Story: Tausif's Partner (all chapters)

Authors: MadPanda

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Chapter 1

Title: Tausif's Partner

[Author's notes: Hi everyone!  The following story resulted from a challenge put forth by a friend of mine.  He gave a few of us a photo of a Musliin woman walking along a beach with a taller person in white robes (traditionally mele).  We were told to write a short story about it, with the catch being that this had to be the last line:

"All it took was a little creativity, some bubble gum, and a whole lot of faith."

Well, here's what crawled out of my head.  Hope you like it!

MadPanda...(thought I should post it here, since it is on-topic and all).]

It had been a long, anxious ride for Tausif.  She and her partner drove through the dusty streets of the village.  She was practically itching with anticipation for the outcome of her companion's meeting.  "So, are you going to tell me now?"

"Not yet, Tausif," her partner replied.  "A time and place for everything, remember?  The time will come soon enough.  Please be patient."  The driver looked for a spot just off of the road.  "Let's get out here."  They pulled up to a small boardwalk, which led to an empty beach.

Tausif gave her companion a questioning look.  "Why here, of all places?"

"Because, silly, this is where we met!"

The memory brought a smile to the black-garbed woman's face.  It was only two years ago, but so much had already happened between them that, at least to Tausif, they had known each other forever.  "Ah, you are right!  I had almost forgotten about that!"

"Let us hope you don't forget our wedding as well!"

Tausif removed her sandals and wriggled her toes in the warm sand.  "Oh come now!  I'm not that forget--wedding?  Did you say 'wedding'?"

"Oh no!" Her friend mocked.  "It appears your hearing is going along with your memory!  Maybe I should take you to see the doctor!"

"Stop joking around!" Tausif demanded.  "Seriously, what did you talk about with him?  You said it was 'something important'--a job offer, maybe?"  She started to walk away, not wanting to believe what her companion had said.  A small part of her -did- want it to be true, but she knew it was impossible.

Her partner tried hard to be as sincere as possible.  "It's no joke, Tausif.  I asked your father for your hand in marriage."

The comment stopped Tausif in her tracks.  She turned to her partner.  "You asked him about marrying me?  Are you crazy?"

"Why not?"  Her partner joined in the barefoot stroll, shoes in hand, waving for Tausif to follow.  "I love you, and wish to spend my life with you.  I know you feel the same way, so all I had to do is ask your father for permission."

The look of incredulousness gripped Tausif's face, as fear started to creep into her heart.  "Are you insane??  Don't you think that, by doing that, he would find out about us?"

Her partner smiled confidently.  "Of course.  That is why I asked him.  He already knows we spend a lot of time together, but most of his information is second-hand.  I was sure he would want to meet the person who would be taking his daughter away from him."

Tausif's face blanched at the notion of being found out.  "He...he knows about us?  About you?"

"Well, not exactly.  He has seen us together from a distance, and he knows people who have seen us around town.  You know how people are, Tausif; they will talk, but what they don't know is also what he doesn't know.  So, it all works out.  As for what he knows about me, well, I told him all he needed to know."

Tausif heaved a sigh of relief  "So he doesn't -really- know then, does he?"  She allowed herself a grin.  "So he said 'yes', just like that?"

"Well, not 'just like that', but yes."  Her white-robed partner stopped their pace near the edge of the water.  "Ah, this feels much better!"

Tausif was about to scold her partner for being so boldly stupid as to do such a thing, but the nonchalance in the other person's voice made her take pause.  "He did meet with you personally, right?"

"Yes, he did," her companion answered.

"And he met you face to face?"

"Mmm-hmm," came the reply.

"And he still said 'yes'?"

"Well, it wasn't as simple as that.  I did have to prove that I could support you and care for you.  I also told him I would send enough money back from America for him to rebuild his house.  He thought I was joking, until I showed him my platinum credit card."

"You have a platinum card?" Tausif shrieked.

"Could you say that a little louder?  I don't think the rest of the Persian Gulf heard you" her partner joked.

Tausif lowered her voice.  "Sorry.  But when did you get one?"

"Not long after I applied for it when I was in New York.  You build up enough credit and suddenly your mailbox is filled with offers from all over..  I just applied to one, and got one in no time.  Now, as long as I don't actually go crazy with it..."

Tausif's eyes widened at the thought of being traded for cash.  'It could've been worse,' she thought to herself.  'I could have been traded for livestock.'  Her father always thought of her as a commodity anyway; something to be bartered if the right deal came along.  Her brothers got much better treatment, but that was just the way things were.  The upside of all this is that the right deal finally did come along, in the hands of someone she actually loved, rather than some sweaty farmer or so-called 'freedom fighter'.  As long as it got the desired outcome, she could live with it.  "So he thinks you are a wealthy businessman with lots of money and a big office in America, huh?"

"Of course.  Most of it is true, isn't it?  I do at least work in business, and I do have my own office, albeit a small one.  And I do have some money  So it's basically true, isn't it?"

"Well, yes," Tausif laughed.  "Except the most important part?"

The couple laughed out loud as they walked along the water's edge.  "I still cannot believe you did it!  How did you convince him you were a man?"

"The same way I've done for everyone else."  Tausif's soon-to-be marriage partner smugly smiled at her, before slowly removing her disguise.  Under the full beard and moustache was a slightly weather-beaten but definitely feminine face.   "All it took was a little creativity, some bubble gum, and a whole lot of faith."

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End
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[End notes: Okay, I'll say it before you do...

"What?  No magical girls?  No talking animals?  No bitchy schoolgirls?  No deities?  Not even a kiss?  Come on, Panda!  What are you givin' us here?"

Hey, I'm entitled to some relative normalcy, ain't I?

Thanks to all who read and (hopefully) review, and to Rich L. at the PRW for giving me the idea.  Don't worry, folks.  I'll be back to my usual weirdness in a while (working on two stories as we speak).  Just had to clear some writer's block!

Until next time..."So long, and thanks for all the fish!"]

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