The Fruit Surgeon by Shafeen Mustaq

Annie berated herself silently as she viciously yanked her trolley around the crammed corner and into the next aisle teeming with people, it was the only therapeutic way she knew to release the day's tensions, to ram her trolley into the one in front and watch the domino effect with satisfaction, which she did. Nonetheless, she reprimanded her miserly ways each time she stepped into the fruit market to jostle around sweaty, body contact and the sickly smell of old cabbage. Next time she would buy her fruit and veggies from the supermarket, yet she always found herself at the fruit market when in need. As Annie reached for an apple, wisps of her raven, shoulder length hair fell across her face and with an irritated flick of her hand she swiped her hair back, and into the face of the man behind her who promptly shoved it right back in her face.

Incensed, Annie turned around so fast her handbag became tangled in between her body and the trolley. As she glared at the impudent stranger, untangled bag, body and trolley, and rearranged her hair, the vaguely familiar faced stranger reached around her to pick up an apple, his long lean fingers making contact with the bare skin of her arm and disorientating her further. Lost for words, she watched as he produced a pocket knife and proceeded to peel and quarter the apple in front of her, depositing his waste on the cement floor at her feet. As she began to ask him to move he unceremoniously popped a quarter of an apple into her open mouth. "whafdoyoufinkyouredoink?' Annie screeched, her mouth full of apple as the man cleaned his knife and faced her with a cheeky grin.

'Compliments of the fruit surgeon.' He said in a deep and husky voice which caused the apple to become lodged painfully in her throat and her stomach to fall terrifying close to the apple peel on the floor. She watched him walk away, seething angrily that she could not place his face and wishing she could choke him on his virulently sweet apple quarters.

* * * * * *

'I can't believe you're doing this to me!' Annie wailed through the phone at her best friend Norma as she lay on her bed and thought of the fruit surgeon. 'We've been planning this for a whole week but all of a sudden Hank's come back early from his business trip and I'm left out in the cold.' Annie's best friend, Norma, sighed dramatically through the phone line while she tried on a turquoise dress.

'We've been talking for the past hour and I've told you, you can come with us but you don't want to be the 'third wheel' as you so nicely put it. Look we'll do dinner tomorrow okay? Anyway, I see you at work everyday! Now go away so I can get dressed!' As she depressed the 'end' button on the phone, Annie thought of Norma's roller coaster love life. Norma was never alone on weekdays or weekends, her bubbly nature had always ensured a constant boyfriend, but being Norma, at thirty, she had yet to settle down. Though they were such close friends, Annie had never felt comfortable with the way Norma changed boyfriends like clothes. If it was Greg this week it would be Tom the next, however Annie had a feeling it was different, with Hank and she sincerely hoped it worked out. Norma had met Hank at a marketing seminar which Annie had backed out of going at the last minute, and had connected in a platonic way. Hank was quite the practical joker and Norma had an open and gregarious nature, which allowed them to spend many hours in each others company without any discomfort. This friendship had gradually turned into something more and Annie could see that Norma had found someone who was a real 'Knight in Shining Armour' candidate.

'Unlike me' Annie said out loud as she got up and walked to the full length mirror on her closet door. Her last relationship was seven months ago and Andrew had lasted nearly a whole year, 11 months and 13 days to be exact; she had had serious hopes of settling down with him and getting married before she reached the big three - oh. He wanted to settle down too, but not exactly the way she had planned. One day out of the blue, he had called to say he wasn't getting any younger, he was thirty two, and wanted to settle down, only she wasn't the right girl for him, oh it wasn't her fault it was him and blah blah. She hated to admit but Annie had pleaded and cried profusely for a whole week. Then she had thrown herself into her work which had resulted in a recent promotion at the advertising agency where she worked and the pay rise allowed her to acquire a more spacious apartment which she was in the process of decorating. Annie looked around her two bedroom apartment disconsolately; she had planned to move into a bigger place with Andrew after they had been steady for nine months. Annie had started looking for a two bedroom apartment which would suit them and any new family member quite comfortably. Well she had moved out of her studio apartment, but without the larger family she had been hoping for. The second bedroom was filled with toys, books and clothes that belonged to her niece who often stayed over to appease Annie's loneliness.

Jerking herself out of her reverie, Annie realized it was too late to make plans with friends or co workers and decided to catch a movie by herself. After all she was thirty, a single thirty year old woman out by herself on a Friday night. Sighing, Annie contemplated her reflection; she was 5'7', raven hair, dark brown eyes and angular features which gave her a uniquely stunning look. She could never describe herself as pretty but knew others found her strikingly attractive. An old acquaintance had once described her features as seductive and sexy. Old acquaintance, Mark had been the biggest mistake of her life. 'If you're all that, then why are you single?' Annie taunted her reflection as she dressed in a dusty pink calf length skirt and a black cashmere sweater, completing the outfit with earrings, shoes and handbag. Deciding against make-up, she applied a light coat of lip gloss and mascara; she gave herself a last pensive glance and made her way out.

