Libre Magazine

The second eldest of my four uncles has three kids; the youngest, Adeel is the most talkative one; I mean there is simply no stopping him when he starts muttering. One day, after quite sometime, he visited us along with his mother and sister. As always, the first thing he said as soon as my mother opened the door was, “Where is Amir bhaai?”

He came upstairs to my room and that’s how the conversation went.

Adeel: What are you doing Amir bhaai?

Me: (working on one of the chapters of a short novel) I am working.

Adeel: Why are you working?

Me: Well, aahh, I don’t know, because I have to I guess.

Adeel: Ahan. So you like computers a lot?

Me: Aaa, well yes, sort of, I mean I like them a little.

Adeel: Then why don’t you switch them on only a little?

Me: Aaa…well…aaa

Adeel: (pointing to my bed) Who sleeps here?

Me: I sleep here.

Adeel: So you sleep upstairs as well and downstairs as well?

Me: No, I just sleep upstairs.

Adeel: You don’t sleep downstairs because your mother beats you?

Me: Well, that’s definitely not the reason. I just sleep here because my room is up here.

Adeel: Ahan. (Looking at the train passing by outside) So where does this train live? Where is its house?

Me: Aaa, well…. I think… It lives about a kilometer from here, her house is called a Railway Station.

Adeel: Ahan… So what are you doing now?

Me: I am still working?

Adeel: Why are you working?

Me: Aaah…

Adeel: Because you are old?

Me: Yes exactly, thank you, actually that’s the reason.

Adeel: But why are you old?

Me: Well, as much as I hated to be, I guess I just had to grow old

Adeel: And by the way, you are not the same Amir bhaai anymore

Me: Really? How come?

Adeel: Well you had a chubby face earlier on; but now you have become some other Amir bhaai

Me: Aah, well, what can I say.

Adeel: (Picking up a peanut pack from the table) So is this the only peanut pack left with you?

Me: Yes, but you can have it.

Adeel: Ahan, ok. I think I should leave now.

Me: All right, well take care of yourself.

Adeel: Bye.