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Post by Sitara Mehti on Feb 11, 2011 1:07:39 GMT -5
Sitara was fairly certain that her father would not approve of her being in this place. There were probably dirtier, seedier places in London, but that wouldn't matter to her father. He always expected better of her, as if she should be spending her time in traditional tea rooms or something. Her father didn't really know her; in fact, very few people did.
Her brother did, but Raj had a family of his own to take care of. Her sister did, but Mira was in America. Sitara admired her younger sister for her rebellion, but it made it harder for Sitara. Both of them couldn't rebel..... one of them had to stay and be the good girl.
Right now, she was waiting for the only other person who Sitara could say knew her. Alejandro had been her friend for a few years, ever since they met in this very bar. She didn't generally hit it off with guys she met in bars, but Alejandro just seemed to click with her.
Her sister in law, Anjali, often asked about Sitara's friendship with Alejandro. He was a good-looking guy, and he was straight, so why exactly were they "just friends" and not dating? But Sitara had been dating someone else when they met, and even after that relationship ended, she had made it clear that she didn't want anything other than friendship. By then, she and Alejandro were such good friends, and Sitara didn't want to ruin what they had. Relationships, for Sitara, did not last. She knew her father would never approve of any guy she brought home, so why bother? She would rather have a good friend than a relationship that was sure to end.
At the moment, Sitara was sitting in the back of Stu's, near the window, sipping a bottle of butterbeer while watching a very drunk old wizard sing a horribly off-key version of Bridge Over Troubled Water. She was supposed to meet Alejandro here for her weekly complaining session, and he would be here any minute.
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Post by Alejandro Benavides on Feb 11, 2011 10:46:38 GMT -5
It had been mere coincidence that Alejandro met Sitara when he did. The night he met her those few years ago, he had been singing just before she entered. He just so happened started talking to her at the bar, and things happened to where they became really good friends. Ever since they met, they would meet at least once a week in Stu's.
Alejandro left his place and headed to Stu's. It was always amusing to see the people who would get up and sing after they had a few. Once he entered, he knew the exact table that Sitara would be at because it was the same table they always sat at. He didn't really think of Sitara than more than a friend. His mother of course gave him a hard time about having a lady friend, but Alejandro would always laugh and just brush it off. His mother was an interesting woman for sure.
Walking to their usual table, Alejandro smiled and slid by a few drunk wizards and made it to their table. "Evening Sitara," he said as he reached her. "How are you?"
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Post by Sitara Mehti on Feb 13, 2011 1:17:08 GMT -5
Sitara didn't turn to look at him right away. Watching the drunk wizard slaughter Simon and Garfunkel was like the proverbial train wreck... horrible, tragic, and painful to watch, but somehow just impossible to look away from. The man was now on his knees and bellowing out notes that only dogs should be able to hear.
"Hi, Al," she greeted him with a vague sort of nod. She hadn't been drinking that long, but she usually found it too much trouble to say his full name. "I'm doing OK, I guess. But the Ministry's driving me crazy. Do you believe this guy? I keep wondering when he's going to pass out, because it's almost impossible to be that drunk and still be conscious."
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Post by Alejandro Benavides on Feb 14, 2011 0:10:43 GMT -5
"Exactly why I don't work in the Ministry," he said as he took a seat across from her but moved so that he could glance at the wizard on stage. Alejandro looked back up to the old wizard and he gave a laugh. "Anything is possible around here." The drunken wizards were always entertaining to watch. "Besides, I think he's too stubborn to let the drink get him down. After all, he is bellowing out that song, he just wants to be heard."
If his week hadn't been going too well, Alejandro knew that he could always count on Stu's to help change that around. He turned to look back at Sitara. "You haven't been here too long have you?"
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Post by Sitara Mehti on Feb 14, 2011 1:14:49 GMT -5
Of course, if she had her own choice, Sitara would not work there, either. She hated her department, hated her work, and hated the people she worked with. She didn't doubt that there were important and interesting jobs in the Ministry, but hers was most certainly not one of them. She didn't need to say any of this to Alejandro, of course. He knew it well, and it was inevitable that at some point in the evening she would end up complaining about her job and lamenting her inability to stand up to her father and tell him what she really wanted to do with her life.
