The Bends : Chapter One

The elevator seems to take ages to reach upon the floor which was only on the fourth storey

but probably it could have been due to the lack of maintenance. Aden looks at the dim light of the elevator as he waited patiently for the elevator door lift to open up. With his bag pack on his bag and another mini luggage on his right arm he felt sure that this is what he was determined to pursue. He took the written address in his left side pants pocket and begins to look at it with full of anticipation. At last the door of the elevator opens up and Aden steps out from it and turns towards the left. The house seems to be located right at the corner of the floor. Aden pass through several doors and then as he came upon the right one, he rang the bell and waited. He almost rang the bell for the third time when at last the door was open and there stood a young fellow about his age smiling broadly as he welcomes Aden into the house. “Hie! Aden right? I’m Zhorif …it seems you are my new room mate.” cried Zhorif as he help Aden with his luggage.
“Thanks Zhorif,” replied Aden as he look and phase around the house with interest. It seems quite a mess with lots of unfolded clothes and empty paper cups and bowls scattered all over the floor.
I know it’s kind of messy, I seems to be so tight up with my upcoming presentations and don’t have much time to clear up this place.” cried Zhorif as he notices Aden was scanning their living area with his hazel brown eyes. Zhorif was a college businese and economics student and coming to his third term where Aden was a freshmen entering the same college as Zhorif but in different theory.
“It’s fine with me.” replied Aden politely as he does not want to make Zhorif feel uneasy about that matter. Zhorif smile sheepishly and then he took Aden to his room.

“This is going to be your room. I hope it suits to your taste.” said Zhorif as he opens the door and show Aden around his new room which Aden had agree on the phone about the rent. Aden walks in and place his bag pack and his luggage on the single bedded. The room was about medium size and the walls definitely needs some fresh painting. There was a three doors cupboard, a small side table and a small couch arrange neatly against the wall. A small lamp was also been place on the side table.
“It should be fine for me. Thanks Zhorif,” replied Aden with a smile.
“I need to get something from the groceries store down-stairs. Will you like me to get you something too?” asked Zhorif. Aden shakes his head and then Zhorif left Aden all by himself. Aden close the door and begins unpacking his clothes and other stuff and place them nicely inside the cupboard. After finishing with the packing, he took his mobile phone from the side pocket of his bag pack and begins dialing the number. He waited patiently until someone had eventually answer his call.
“Hello mum, it’s me Aden.” cried Aden excitedly.
“Hey! It’s me. Mum is not around at this moment. Probably she’s busy with dad about something at their company.” replied Aleeya as she tossed her long fringe away from her eyes. “So how’s your new place?” asked Aleeya curiously.
“I can survive.” replied Aden with a grin. "Need time to adjust few things around here. How about you? Don't give any more trouble to mum and dad alright...as you had promised to me before I left." cried Aden as he lay on his bed while smiling to himself as he knew his sister can be quite a handful.

"Come on bro...I'm not that short-minded. Of course I will remember my pinky swear." replied Aleeya as she pick a grape from the bowl and put it in her mouth.

"Good. Well I've got to go. Don't forget to tell mum and dad I called. Stay away from trouble." said Aden again with a smile before he hungs up.

"Whatever you say Aden." answered Aleeya with a sheepish grin. She ran up towards her bedroom and grabs her helmet together with the house keys and dash towards the stairs as she heads to the door and about to leave the house. Just then her parents had arrive at the front porch.

"Aleeya..what's the rush?" asked her father Adam. Aleeya came closer to her parents and give them a kiss on their cheeks.

"Hie mum..dad. Need to meet up with some of my friends for our school assignment." replied Aleeya as she tossed her hair and tied it up in a bundle.

"At this hour Aleeya?" utter Zaharah her mother displeased as she looks at her watch and it was almost half past eight.

"Mum I will be back before ten..okay. I need to be there cause we need to submit it by next week" cried Aleeya as she walk pass by her parents and rushed towards her motorbike. "By the way Aden call just now."

"Aden, Did he asked for me?" asked Zaharah with full of anticipation.

"Nope. Well don't wait for me for dinner..cause I'm eating out tonight." exclaimed Aleeya as she puts on her helmet and turn on her motorbike engine. And then in just few seconds she speed off heading towards her desired destination. Zaharah stood by the gate until her daughter was out her sight before she enters their home.

"Aden must be still mad at me." said Zaharah sadly as she place her handbag on the coffee table and went towards the kitchen to heat up the dinner.

"Zaharah, you worried too much. You know Aden is not such an un reasonable fellow." replied Adam with a smile as he arrange the plate on the table as Zaharah begins serving the food.

"I don't know...but I don't feel good about all this. The fear of him knowing the truth is simply eating me up slowly." utter Zaharah as she pull out the chair and take her seat.

"Zaharah, I know how you feel about Aden...I feel the same way too, but we have to be prepared if the truth spills out." said Adam as he looks intensely towards Zaharah.

"An episode which I pray will not happen." replied Zaharah. "Another thing about our beloved daughter, Aleeya. Your idea getting her that bike is simply unacceptable."

"Zaharah...we have been through this before." replied Adam with a sigh.
However Zaharah continues again with her reasons, "Just look at her hair...she got the colour of your hair...beautiful chestnut brown..but now what had happen...blonde with some pink highlights. " cried Zaharah shaking her head in disbelieve.

"She's an art student...she just want to be expressive that's all." replied Adam with a grin. "I intend to get my right arm tattoo before..but my pain treshold is kind of poor so I decides to forget about the idea. And also my dad will definately hit his head if he saw that."

