[Note: This is my first take at fiction writing. Not to be mixed with my regular articles. ~Maisun]
"Will you have your usual menu, Ishraque?"
"Absolutely."
"How's that neck pain today?" Said Erik while serving the dishes.
"It's better today. I barely remember about it. I'm having such a busy time with this new project."
"Let me guess, you'll have to kill me if you told me."
"Correct. I can't possibly tell you how this new machine of mine will replace traditional medicine manufacturing and produce huge batch of life saving medicine within days."
"Enjoy your meal. See you in a bit." smiling as he went to sever other in the cafe.
Not that he was hungry. But his life has become more of a clock work now a days. Not that he needs the money, he has plenty of it. Nobody knows how much money he has. Once in a while, he would go to his bank and write of huge checks to charity in Africa. Not the ones who provide food, but education. He never explained why he does that. If you asked me, some of the people there could use little more food. You can't focus on learning when you are hungry. Unless the books are edible.
Global conflicts, deforestation, hunger, riots, war are the least of his worries. Hell, he doesn't even know the name of current President of USA. He is an workaholic. Only thing he thinks about, is his work. It changes time to time. But remains in the same genre.
" May be I should re-calibrate the speed of the ....."
His chain of thoughts was broken by a mild voice, "Is this seat taken?"
"No". He didn't even look up. In this cafe, he always took the seat in the corner. He would always seat with his back to the streets and facing the park. Not that there was a lot to see, it was quiet. No one bothered him here.
"Don't you get bored eating the same food everyday?"
For an unknown reason he would eat the same food every lunch hour. Sometimes the menu is different. But usually, it's the same. Erik knows about it. That's why he never goes into the details. Little rice. vegetables, preferably green, well cooked but not overdone. A big chunk of chicken or sometimes sea fish, of course the season has to be right.
Besides Erik, the cafe manager knows this. On busy day he would keep the bill ready ahead of time. Ishraque is not a man who likes to waste his time. And the cook knows it too. How would he forget? He nearly lost his steady pay check when he mistakenly overcooked the vegs. Nobody else supposed to know about his food habits.
Curious, he looked up.
"You haven't changed." said the lady, putting down his laptop on the table.
"I can say the same about you. You look old, but your smile is the same." said Ishraque after a long pause.
"What are you upto these days?"
"Not much. I work for agencies. Picking up a project or two."
"Aren't you gonna ask me how I'm doing or where I was all these time?" Said Jerin breaking the long silence.
"I would, but why ask question when you already know the answer to?" Trying to focus on his meal. On any other day, he would have finished by now.
"Still haven't gave up that 'Mr. Know-it-all' attitude? I'm impressed." now her eyes on the laptop screen.
"In my line of business, you get used to it."
"I do have to tell you, I could never predict you becoming a reporter." eating up the very last bit of his meal as slow as you possibly can.
"Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment" said Jerin as she ordered herself a cup of coffee.
"If I were you, I would have pressed charges against that Restaurant owner. You had every rights to say what you said."
"There was no need. He suddenly backed off after 2 days."
"Guess he wasn't so dumb after all." A little smile on Ishraque's face.
"Guess I'll be seeing you around." said Jerin as Ishraque was getting up from his chair.
"No you won't." said Ishraque as he put on his coat and moves towards the exit.
Why does he work so hard? Nobody knows. He would probably have to kill you if he told you.
~Maisun.
[Note: This is my first take at fiction writing. Not to be mixed with my regular articles. ]
"Will you have your usual menu, Ishraque?"
"Absolutely."
"How's that neck pain today?" Said Erik while serving the dishes.
"It's better today. I barely remember about it. I'm having such a busy time with this new project."
"Let me guess, you'll have to kill me if you told me."
"Correct. I can't possibly tell you how this new machine of mine will replace traditional medicine manufacturing and produce huge batch of life saving medicine within days."
"Enjoy your meal. See you in a bit." smiling as he went to sever other in the cafe.
Not that he was hungry. But his life has become more of a clock work now a days. Not that he needs the money, he has plenty of it. Nobody knows how much money he has. Once in a while, he would go to his bank and write of huge checks to charity in Africa. Not the ones who provide food, but education. He never explained why he does that. If you asked me, some of the people there could use little more food. You can't focus on learning when you are hungry. Unless the books are edible.
Global conflicts, deforestation, hunger, riots, war are the least of his worries. Hell, he doesn't even know the name of current President of USA. He is an workaholic. Only thing he thinks about, is his work. It changes time to time. But remains in the same genre.
" May be I should re-calibrate the speed of the ....."
His chain of thoughts was broken by a mild voice, "Is this seat taken?"
"No". He didn't even look up. In this cafe, he always took the seat in the corner. He would always seat with his back to the streets and facing the park. Not that there was a lot to see, it was quiet. No one bothered him here.
"Don't you get bored eating the same food everyday?"
For an unknown reason he would eat the same food every lunch hour. Sometimes the menu is different. But usually, it's the same. Erik knows about it. That's why he never goes into the details. Little rice. vegetables, preferably green, well cooked but not overdone. A big chunk of chicken or sometimes sea fish, of course the season has to be right.
Besides Erik, the cafe manager knows this. On busy day he would keep the bill ready ahead of time. Ishraque is not a man who likes to waste his time. And the cook knows it too. How would he forget? He nearly lost his steady pay check when he mistakenly overcooked the vegs. Nobody else supposed to know about his food habits.
Curious, he looked up.
"You haven't changed." said the lady, putting down his laptop on the table.
"I can say the same about you. You look old, but your smile is the same." said Ishraque after a long pause.
"What are you upto these days?"
"Not much. I work for agencies. Picking up a project or two."
"Aren't you gonna ask me how I'm doing or where I was all these time?" Said Jerin breaking the long silence.
"I would, but why ask question when you already know the answer to?" Trying to focus on his meal. On any other day, he would have finished by now.
"Still haven't gave up that 'Mr. Know-it-all' attitude? I'm impressed." now her eyes on the laptop screen.
"In my line of business, you get used to it."
"I do have to tell you, I could never predict you becoming a reporter." eating up the very last bit of his meal as slow as you possibly can.
"Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment" said Jerin as she ordered herself a cup of coffee.
"If I were you, I would have pressed charges against that Restaurant owner. You had every rights to say what you said."
"There was no need. He suddenly backed off after 2 days."
"Guess he wasn't so dumb after all." A little smile on Ishraque's face.
"Guess I'll be seeing you around." said Jerin as Ishraque was getting up from his chair.
"No you won't." said Ishraque as he put on his coat and moves towards the exit.
Why does he work so hard? Nobody knows. He would probably have to kill you if he told you.
~Maisun.
[Note: This is my first take at fiction writing. Not to be mixed with my regular articles. ]
