SOAP 2
Weekends here are Thursday and Friday. Thursday Charlie and Sonali took food and tea, picnic up by the coast. She knew a nice spot, out of the wind, in what little sun there was. Utterly mellow, they lay, bodies touching, watching the Southern Ocean. As they kissed, he realized he was darn glad to be there. Twenty years of random pickups in bars and coffee houses, not a whole lot of romance. Nice to be with someone who likes you.
Sonali's thoughts drifted to failed relationships. She knew what 3 Kabul said behind her back, just plain lacked the higher level of emotional energy needed in a lesbian relationship. She was more suited for a relaxed sort like Charlie, to him life was one big joke. Kissing again, she picked up his vibes. Promising.
They sauntered back hand-in-hand, as they entered the mess, it was obvious to all they'd connected out there. Yeah, he'd fit in ok here.
That evening, Bollywood movie in the mess. Sonali and Charlie hugged throughout. People were astounded to see that tough English sgt actually cry at some of the scenes.
Sonali had read how so many in the west were totally hooked on smoking, 1 or 2 packs a day. She was delighted to see Charlie was a one 10-pack per week man, about her speed. She was happy to buy for him til payday.
Next day, another picnic. During the entire day, not a word spoken. Sonali reflected as they walked back, shows good attenuation. People are usually so desperate to fill up any silences in the conversation.
Malali watched them enter the mess, why they're in love, both faces glow.
The class schedule was redone. Charlie had been brought up to speed on curriculum. He faced his first class, all members. If it worked ok, they'd try him with refugees later.
The mess was for members only, a separate and larger one for refugees, all-ranks mess, field operation. Sonali and Charlie walked into the mess after his first day teaching. She could pick up the vibes, yes he's earned people's respect.
Tasma smiled, "I'm really amazed, you did great. I thought all you people were ah," blush.
He laughed, let her off the hook,"sgt hasta be an instructor, new lads alla time."
Malali, who'd sat through two of his classes said, "super, exactly what we want."
"Thank you so much."
Housekeeping on such field duty was all food must remain in mess, except for picnic. Due to sanitary regs, no food allowed in living units. Due to fire regs, you couldn't make tea, but there was an urn in the mess night and day. You were permitted tea in living unit or office.
Consequently there was no grocery shopping, just a tuck shop with mostly items like soap, cigarettes, candy and such.
The ordinary MQ household didn't have much work, just laundry, sweeping, dusting. But that didn't stop people bickering over it.
Payday was the fourth Wednesday in the month. Malali went around passing out the envelopes containing the small salaries in cash.
Sonali came home from work, relax a bit before supper. A few minutes later, Charlie showed. He'd been to the tuck shop, repaid the cigarettes, bought her two choco-mint bars (her favorite) and a bar of sandalwood soap.
"You're sweet," she kissed him, "it's good for the skin."
"Well I did have ulterior motives. Honey, meant to ask you, that little curtain sitting there in the shop, beautiful. Sure brighten this place up. Ok if I buy?"
Sonali thought a moment. Yes whole place was gray and dingy, the island a craggy moonscape devoid of vegetation, the living units similar, more gray sky than blue, ocean gray mosta the time. Also shows he consults, doesn't just unilaterally decide, like a lotta men.
It was on the tip of her tongue to offer to pay half. But he'd be hurt, don't ever discourage the romantic in your man.
"It is only a tiny window, 2 feet by 2 feet. But you're right, it would be nice."
He returned a few minutes later, hung the curtain.
She kissed him, "looks better already."
"Actually honey, now how about next payday I buy one of those little lamps? It'd be a soft light, a nice change from the bulb."
"Which of course you also have ulterior motives for."
He grinned, "why else? Romantic."
Again, it was on the tip of her tongue to offer to buy, but she didn't.
It was now obvious to her. 20 years of random pickups and he'd never had a real romance. Let him buy the lamp, he'll feel nice.
If more around here were like him, there'd be a lot less problems. Cheerfully does his share of the work. In fact, we're the only couple on this block that doesn't fight, imagine that.
They went to the mess as soon as supper started, wanted to relax a bit at home before the fundraiser social that evening.
Malali joined them, "you two know how to live. That curtain lights up that whole depressing block."
Bursting with pride, Sonali replied, "Charlie's idea, it was."
