The Rut
The paper smacked her head before knocking off the remote from her hand.
"What the..."
"It's you isn't it?"
Pointing a finger towards herself, "This is me," she stated matter-of-factly, "I cannot say for sure about anything else that you may be referring too."
Ayesha screamed in frustration. "Don't play me Zoya!! You are writing under an alias in the paper aren't you?"
She picked the paper giving it a death glare and took a glance at the column that was looming in front of her eyes.
"Nope," she sighed and reached over to her bed-side drawer. She rolled up and took a drag before asking, "Whom have you confused me with?"
"I knew it!!" Ayesha grimaced.
"Tell me."
Behind them door clicked open and shut. "Bitch! That was the last one, wasn't it?" Jini flopped next to Zoya and snuck the joint from her fingers.
A scuffle ensued for the next drag and the victor turned towards Zoya. "Stop acting pricey," Ayesha glared, "I know it is you."
She waved the smoke away, "Not me."
"Just tell the truth Zoya," Jini suggested while waiting her turn.
"Ms. Delight."
She sputtered taking the smoke in. Handing over the joint Ayesha she replied, "Eww!! Certainly not me."
Quiet descended as they silently bid the ritual of the rounds. Haze induced calm cut the rougher edges of the frayed nerve ends. The minds relaxed as the bodies slumped even further down the mattress thrown onto the floor of the apartment. Only the Mumbai rain kept up the deceased conversation.
Butting the end in the bright red paper-mache cup, Ayesha relapsed to the topic that was shoved aside. Or at least that's what Zoya believed had happened. "Queenie confirmed it was you..."
"Bull."
"...so it has to be you," Jini completed.
"I have left the paper."
"Ms. Delight sounds slightly dirty."
"So deliciously dirty."
"It's a column about anonymous personal stories."
"Ahem ahem," Ayesha grinned a little too evilly, "Do tell."
She held out the paper and raised her eyes. Jini snatched the paper and chuckled, "So Zoya, who are you spreading the delight to?"
"Bloody...was that really the last one?" She dove head-first inside the drawer hoping to find the savior.
"Don't lie Zoya," Jini sat up, "we can deal with your kinky side."
"Not me," the innards of the drawer mumbled.
"We all do love kinky, don't we Jini?"
The drawer mumbled again, "Not me."
"Now I really want to read your delightful stories Zoya."
"Not me," the wooden cabinet mumbled once again.
"Tsk tsk Zoya, we are friends."
The head came out and the hands set to work. Lighting up once more she replied, "Still not me Jini."
"Ohkay!" Ayesha raised her hands in surrender. "So how have you girls been today?" she asked reaching out for the joint.
"Usual," Jini shrugged. "Hey, where is Mrigya?"
"Out making some dough," she took a drag and handed it back to Ayesha, "someone has to pay for this place after all."
"What about this column?"
"Definitely not me."
"Don't knock it Zoya. The story is f**king beautiful. It made me cry loads."
"What story?" exhaling the smoke she took back the paper to investigate the claim.
"Your alias' story," Ayesha quipped handing over the joint to Jini.
"Why do you think it's me anyways?"
"Apart from being misled by Queenie you mean?" Jini inquired.
"The writing style..."
"I never knew I had a writing style. Ex-Boss never called it to attention."
"Similar background..."
"Dime a dozen..."
"Why would Queenie lie?"
"She is taking your case."
"Sc**w you, she isn't!!"
"Poor Zoya!!"
"Why would I write for a newspaper that I have left?"
"You tell us that but you are cackling in your head. Maybe you are trying to trick us."
"That would be so juvenile," she shook her head and took another drag.
Jini took the roll in her fingers, "You should write Zoya."
"I am not that zone anymore Jini. I want to write. F**k I really do."
"You need to get inspired," Ayesha exhaled.
"Oh I know," Jini perked up, "go under an alias. For real this time."
She groaned and buried her head in the pillow.
"Like Popping Cherries or Ms. Mcs**tty!!"
"The other day I came across a name," Ayesha spoke up with glee, "Pigbenis."
"OMG!" Jini rolled over laughing, "so Zoya we have decided to change your pen-name to either Ms Mcs**tty or Pigbenis. Choose, choose wisely."
"Mcs**tty? Hmm, sounds very corporate."
The three friends shared a knowing look before laughter erupted from their bellies, spilling from their eyes after, being warmed by their heart.
Jini sobered up and threw the ashen end out the balcony into the earth purging rain, "I just
want you to write."
"Me too."
"We all do."
She turned her gaze to the sheets of rain that came crashing down on the roads outside.
"I guess I am just stuck in a rut for now."
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Dedicated to The Three Sauts -- from A Jaz Edited by jazerettePMs - 10 years ago