"A tattoo.. so if Aleeya request to have tattoo on her body..you will simple say yes?" asked Zaharah looking tense.

"Zaharah...at times we need to let go and not to be overly protective with them. The art of flying a kite...we need to pull and let go of the kite string to follow up with the wind so that the kite will constantly be up in the air flew strongly against the wind. If we were to pull the string too hard..the string might just snap and the kite will be lost among the clouds. " replied Adam with a comfort smile.

"Yah..like what I have done with Aden. I guess this is all my fault. I have eventually drove him away." cried Zaharah sadly as she stirs the soup in her bowl. She remember clearly on the day where she had a heated arguement with Aden about the choice of career which he decides to pursue. Aden was a mechanical engineering student. However he quits halfway through and enrolled himself in photography workshop instead without even telling her and Adam.

"You should at least told us about your plan. I received letters from your college about your withdrawal and the payment which we need to come out with to pay out for your bond." cried Zaharah furiously as she tossed the letter on Aden's bed.

"Mum I'm sorry. I know I should be more responsible about this. I wanted to tell you..both of you but I was afraid...you might not like this idea of me taking photography as a profession." replied Aden sadly as he hung his head low with tears in his beautiful hazel brown eyes. "About the bond payment, you can have my savings and also I might be taking part time job to help you out."

"Aden, it's not about the payment. It's about you being irresponsible. I have so much hopes on you but how could you back stab us like this?" cried Zaharah.

"It's that what you think of me mum? You think I've indirectly back stab you? I'm sorry mum..for being your disappointment." replied Aden angrily as he left the room and slammed the door behind him leaving Zaharah all by herself as she begins to cry in silent. Photograpy as a profession...it fine with Zaharah. But the fear of this hobby and passion might lead him to something else...Zaki his real father. Zaharah knew Zaki was an avid photographer himself...but he never pursue it as a carreer ..it is more like his pastime.

"Damn it what have I done?" whispered Zaharah.

"Zaharah, they are no longer our little tots, they are growing up, learning and discovering new things. Just let them be." said Adam as he held Zaharah's hand. Zaharah was startle from her daze and smile faintly.

"Aden..even though he did not grow inside my womb but he has grown in my heart. He's only twenty-two and Aleeya she's only turning seventeen this year. Of course I'm worried." exclaimed Zaharah as she looks at Adam big brown eyes behind those glasses.

"That is the time when they feel that they are ready to take charge in almost everything.But of course with some limitation boundaries. How about you where were you when you are seventeen?" asked Adam with his darlie grin.

"Discovering you." replied Zaharah with a smile.

After his quick shower Aden look at his watch and it was almost nine at night. As he put on his t- shirt and jeans he headed towards the window and drew up the blinds and saw there were few more buildings opposite him right across the small road which lead to the city area. He feels that this was the only place which he can afford the rent and further more the distance between his rented home towards his college is only about twenty minutes journey and with his motorbike he felt sure it won't be any problem. The sudden hunger pangs in his tummy and he decides to grab something for dinner. He grab his keys and left the house. This time instead of using the old elevator he change his mind and use the stairs instead. Thankfully the eating house was not that far off from his building. He order some pack fried noodles and a bottle of orange juice and then he headed towards the groceries store nearby and gets his other stuffs which he needs before he walk back towards the building. As Aden was passing by the ground pouch along the pavement, he saw some guys sitting along the rusty iron bench which was lay right beside the building. Aden could smell strong smell of liquor and they seems to be smoking cannabies. Aden just ignored them and had his attention towards the rough concrete floor instead. Suddenly, one of the guy stood up and stand in front of his way. Aden tries to get away from him but that high dose fellow tries to provoke Aden and he blew his cigarrete smoke onto Aden's face.

"Hey pretty boy..when you living in this area..show some respect to us..or face the consequences." cried the rough looking guy who seems to be two to three years older then Aden himself.

"Get a life." replied Aden sarcastically much to the men's anger.

"You don't seems to get the picture aren't you " yelled the men as he push Aden towards the ground. Aden almost lost his balance however his food which he had bought earlier drops onto the ground and so are his other stuffs.

"Now look what you have done to my dinner." cried Aden as he grab the shirt of the men and looks directly into his eyes.

"Hey! Ilhan what's up my buddy?" it was Zhorif as he came by and pull Aden away from Ilhan. "Please forgive my room mate..he's new here so he was not aware about the rules around this area. Alright just let it go." pleads Zhorif as he tries to disperse the fight which might just broke out between them.

"For your sake looser." cried Ilhan but he had his eyes fix on Aden.

Aden bends to pick his stuffs which had drop on the ground but he can't save his spill out dinner. He brush his long light brownish fringe of his eyes as he stood up and walk away heading back towards the building in silence.

"That's Ilhan. He's some kind of a ring leader around this area. Everyone seems to be scared of him and his other companions ruffian ways." cried Zhorif as they both enter their home.

"A ring leader of what? What makes them feel the right to control this place and suffocating the people living this area?' protested Aden as he place his stuff on the side table with anger on his looks.

"You don't know anything about this place...so the best is stay out of his way. Cause he can do things which can be quite horrible." explained Zhorif hoping that Aden will listen.

"Oh really. So where are the cops around here? Are they being sleeping too?" asked Aden with sarcasm in his tone.

"Even cops can't handle them..they are too smart for the cops. And one more additional info for your interest Aden, he lives three doors away from us." said Zhorif as he turns on the small television.

"Just great!" replied Aden and he feels that this is going to be a tough life for him but he was not afraid as he take this as a challenge in facing with the reality walks of lives.