"I guess you've got to give him props for really pouring his guts out in the song. I just hope he doesn't end up doing that literally..." She made a face and took another drink. "After all, I'm hoping I can get you up there to sing tonight... I love to listen to you sing."
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Post by Alejandro Benavides on Feb 14, 2011 14:43:58 GMT -5
Alejandro did know what to expect every week, and he would attempt to give her the same encouragement he always did.
"Poor guy," he said with a shake of his head. Of course, almost anyone who became as drunk as that man would be more than happy to sing. That was one of the things about Stu's. Once before he sang on Fridays just to get a free drink.
"I think he might be okay. At least he's not tripping over himself, and not sprawled out in the floor singing." Alejandro gave a shrug. He made it a tradition to sing at least once while he and Sitara were at the bar. It never really mattered how good he sang or not because the drunks would clap at almost anything, but still it gave him the practice. Maybe, just maybe, one day singing in bars would do some good.
"I might sing tonight, but it will be a little bit later before I do." It was usually after a few more people came in. After all, it was the big drunks who were in now. Soon, there would be more people coming in and Alejandro didn't mind providing a little entertainment. "Maybe I can get you to sing with me one day, eh?"
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Post by Sitara Mehti on Feb 14, 2011 22:05:27 GMT -5
Sitara was actually a pretty good singer, but she had her reasons for not getting up on stage. The main reason was that she actually wanted to, very badly. Alejandro knew that, and encouraged her at every opportunity. But she didn't want to know what it was like to stand up on a stage and perform for an audience. She didn't want to hear people applauding for her, and she didn't want to like it. If she did, she was sure she would want to do it again and again, and of course her father would never approve. So she stuffed her dreams down deep inside and tried to pretend that she cared about her rotten job.
But for Alejandro's sake, she never completely said no. "Maybe one day," she said, with a slight smile that said quite plainly that she was lying, and she knew he knew it. "I wouldn't want to mess up your performance, though."
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Post by Alejandro Benavides on Feb 14, 2011 23:12:00 GMT -5
"I highly doubt that," he said with a shake of his head. "I think you'd add to it, rather than mess up anything." One of these days Alejandro was going to make sure that Sitara would come out of the shell she had stuffed herself in. He was attempting to pull her out, but she was wanting to pull back.
"But I promise you, one of these days, both of us will be up there, even if I have to get you drunk enough." He gave her a wink to let her know that he was just teasing about the last part. "Do you have any special requests for tonight?"
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Post by Sitara Mehti on Feb 16, 2011 1:04:26 GMT -5
Sitara suffered from a classic case of "middle child syndrome." She wasn't the oldest child, and she wasn't the youngest. Raj, the eldest, the only son, was perfect. He did everything Father wanted him to do, not because he was forced, but because he wanted to do them anyway. He was happy, he was married, he was successful, and he had a child. And Mira was the youngest, the rebel, the wild child. Everything Father wanted her to do, she did the opposite. Father worried for her, panicked over her, and talked about her endlessly.
And then there was Sitara. Stuck in the middle, she was torn between the need to please her father and the desire to rebel against him. And because of this, she wound up not exactly doing either. And this left her unhappy and unfulfilled, with no idea what she was supposed to do to change things.
"You'll have to get me pretty drunk to get up there and sing," she replied. "Maybe drunker than him."
She nodded to the wizard, who was just finishing up the song with a discordant, off-key sort of flourish. "Anyway, I don't care. Sing something fun. Something I can dance to. I might even dance."
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Post by Alejandro Benavides on Feb 17, 2011 21:51:00 GMT -5
Alejandro understood the family issues. His sister and brother were both married. They were doing something with their lives. What was Alejandro doing? He was singing and in between jobs at the moment. He wanted to find that one day were there would be someone important in a bar while he was singing and that be his big break. The good thing about Alejandro was that although he hadn't had his big break, he was still trying. His mother teased him about finding a nice woman to marry, a steady job, and settle down so she could get more grandchildren.