Malali looked at Charlie, something clicked. Behind the sights of an SA80, take away the rubber bullets, the tear gas, the vehicle check points, the raids. All means to an end. To stop two groups from out-and-out civil war. It wasn't their fight, not theirs to say who was right or wrong. Their job, simply prevent another Yugoslavia or Afghanistan. And yes, they were real people, could cry at sad scenes in the movie or appreciate a beautiful curtain.
Back at home. Funny, Sonali thought, never thought of it as home before the curtain.
Sonalia clued him in on the social, til 10:00 pm gourmet coffee, pastry, chat. Six draws in all, quiet marrieds participated in the first 2 only, then left when things got rough.
First draw, wildly popular, a five rupee ticket got you a chance for a day off work for you and either friend or partner. All proceeds went to Malalia Hospital for destitute women and girls.
Second draw, everyone in BOQ (Bachelor Officer Quarters) and MQ units bought tickets. If you won, you got a cleaner for half a day. If fact, lotsa people didn't clean in the last half of the month, hope springing eternal they'd win. It was common to see everyone who lost the draw cleaning after payday.
Smoothly Sonali interjected it was her turn to buy, he'd already been generous.
After that the quiet-marrieds depart and Fazila the Military Police sgt and her crowd arrived to keep order. The next 4 draws, totally naked S&M (sadism and masochism) events.
He grinned wickedly, "so that's why I'm not allowed to stay."
She kissed him, "no problem, you can give me a little light spanking once we're home." The expression said it all, this would be pleasure, not duty.
"So honey, how did 3 Kabul come into being?"
"What makes you think 3 Kabul is different from any other unit?"
"Come on" chuckling, "don't snow me, I'm a 21 year man. This place has got leprosy colony all over it like a flashing neon sign. They vacuumed up all the troublemakers from everywhere else, dumped them into 3 Kabul."
She laughed, "you're a good bit smarter than I thought. Ok, guess what is Malali's sin."
"Refuses to be politically correct, tells it how it is, same as you."
"That obvious, baby?"
"Yeah, and mosta these people got MP files a foot thick, right?"
"Most of them."
"So let me guess, the social is really about steamoff. Don't allow it, you end up with lots more MP incidents. And Fazila, she's guilty of some giant sin, haven't figured out what yet."
Sonali nodded.
Laugh, "well let's not keep them waiting, any luck we'll win a cleaner."
She slapped him playfully, "if we don't win, tomorrow for sure, mega cleaning."
"I'm with you honey, love being near you, even if it's to clean."
Sm
Sonali's thoughts drifted to failed relationships. She knew what 3 Kabul said behind her back, just plain lacked the higher level of emotional energy needed in a lesbian relationship. She was more suited for a relaxed sort like Charlie, to him life was one big joke. Kissing again, she picked up his vibes. Promising.
They sauntered back hand-in-hand, as they entered the mess, it was obvious to all they'd connected out there. Yeah, he'd fit in ok here.
That evening, Bollywood movie in the mess. Sonali and Charlie hugged throughout. People were astounded to see that tough English sgt actually cry at some of the scenes.
Sonali had read how so many in the west were totally hooked on smoking, 1 or 2 packs a day. She was delighted to see Charlie was a one 10-pack per week man, about her speed. She was happy to buy for him til payday.
Next day, another picnic. During the entire day, not a word spoken. Sonali reflected as they walked back, shows good attenuation. People are usually so desperate to fill up any silences in the conversation.
Malali watched them enter the mess, why they're in love, both faces glow.
The class schedule was redone. Charlie had been brought up to speed on curriculum. He faced his first class, all members. If it worked ok, they'd try him with refugees later.
The mess was for members only, a separate and larger one for refugees, all-ranks mess, field operation. Sonali and Charlie walked into the mess after his first day teaching. She could pick up the vibes, yes he's earned people's respect.
Tasma smiled, "I'm really amazed, you did great. I thought all you people were ah," blush.
He laughed, let her off the hook,"sgt hasta be an instructor, new lads alla time."
Malali, who'd sat through two of his classes said, "super, exactly what we want."
"Thank you so much."
Housekeeping on such field duty was all food must remain in mess, except for picnic. Due to sanitary regs, no food allowed in living units. Due to fire regs, you couldn't make tea, but there was an urn in the mess night and day. You were permitted tea in living unit or office.
Consequently there was no grocery shopping, just a tuck shop with mostly items like soap, cigarettes, candy and such.
The ordinary MQ household didn't have much work, just laundry, sweeping, dusting. But that didn't stop people bickering over it.
