"Ishaq, I'm not a submissive little plaything like some of the ladies of your Muslim faith, no offense, I'm a Sikh woman and my people have had gender equality long before it became fashionable," Jagdeep replied, and I saw a look of raw intensity in her liquid chocolate eyes. I smiled at her and forced myself to be calm. I hate it when people confuse Arab culture, with its occasional patriarchal elements, with my beloved Islamic religion, which is globe-spanning and diverse.
"Jagdeep, my dear, Islam is a faith, not a culture, in Saudi Arabia, women cannot drive or leave the house without a male chaperone but in places like Turkey, Nigeria, Chechnya, and Indonesia, you will see female politicians, female police officers and female soldiers, just like in Canada and America," I replied, and Jagdeep scoffed dismissively. Still smiling, I began to steeple my fingers, something I do when I'm pissed but trying to be cool.
"Ishaq, you still can't tell when I'm fucking with you?" Jagdeep laughed, and as I tried to process her words, she kicked my foot underneath the table. Hard. I winced, and shook my head. Jagdeep smirked and kicked me again. Dude, what the fuck? I got kind of pissed, and kicked Jagdeep's foot. Not as hard as she kicked me, but enough to make her notice. I respect a lady but I don't play like that. Come at me and I'll deal with you.
"You've got a twisted sense of fun, Miss Kahlon," I said, and Jagdeep laughed real hard, and snorted a bit, and leaned back in her chair. Amusement danced in those pale chocolate eyes, and her lips curved into a wry smile. This chick was totally putting me on, pushing my buttons, and I was falling for it like a rank amateur. I'm usually sharper than that, I swear.
"Oh, come on, Ishaq, I'm just having fun with you, big man," Jagdeep said, smiling at me the way a cat smiles at a mouse. Like I said before, the lady has a way of getting to me. When I worked as a loss prevention officer at the Supercenter, I'd do my grocery shopping during my breaks and whenever I came by her cashier's stand, Jagdeep would be all smirks. Elle est une garce, as they say among the French.
"Let's hit the gym together sometime, lady, and I'll show you what I got," I countered, feeling a bit foolish for playing Jagdeep's game, but my ego wouldn't let me back down. Jagdeep smiled and casually shrugged, but did not answer. I excused myself and got up to go grab another Pepsi. It's still hot and I was feeling thirsty. All that jawing has a way of getting at a brother, you know?
"You got a nice ass, Ishaq, though if you keep talking shit, I just might spank it," Jagdeep said, as I returned to the table. I was about to sit down but she lashed out with her long, sexy leg and pushed my chair away. I smiled and forced myself to be calm, and shook my head at the Asian lady working behind the counter, who looked at us with alarm. I grabbed the chair and sat back down, and looked into Jagdeep's eyes. I saw a veritable challenge in there, and the lady was not playing...
"You talk a lot of smack, lady, care to back it up?" I said to Jagdeep, and I leaned closer and looked defiantly into those chocolate eyes of hers. Jagdeep stared back without smiling, and I held my breath, bracing myself for anything and everything. That's the thing about the female of our species, ladies and gentlemen. Always expect the bloody unexpected...
"Oh, I'm fire personified, big man, worry about yourself," Jagdeep replied, and I saw amusement and defiance in those eyes, and suddenly her face was inches from mine. I took a deep breath, and then crossed the distance between us. I kissed her. Jagdeep's tongue slithered down my throat, and I felt a surge of passion from her which surprised me. I held her tight, and our hands were all over each other. Heedless of where we were and who might be watching, we kissed passionately.
"Um, hello," came a feminine voice, and Jagdeep and I came up for air, and looked at the old Asian lady from the restaurant counter. Standing less than a meter from us, she kind of hovered, an uncomfortable look on her face. I was about to say something when Jagdeep laid a restraining hand on my shoulder, and then spoke to the lady in a language I did not know, yet nevertheless recognized as decidedly non-Hindi.
"Huí jiā. Nǐ bùnéng zài wǒ de cāntīng zuò'ài," the Asian lady replied haughtily, and Jagdeep got up and started after her. Gently but firmly I prevented her from doing so by pulling her close. Jagdeep whirled about, facing me, an angry look in her eyes. They seemed almost feral now. Dammit, women and their anger issues, I swear. I froze, hoping Jagdeep wouldn't cross the line...
"This old wish just told us to go home, apparently she doesn't want us to fuck in her restaurant," Jagdeep said, eyebrows raised, lips curled in anger. I looked at her and sighed, then took her hands in mine. This afternoon was turning out to be quite different from what I originally intended, that's for damn sure. Jagdeep is intense, and angry, and scary, and beautiful. And, um, every time I see her, I get a boner...
"Jagdeep, mere dost, let's leave this puerile place," I said, smiling while making my voice grave, and Jagdeep grins, then elbows me in the ribs. I stoically pretend it doesn't hurt, and wrap my arm around her as we head toward the door. Random encounters with the people we care most about are definitely the reason why we live, isn't it? I'm about to say something else when, as we reach the door, Jagdeep stops to holler at the restaurant lady, again in that Asian language which I don't understand...
"Nǐ shì cūlǔ hé zhǒngzú zhǔyì de. Wǒ bù xǐhuān zhège dìfāng nǐ shǔyú yǎnglǎoyuàn," Jagdeep hollers at the old Asian lady, and from the way the lady reacted, I could tell that it wasn't a compliment. Jagdeep and I high-tailed it out of there. See what I told you about women? Jagdeep usually looks majestic and serene, the tall, curvy, gorgeous Sikh Indian woman with the stylish turban, tirelessly working at the Supercenter and walking around Algonquin College like she owns the place. The fearsome lady who caused a scene inside Cathay restaurant? I don't know where she came from!
"What happened back there, Jagdeep? What on earth did you say to that poor woman?" I asked, once we were a few blocks from the restaurant. We walked past the Petro Canada gas station, and did not go down on Woodroffe. Nope, we continued toward Merivale, and stopped by Saint Pius. Jagdeep grabbed my arm and led me to Canter Boulevard, and I found myself puzzled by the whole thing.