Zara wakes up slowly to her alarm, a chorus of sunbirds she recorded while she was in India visiting her grandparents. Zara loved everything the nature has to offer and finally stretched up and walked to the window and picked her money plants which she had placed in glass bottle and took them to change the water in the washroom. She didn't have much to do today as it was the weekend and she thought she might have a lazy day or meet her friends, friends she had few as she was more of a wallflower but she didn't mind much.
She kept the plants back in their place and finally noticed a strange smell of something burning and ran outside to the lobby of her apartment to find the smoke alarm beeping with great urgency and saw the microwave. She noticed that the smell was coming from it. She finally opened it and saw a burned pizza and lost appetite to stay home and make some brunch and laze around.
She shut the microwave forcefully and shouted out to Ray, ' if the microwave dosen't work, i am not fixing it. I am not paying the landlord either, Do you hear me, hey! Ray , common man, well Fuck it. '
One more month of this shit and then i am out of here once my lease is through and i get my deposit, she said to herself and walked to the bathroom door and shut it with a bang.
Zara wore a knitdress and booted up her boots and still saw no sight of Ray and thought she needs to speak with him once she is back, but for now she was getting late for brunch with her friend Aly.
She left the building and crossed the street heading towards the town centre as she lived just 5 minutes She then headed towards the Kultur Chiva street where all the restaurant and bars were, one after the another with people seated in the terrace soaking up the sun. Finally one nice sunny day since teh dreadful cold. She spotted Aly with his two big and scary Wolfhounds seated in the terrace of her favourite Chinese and Japanese restaurant.
She waved at him and the moment the dogs got a glimpse of her, they ran towards her as Aly had trained them really well and they did not need leash.
The dogs jumped at her and were about to tower her but being the sport she was, she knew how to control them and petted them and walked over to where Aly was sitting grinning at her as everyone was watching her holding the two bull terrier by their collars. They happily obliged to her authority as they knew here as puppies.
She finally let them go and seated next to Aly more like slumped and with little enthusiasm said, 'Hey, I am hangry, can we please first order something first and then talk how things are going.'
'Sure, the usual yeah?' said Aly as he got up and went inside to place the order. And came back rubbing his hands together as he started to feel cold despite booking the table nearest to the heater but still it was quite cold.
'I was thinking if you are up for it, why not check out the new exhibition in the art gallery, I heard they are displaying some really interesting art work and some Indian painters as well. You know from your country,' he said as he raised an eyebrow.
Zara liked things related to India as her country, though it was hard to speak about as explaining India isn't her favourite topic. Travellers feel that if they go to India they would get spiritually enlightened. But that's not how India now is really is, there is spirituality but now things are super hectic there.
There so much happening in the country and even Indians do not have time unless they are in Manali or some hill station. The Indian art got lost after the 60's and now slowly some strata of the society is reviving it.
A topic she didn't like to discuss further as it required a lot of details and once she did tell Aly all about it who listened to her with great curiosity. But that was only once and besides she was only born in India, always moved around and well that's what happens when you dad works for the government and is a diplomat.
Her parents kept getting posted to different parts of the world every two years. This did effect her as she could make friends for no longer than two years and every time she had to move she had to restart, it was good and bad both.
" Well, maybe we can if we have time, maybe. I should say hi to my boss !' she replied with a small smile.
'Let's see if there is something else is also happening.... how are you and what's with the bow ties on them,' she raised her eyebrows pointing toward the dogs.
Aly gave her a shy smile and then said, 'well I took the dogs for a walk in the morning,'
'And, " questioned Zara in a satirical tone.
'And well it was sorta of morning walk slash date with a guy who brought his own dog, we met few days back at a party and really hit it off so yeah.. it was good i mean he is nice and has a good sense of humour and well..' said Ally
'Well , humour me,' said Zara in a comical tone and then smiled her lovely smile , so magnetic as it was hard to ignore but very rarely upon her face.
'Well I am glad you enjoyed your day, i had a nice morning but then till the later half of it got a little annoying.
'I woke very early and went for a jog but my flatmate is a little over the top , just one more month and then i am shifting.'
She looked down saying this as the food had already arrived and she started eating it, her favourite Garlic Prawns and noodles.
'Have you found a place yet?' Asked Aly munching his food. He was tall and quite big, but not bulky and had ordered two platters of sushi.
'Well, i have selected a few places . But i am not sure, i want to look at a few more before finalising.'
'The rent here is going sky high, ever since it entered EU,' she exclaimed.
'You should see the coast, its on fire,' replied Aly.
They both talked, while eating their food and sharing their past week as they always did. Aly was the first friend she opened up to in her life and she really loved him as a friend.
They foot the bill and started walking towards the tram but decided to walk towards the gallery as they always had more to share when they met each other.