Payday was the fourth Wednesday in the month. Malali went around passing out the envelopes containing the small salaries in cash.
Sonali came home from work, relax a bit before supper. A few minutes later, Charlie showed. He'd been to the tuck shop, repaid the cigarettes, bought her two choco-mint bars (her favorite) and a bar of sandalwood soap.
"You're sweet," she kissed him, "it's good for the skin."
"Well I did have ulterior motives. Honey, meant to ask you, that little curtain sitting there in the shop, beautiful. Sure brighten this place up. Ok if I buy?"
Sonali thought a moment. Yes whole place was gray and dingy, the island a craggy moonscape devoid of vegetation, the living units similar, more gray sky than blue, ocean gray mosta the time. Also shows he consults, doesn't just unilaterally decide, like a lotta men.
It was on the tip of her tongue to offer to pay half. But he'd be hurt, don't ever discourage the romantic in your man.
"It is only a tiny window, 2 feet by 2 feet. But you're right, it would be nice."
He returned a few minutes later, hung the curtain.
She kissed him, "looks better already."
"Actually honey, now how about next payday I buy one of those little lamps? It'd be a soft light, a nice change from the bulb."
"Which of course you also have ulterior motives for."
He grinned, "why else? Romantic."
Again, it was on the tip of her tongue to offer to buy, but she didn't.
It was now obvious to her. 20 years of random pickups and he'd never had a real romance. Let him buy the lamp, he'll feel nice.
If more around here were like him, there'd be a lot less problems. Cheerfully does his share of the work. In fact, we're the only couple on this block that doesn't fight, imagine that.
They went to the mess as soon as supper started, wanted to relax a bit at home before the fundraiser social that evening.
Malali joined them, "you two know how to live. That curtain lights up that whole depressing block."
Bursting with pride, Sonali replied, "Charlie's idea, it was."
Malali looked at Charlie, something clicked. Behind the sights of an SA80, take away the rubber bullets, the tear gas, the vehicle check points, the raids. All means to an end. To stop two groups from out-and-out civil war. It wasn't their fight, not theirs to say who was right or wrong. Their job, simply prevent another Yugoslavia or Afghanistan. And yes, they were real people, could cry at sad scenes in the movie or appreciate a beautiful curtain.
Back at home. Funny, Sonali thought, never thought of it as home before the curtain.
Sonalia clued him in on the social, til 10:00 pm gourmet coffee, pastry, chat. Six draws in all, quiet marrieds participated in the first 2 only, then left when things got rough.
First draw, wildly popular, a five rupee ticket got you a chance for a day off work for you and either friend or partner. All proceeds went to Malalia Hospital for destitute women and girls.
Second draw, everyone in BOQ (Bachelor Officer Quarters) and MQ units bought tickets. If you won, you got a cleaner for half a day. If fact, lotsa people didn't clean in the last half of the month, hope springing eternal they'd win. It was common to see everyone who lost the draw cleaning after payday.
Smoothly Sonali interjected it was her turn to buy, he'd already been generous.
After that the quiet-marrieds depart and Fazila the Military Police sgt and her crowd arrived to keep order. The next 4 draws, totally naked S&M (sadism and masochism) events.
He grinned wickedly, "so that's why I'm not allowed to stay."
She kissed him, "no problem, you can give me a little light spanking once we're home." The expression said it all, this would be pleasure, not duty.
"So honey, how did 3 Kabul come into being?"
"What makes you think 3 Kabul is different from any other unit?"
"Come on" chuckling, "don't snow me, I'm a 21 year man. This place has got leprosy colony all over it like a flashing neon sign. They vacuumed up all the troublemakers from everywhere else, dumped them into 3 Kabul."
She laughed, "you're a good bit smarter than I thought. Ok, guess what is Malali's sin."
"Refuses to be politically correct, tells it how it is, same as you."
"That obvious, baby?"
"Yeah, and mosta these people got MP files a foot thick, right?"
"Most of them."
"So let me guess, the social is really about steamoff. Don't allow it, you end up with lots more MP incidents. And Fazila, she's guilty of some giant sin, haven't figured out what yet."
Sonali nodded.
Laugh, "well let's not keep them waiting, any luck we'll win a cleaner."
She slapped him playfully, "if we don't win, tomorrow for sure, mega cleaning."
"I'm with you honey, love being near you, even if it's to clean."
Sm
posted by afghangirlscifi @ 1:48 PM
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