He smirked, and tipped his chin — “Come out.”
“Why?”
“Let’s go out.”
“Right now? Aren’t you sleepy?”
“I can drive for a while.”
“How about I drive for a change?” She climbed back from her perch. “I took a nap while Noora was narrating his woes with the new KDP president.”
Samar tipped his chin again — “Come out.”
————————————————————
Amaal had driven his Indica once. She had driven his old Innova. She had also driven party Innovas. But she had never driven a car as heavy as his current one, which also happened to be an Innova.
“Why is this steering so heavy?” She held it tight, using every ounce of strength to turn.
“It’s a diesel car.” Samar lounged back.
“Put your seatbelt on!”
“Hmm.”
He didn’t move to put it on.
“Where is the foglight here?” She patted around the steering wheel and caught a box in an alcove.
“Ama…”
“What is this?” She held up the cigarette box.
“That’s not for everyday…”
“Then what? Weekends?”
“No!”
She opened the window and threw it away.
“What are you doing?!” He yelled.
Her foot pressed on the brake and they screeched to a stop. The road was empty. Amaal looked at him — “Sorry.”
Before he could respond, she got out of the car, ran to pick up the packet and threw it into the nearby dustbin. All the while, she kept her eyes on him as she dusted her hands and got into the car.
“My mistake.”
“You…”
“I what?”
He scoffed, then started laughing. She didn’t melt, even though that rare sound was chipping away at the mountain of her rage. Butwhy was he still smoking?!
“Why are you still smoking?”
He stopped laughing.
