Zero Bridge Page #4

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Great...so have you finished

whatever you were doing?

- Almost.

- What are you doing, anyway?

Just some math homework.

Ah, math...

yes he is very clever at that.

He can already do up to twelve grade

math levels...

...and makes a lot of money at it.

That's nice of you to help him earn.

Huh? How do you mean?

l'm just saying...it's great that

two of us help this guy make money.

What do you mean by ""earning""?

He means that he keeps me

really busy and so l earn a lot...

...that's all he means.

- What ""money"" is he talking about?

- l'm just saying this is one smart guy.

Are you making money from this?

Nothing wrong with making money! lt's

very smart of him to work...

...and that's what l meant.

He's a really clever kid.

He sure is...

...making his money off my work!

Get out.

Trying to kill me?!

Your bowling's a little off, no?

Hey, what the hell are you doing?

ls this any way to play?

Go buy bread.

Go!

- l need money then.

- l'm broke...say you'll owe them.

Don't you have your own money?

- What are you looking for?

- l lost my diary.

- What?

- l lost my diary.

Where did you put it?

l'll help you look.

- lt should be here somewhere.

- What?

Where did you put it?

l buried it in a hole outside.

Maybe a dog took it.

Only dogs dig holes.

Keep looking then.

What did you promise me?

That you wouldn't do any more

homework for those kids? Was that it?

But you don't care about

anybody except yourself, do you?

So...you got our homework or

what?

Your homework got stolen.

What?

What the hell are you saying?

Ahh...he's joking.

Look, it was my Uncle.

He got all my money, too.

- What will we tell the Madame?

- Make her understand.

- That tough b*tch won't buy that!

- Neither will our fathers!

What are we

supposed to tell them?

What can l do now?

Hey don't push me!

No, you shouldn't push me!

l'm pissed and l could snap!

Make me back off, b*tch.

- How did he even get the homework?

- l guess he went into my bag.

- Let's take his ass to the cops!

- What about the homework?

- l said put your hands down.

- Come on, let's not fight!

You better step away from me.

- Why should l?

- Don't touch me, l'm your friend.

- Bilal, let him go!

We're going to give you three days to

get back our homework...

...or else we're turning you in

to the cops to get our money back.

Three days, got it?

What are you doing here?

Just in the neighborhood.

And l also came to say l'm sorry.

There's nothing l hate more than liars.

Well, l also came to say goodbye.

Where are you going?

Delhi, maybe.

l might be going there also.

My professor's husband has a house

there. They said l could visit anytime.

Maybe we'll run into each other.

How about a last handshake?

Don't be like everybody else...

You're too smart.

l have to run now.

Hey there he is!

Get that bastard!

Got the money yet?

Check his pockets!

Grab it! Grab it!

Get his cap! Any money?

This pig's got nothing on him!

He's got no money?

Voting Commission announced that

polling was held without any fear...

...and that voting would

continue despite...

...murder of Congressman

Maurya three days earlier...

This piece is the Rook...and that's

the Knight...and the Bishop...

This can go in this direction...

or in that direction...got it?

And you can also move it like...

come on, watch TV later.

lt can go like this...

but the Knight jumps.

Or like this, or like this...

Shaheena?

And the Queen can move in any

direction. Got everything so far?

No, l think you're watching TV.

Now, those ones can move two steps

first and then later...one step.

Don't you have

some housework to do?!

Stop wasting time and

go make the rice!

Fine. Leave it.

Dear Mommy...

No matter where l go, people treat

each other like dogs.

What makes us such

selfish animals?

Mommy, l don't want to be

an animal anymore...

...but how will l survive now?

Haven't you been here before?

People used to tell me...

""Trade the bastard to the orphanage.""

Back when your mother left.

l told them they were wrong...

so l didn't.

That was the biggest mistake of my life.

One kilogram.

l'll take it.

What should she do now?

She has to come here to pick up

this form.

And she must bring eight passport- sized

photographs and she also...

...needs to get it stamped with the

Attested Stamp of the Gazette Officer...

But be sure to fill out the

form carefully.

Any mistakes and it will be

rejected.

How much time will that take?

l'd say about four months.

Then let's drop it.

Your uncle is coming here later.

Can l come in my dear?

Hello.

- How are you? Am l disturbing?

- Not at all.

By the Grace of God,

you've gotten so big!

How are you?

- Fine, fine.

Your cousin Waseem

really wants to meet you.

l think you two will

be very happy together.

l've spoken to your mother.

We've made all the arrangements.

l'll be leaving Srinagar in a few days

and heading back to Jammu.

So you should be ready to leave.

Okay.

- l'll leave you then.

- Goodbye.

- Did you talk to her?

- Yes.

- What did she say?

- Nothing. She's just shy...

l don't understand

what's wrong with her.

Ever since she came back home

she just hasn't been her old self here.

Don't worry.

Everything will work out just fine.

How are you?

Fine?

Long time, no see.

Why the long face?

What happened to you?

Why don't you tell me what's wrong?

Look, l just want the labor contracts.

All right.

Here you go.

- Want to get a cup of tea tonight?

- No...l'll be late.

No problem then.

Good evening.

Then again, maybe we should

sometime soon.

That's a nice shirt you're wearing.

Thank you.

l didn't think you would keep

our date for today.

l had a big board meeting,

but how could l miss this?

- Why do you look so sad?

- No reason.

l know your Uncle beats you

and yells at you...

...but that's just his way of

caring about you.

He was a boy too, once. Somebody

must have yelled at him once...

...and l'm sure

he loves you very much.

l've had about all of his love

l can stand.

Dear Mom...

this morning she told me...

...that she is getting married...

...because her Uncle has decreed it

for her.

...and that she plans to

escape in the morning...

...while everyone else is still asleep.

Will you write to me or call me

from your new place?

Of course! Why wouldn't l?

But that's what everybody says.

No, l will call you,

and also write.

Well, since you've made up

your mind about it...

...l wish you good luck on your journey.

You know...you're very sweet.

Look...running away from home

never really works out...

l know this from experience.

What if...

you could ride to Delhi with me?

They have an extra room there...

...and you could stay

as long as you want.

l could just tell them...

you're my cousin.

Believe me, l've run away before.

l can't repeat that mistake anymore.

lt's probably best to

just deal with life...

...rather than rush towards

another dead end.

l have enough savings

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