Page 17 of Storm
Zee's nostrils flared and before a war could ensue, I intervened to stop it, also not wanting to miss the chance of winding him up.
In a fake innocent cooing voice, I said,
“Now now, Zee...This is not fair. When someone is trying hard for your time and attention, you just don’t care.”
“Sani, what are you saying?! I told you all, Aariz is my best friend. He is just messing with me.” Zee gave a weak nervous smile, desperately looking at Aariz for confirmation, who stared back at him blankly, while passing us an amused look when Zee's eyes turned away.
Somehow controlling my own laughter, I said in my best soothing and sympathetic tone,
“Zee, so what if he is your best friend? He must have really felt bad by your frivolous tendencies. You are just too busy with...other things. I get it.”
Zee's expression became confused and actually hurt. As if he really thought, Aariz and I were serious.
Seeing him, none of us could resist anymore and burst out laughing.
Somehow, between his yummy chortles, Aariz managed to speak,
“It would have been much more believable when Zidaan, you would have said that you remember our plans to catch-up. Do you even realize how many months it’s been since we last met?”
“Trust me Aariz, if tonight you guys wouldn’t have met coincidently. Then he would have never even tried contacting you.” stated Umber.
“He doesn’t have time to meet us, his friends living here in the same city as him or Umber his cousin! How can he remember his old friends who lived so far?” I supplied, smiling apologetically at Zee, who sported a miffed look, like that of a child with his mouth hanging open in outrage.
Ibbi added,
“Weeks and weeks, no sign of him.”
“Make it months.” I winked at him, while Zee gave me a wide-eyed look interjecting,
“Hey! I was with you the other day.”
“Don't say months, he feels bad.” Umber said in a loud stage whisper as I stared at him innocently.
“All right, weeks, and weeks.” I nodded in obedience, trying hard to control my laughter.
“Zidaan, first you try to stay in touch with everyone, and then tell me. Your cousin Umber, and your friends, all have the same thing to say about you. Where are you these days? Weeks and weeks no sign of you, no phone call, no visit. Nothing.” said Aariz in an over dramatic voice, while giving us a surreptitious smile.
Zee understood we were all teasing him. His expression turned murderous.
Just Humza remained a silent spectator having fun.
Ibbi scoffed cheekily,
“It’s all right Zidaan, we understand. After all you are a true friend.”
“...who thinks about us day and night. Though, of course in loneliness!” I winked at Aariz.
Passing me a mischievous smile, he added,
“Because even though you miss us so much, you don't even try to meet us!”
Zee interjected with a scowl,
“So? I was busy. Were you guys really missing me so much?!”
For a moment, I felt guilty, but just for a moment. Because Zee had asked it in such sincere, hopeful tones, that it cracked us all up into fits of laughter. We patted each other’s back with high fives for a job well done of winding up Zee, who had never shown mercy at winding up any of us before.