As she drove to the movie complex, Annie realized how far she had come from the dreamy girl of the western suburbs. Growing up as the youngest child in a house of four children, had been a pleasant experience, she had been coddled by her elder brother and looked after by her two sisters. It had come as a severe shock to her parents when she had voiced her plans to move out of home and find a place for herself closer to her work in the city. She was the last child to leave their nest and they parted with her with no little grief. Annie recollected with a smile that if she hadn't been made an aunt then, her parents might not have let her go that easily. Annie loved the fortnightly family gathering when she saw her happily married siblings and her loud and lovable niece and nephews. Her parents had insisted on maintaining the large house of her childhood and she went back regularly to relive happy memories and create new ones. There was only one aspect of the whole visit which she wished would not be carried out with such frightening regularity and eagerness, and that was a thorough examination of her love life by both her parents and sisters. The phrases, 'So, when are you getting married?' and 'Have you found anyone yet love?' were detestable and she knew that only the physical evidence of taking a man to meet the family would silence the questions. So far she had only ever taken Mark to meet her family and they had like him well enough, she had liked him too, but as usual she hadn't been able to make the right choices when it came to her personal life.

* * * * * *

'So we meet again' Annie had barley settled into her seat when the unmistakable voice caused her to freeze. The voice accompanied by the body made itself comfortable in the seat beside hers, though thankfully nothing lodged in her throat this time her memory suddenly gave her a clear profile of exactly who the voice belonged to. She had thought she would never forget him and at the fruit market she had vaguely recognized him but now she could still picture the arrogant yet suave manner, aloof but flirtatious glances and the occasional cheeky grin that stopped many a heart. 'Mark Fletcher, remember me?' She turned to face him in her seat, the movie completely forgotten as their eyes met in the dim lighting of the theatre.

He had walked into the agency about two years ago, bringing with him the promise of a sizable contract. Mark Fletcher, owner of the largest chain of fruit markets nation wide. Every female co worker, married and single alike had unresistingly been swayed by his appearance and attitude, while her male co workers admired him for his confident charisma. Surprisingly he had taken to her and they had been out on a few informal dates before Hank came into her life and yet Annie felt Aaron awaken a part of herself she had never known existed. Unfortunately Annie had chosen Hank, a decision she had regretted quietly ever since. She had quelled her feelings and tried to forget him, it was impossible.

'How could I forget you?'

The words were out before she had thought it through and she regretted it instantly as she saw the heart stopping grin light up his eyes. He had wanted to settle down with her then and she had stupidly refused, thinking things were moving too fast. He was probably married by now and maybe even had kids. Surely someone else would have replaced her by now, she was realistic enough to realize that at least, so why was the thought accompanied by sharp pains in her abdomen which she knew to be jealousy?

His laughter made her aware of the redness in her cheeks as he leaned towards her in the dark. 'Your face is still an open book,' she was very aware of his arm along the back of her seat, 'an interesting and attractive one at that.' His breath brushed against her cheeks and caused her breathing to become restricted. 'Why is a gorgeous woman like you all alone at the movies?' her hands gripped the arms of her seat convulsively as he drew closer. 'I'm still waiting' Annie had not realized her eyes were closed until she opened them to find Aaron's face millimeters from hers. She smiled and said softly, 'I'm not going to make the same mistake twice.'

* * * * * *

'We're going inside with this lot guys.' Annie, Norma and Hank were helping Aaron to move his belongings into Annie's apartment. As Annie walked up the stairs, the diamond ring on her ring finger danced in the sunlight and caused her face to light up with happiness. She had to pinch herself and make sure she wasn't dreaming, it was all happening so fast, but this time she was ready to be rushed off her feet, Aaron had proposed on their second date and she had delightedly accepted. Annie had once again begun dreaming of additions to her apartment and was secure in the knowledge that Aaron would help realize them, when she tentatively broached the subject of living together, he didn't flinch, like Andrew had, and as Annie had recently moved and realizing the apartment was better situated for both their convenience, Aaron had agreed to move in with her. She would be surprising her parents with the news at the next family gathering, but for the moment was content to keep the news between herself, Aaron, Norma and Hank. Norma held open the door, as Annie walked in with the small open box of Aaron's brick-a-brac. As she placed the box on the table a small, slightly faded and unframed photo fell out and the face of an attractive blonde in her mid twenties smiled back at Annie. The woman was wearing a flowery chiffon dress which was exactly the same as a dress of Annie's. She picked up the photo and was about to put it back into the box, when she spied something written on the back.

