationships? Yes, you are right Mr. Lawyer, now if you permit me I will have breakfast."

I interrupted, "I cannot say anything about last night's coffee, but this tea right now is very excellent."

Where could Noor lag behind, she immediately said, "I made last night's coffee too and I made this tea too right now. If anyone does not like it, they can drink juice."

Everyone laughed. Except Haris.

Ali got up and started leaving for court, Haris called out to Ali, "Ali wait, I have to talk to you."

My heart started beating fast, I do not know what Haris wants to talk to Ali about...

*To be continued.....