Question: I've got a question for Mina, did you have a crush on Shehzer when u were little or you actually thought of him as disgusting? (asked by IngelaRafiq)

Mina:

Oh wow. Really interesting question. Hmm. I guess we have to go back to two different stages of my childhood with Shehzer. For the first stage, when I was too young to know anything about "Crushes" and "Boys" and "Lovey Dovey-ness", I genuinely hated Shehzer. It wasn't him, personally, it's just that he was a boy, and according to universal girl law; all boys have cooties. (hence all boys must be spitted and snooted at).

On a side note, Shehzer wasn't the prettiest boy, growing up. Seriously, he had the biggest funniest sticky-outy ears. It took a while for him to grow into those ears. :P Haha.

Shehzer:

What!? My Mom always said I was the handsomest kid in America! And Mom is never wrong Mina. Never.

Mina:

Why do you keep butting into my questions? and FYI, Moms are supposed to say stuff like this. It's practically part of their job description.

Back to the story!

Now I know that Areeb has always been my friend, but honestly, he didn't count. He was my exception, because I knew that he stayed clean, and he didn't indulge in boyish habits that irked me, some of which include Football, Video-games, mud eating etc etc.

Shehzer was the only boy who shamelessly bugged me again and again to be friends with him, and that kind of repelled me to no end. Seriously, boys, take note: If she says No. It means, NO! okay? (especially if she is 9 years old, and you're a creepy 12 year-old who wants to hold her hand during a game of Kings.)

Shehzer:

*Cough*, Noted.

Mina:

Which brings us to the second phase of my childhood, where I missed Shehzer, because he stopped visiting. For the most part, whoever said that "Absence makes the heart fonder" was definitely onto something.

I remember when I entered that phase of "Awareness" as a kid. You know? that phase when you realize that Boys and Girls are different, and when you giggle about stories that you heard from the more "Informed" classmates.

One fine morning, Adiba told me that she had a crush on one of our male classmates, Saif (AKA Saifoo)

We talked about butterflies in our stomachs and spent hours whispering to each other about what we Thought these feelings meant.

"We were watching Drake and Josh the other day, and there was a kissing scene." I whispered to Adiba during recess one day. "Ma changed the channel, SO FAST Adiba! I'm telling you, Kissing is a BAD THING!"

"I don't get it..." Adiba frowned at me, racking her pre-teen brain for an explanation. "If you're English (Translate:White/Non-Muslim/Non-desi etc) You can kiss people you're not married to...?"

"I don't know anyone I'd like to marry, Deeba. Can you imagine kissing someone like Ali? EW. Double Ew. EW till eternity." I scrunched up my nose in disgust.

"I think I'll marry Saifoo. He's super cute. Like Drake from Drake and Josh." Adiba sighed as she got all dreamy eyed about her "Crush". "He actually asked ME for an eraser yesterday, even though his friend totally had one too. I think he likes me back. Do you think it's too early to tell him about our Shaadi (wedding)?"

I was stumped. Something she said reminded me of Shehzer, and the time I overheard his Aunt telling my Ma, that Shehzer wanted to marry me.

"Hey, do you like, uhh, can't remember the guy's name...hmm, he used to visit his aunt next door to us..." I could feel my collar getting hot with the lie. I totally remembered him. I just didn't want Adiba to know how much I actually cared.

"Shehzer?" Adiba piped in.

"Yes yes! Shehzer. Do you think he is...cute?" I asked hesitantly. If you've ever grown up with a best friend like Adiba, you know that her opinions matter A LOT to you. (Which very unrelatedly, reminds me of a particular Spice girls song. Another tip for you boys; after parents, BFFs hold the Veto Power for us. Zigazig-Ha and all that jazz)

"Hmm. He talks funny Minnie. Definitely not marriage material." Adiba shrugged her shoulders dismissively, "You can marry Areeb! then both of us can buy houses beside each other! Aaack! this is so exciting!"

I ignored the sharp swoop of disappointment in my stomach that nothing in the world could explain. I hadn't seen Shehzer in the past couple of years, and it made absolutely no sense that I'd suddenly start caring about the way he used to be around me. I started recalling all the sweet things he did for me, and I felt extremely guilty about being a little brat and rejecting his attempts to befriend me.

Most of all, I couldn't explain this urge to defend him in front of Adiba; to say that his Americanized Urdu accent was actually kind of adorable; that I liked the fact that he always silently endured our constant jibes instead of reacting hot-headedly like my brother would have.

"...And we can ask the builders to make a secret tunnel that runs between the two houses, and then we can sneak into each other's house anytime we want to! And Areeb and Saifoo will do the boring adult jobs and will read newspapers while we spend our days painting and growing chocolate in our backyard!..."

I nodded and squealed along with Adiba's crazy plans for our post-marriage life. But something changed for me that day. I no longer hated Shehzer Khan.

I missed him.

Of course, he never came back....I mean, he did come back, but like after a dozen years or so. During that period, there were times when I forgot him for years and years, and then some random thing, like Dumbo the huge-eared elephant would remind me of him, and I'd wonder what he looked like now. I'd wonder, if he'd still be crazy about me. I'd wonder if he'd like me as I am now. (particularly, during mid-teenage years, these thoughts were pretty intense!)

Not sure this would qualify as a crush.

Would it?

Shehzer:

Crush? Baby, you were head over heels in love with me. *smirk*

Mina:

I am now. Dumbo.

Shehzer:

I DO NOT have huge ears.

Mina:

*Leans over to kiss his ears*, I love your flappers honey. They're adorable!

Author's Note:

Ahh! back to these two after so long!

You people have no idea, how naturally they come to me, as characters! Writing my second Full length Novel has actually showed me that writing about different perspectives isn't easy. The characters in this book, are just very very easy to write about! ^_^

Another reminder for you peeps: PLEASE DON'T POST your questions on my profile, or on random chapters of this book. I keep forgetting who commented where. If you have a question, I'd love to hear it, ON THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THIS BOOK.

Toodles. <3