To my darling Aaron



Love Victoria

Annie still did not feel anything was remiss and went to the kitchen to show the dress to Norma. As she turned towards the door, Aaron's arms enveloped her into a warm hug. Giggling she moved out of his reach, and as she did so he spied the photo in her hand and his demeanor underwent an almost instantaneous change from playful to reticent. Annie observed this change and asked quietly, 'Who is she?' he shook his head slightly and Annie forced herself to wait till they were alone. With the help of Norma and Hank, the job was completed in half the time and the foursome decided to go out for dinner. Hank was blissfully ignorant of the slight tension between Aaron and Annie and the meaningful looks passing between the two women. His jokes and ample conversation more than made up for the silence of others and resulted in a somewhat pleasant dinner. Annie and Norma parted with hushed promises of phone calls as each got in their respective cars. The drive home was unusually silent and devoid of affection for Annie and Aaron and the former immediately looked inquiringly at the latter for an explanation as soon as they had reached home.

Aaron took out the photo from his pocket and fingered it as he began to speak. 'My dad comes from a close knit family like yours; he and my aunt were best friends. I was fourteen when my Aunt died of tuberculosis, leaving my dad in his own world of shock and grief. He buried himself in his work and would only talk to my mum; he had no time for me or my sister.' He tapped the photo gently. 'This is my older sister Victoria, just before she was married; she was three years older and meant the world to me. Mum lives and breathes for dad and Vic took care of me. We knew our parents loved us, but they were so wrapped up in themselves that they hardly had any time for us, I never knew what Vic was feeling, I had her to take care of me but I never had a harsh word from Vic in my life, until...' Aaron's voice broke and Annie, not knowing the cause, felt his grief and tried to comfort him. 'I came home from work one day to find dad and Vic in an awful argument, both yelling at each other, it ended with dad ordering Vic out of the house, turned out Vic had fallen in love and wanted to marry a guy who worked for us and dad wouldn't hear of it. She moved out and married him and after a month they moved to England. Now and then, mum and I had the occasional letter and photos of my niece, Linda and nephew, Robert. Then last year we received a letter from my sixteen year old niece, Vic and her husband, Tony, had died in a car accident.' Aaron fell silent and Annie tried to comprehend the pain he must have been feeling, she thought of how she would ever manage if anything ever happened to one of her sisters. 'My family is the most important thing in the world to me,' she thought, 'I'm so glad I can provide Aaron with the opportunity to be included in my family.' She looked at him as he continued to unravel his story. 'Linda and Robert live with my parents now and they have managed to draw my parents out of each other. Dad and mum think the world revolves around Linda and Robert and I sometimes wonder if things would have been any different had they shown us the care and affection they show their grandchildren.' Aaron held Annie's hands tightly in his.

'One of the things I love most about you is your family, the love and affection you openly show each other is something I desperately want to be a part of.' Aaron looked at Annie so imploringly that she embraced him fiercely and said 'You already are. Do you remember going to a BBQ at my parent's house? They loved you, and I love you.' Annie had never felt as happy as she did when Aaron's arms came up to encircle her in return of her embrace.

'I love you too.'

* * * * * *

Annie and Norma left Aaron and Hank at the table to 'powder their noses', they needed to talk. Annie cornered Norma as soon as they were out of sight. 'I can't believe you ran into Aaron at the marketing seminar, didn't tell me about it and then kept him informed on my love life, or lack of it! You're supposed to be my best friend!'

'Exactly' Norma grinned. 'I knew you loved Aaron and not Andrew because I know you better than you know yourself and I tried to tell you, you were making a mistake, remember? But you wouldn't listen. Then I ran into Aaron just after you had broken up with Andrew and he was still clearly hung up on you and so I did what a best friend should do. I told him to go for it, and when he rang that night and said he wanted to meet you I thought what better way then to cancel with you? I knew you were too stubborn to let go of your plans for the night and not go to the movies and the dark theatre was the perfect place for…' Norma trailed off suggestively, the smile on her face speaking louder than words and causing Annie to blush.

'Yeah, well, thank you. I can't tell you how happy I was when he asked me to marry him. He met my family at lunch yesterday afternoon and they loved him, now it's my turn and I'm so nervous about meeting his parents! Norma, I feel so comfortable with him and I hope so much this all works out.' Norma grinned and reassuringly replied 'Don't worry, you'll bowl'em over!'

They walked out of the ladies and found Hank and Aaron in an animated discussion, 'And I'm pretty sure that is going to work out' Annie said to Norma indicating Hank as they walked to their table, radiant smiles on both faces. As they reached their table Norma turned to Annie and whispered, 'Hey, you know what? Now that you're about to marry the fruit surgeon you're going to have to shop at the fruit market all time!'

The End

Author: Shafeen Mustaq