If Sitara could stand up against her family, she would be okay. Of course, he understood that she thought that she had to be the perfect example in her family. Her family was going to have to learn that everything would fall into place, once Sitara found something she loved, that didn't include sitting at a desk, working for the wizarding government.
"Well, I do have my ways," Alejandro said teasingly. "One of these days I will persuade you to sing with me." He winked at her. "As for the dancing, you should dance. You'll probably be the only one that can."
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Post by Sitara Mehti on Feb 17, 2011 23:08:03 GMT -5
Deep down, Sitara knew that she was either going to have to stand up to her family one day, or make the choice to be miserable for the rest of her life. And though she tried to give the impression of a woman who wasn't afraid of anything, she was actually terrified of her father. She wanted him to be proud of her for being herself and finding happiness in her own way. She was never going to be happy with his way. But he would never be happy with her if she went her own way.
She sighed, eying the stage wistfully. Alejandro had heard her sing before--just singing along with the radio at home, so he knew she was good.He always tried to encourage her, and she appreciated that.... but she just couldn't take that chance.
"I guess I'd better watch what I drink, to make sure you don't slip any potions in it," she teased. "But tell you what? You go up there and sing, and I'll dance down here, and see if I can get the other customers to join in."
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Post by Alejandro Benavides on Feb 17, 2011 23:40:53 GMT -5
"You know that you can get anyone to dance with you muy señora," Alejandro said with a smile. He had a habit of calling her pretty lady. It was just one of those things that stuck. One of these days he was going to make sure that Sitara became happy, even if that meant setting her up on a blind date with someone. Although, he did know that she would probably have his head if he ever did set her up on a blind date.
Alejandro did let out a laugh. "Although I wouldn't ever slip into your drink. I'm not that kind of guy." Sometimes he just wished that she would be able to let go. When she danced, it was like she was letting go just a little, and if that was the beginning, well that was what he wanted.
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Post by Sitara Mehti on Feb 19, 2011 0:07:21 GMT -5
Sitara had to admit, spending time with Alejandro was good for her self-confidence. He believed in her more than she believed in herself, and she needed that. Oh, if only he was Indian and worked in the Ministry... But of course, he didn't, and so they had to stay just friends.
"That's true, you wouldn't," Sitara agreed. "You're a gentleman... I hear those are endangered species these days. You have no idea how rare you are. If you ever do get me up there, it'll be from all your sweet talking."
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Post by Alejandro Benavides on Feb 20, 2011 17:08:36 GMT -5
Staying friends with Sitara was perfectly fine with him. He liked the relationship they had and it worked out pretty well. She was his best friend.
"Ah, well my sweet talking hasn't worked as well as I've hoped it would have. If it has worked as good as I've hoped, you'd already be up there." Alejandro winked. "But I will keep trying however, because one of these days you're going to finally cave in to my beautiful face and want to sing with me." Hopefully one day he would be able to sing in other places rather just bars. Whenever that day came, he hoped that Sitara would be able to stand up to her family. Family was supposed to love you no matter what.
"Before the night is over, I do believe that you owe me a dance. I'm sure that Stu would play something that could be appropriate for that."
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Post by Sitara Mehti on Feb 21, 2011 1:37:33 GMT -5
Sitara's smile was playful. "Well, who knows, maybe one of these days, you'll catch me at a weak moment and I'll join you up there. But I still say I'd mess you up."
One of the things Sitara liked about Alejandro was his naivety. He didn't understand that although family was supposed to be loving and supportive, sometimes parents had different ideas for what was best for their children. Sitara loved her father very much, but he didn't understand her and he never had. It had been Raj who got all the attention... he was the one their father took the most interest in. And who could blame him? He was the oldest, he was the only son, and he was smart, strong, and good at everything. And Mira was the baby, the little princess to be spoiled rotten. From the very beginning, her parents had worried constantly about Mira and her rebellious ways. She was always getting into trouble, so of course she got a lot of attention. There just wasn't any left for Sitara. The only thing she could do was go along with whatever her father wanted, in the hopes that he would finally see her.
"But I'll tell you what," she said, taking another sip of her drink. "I'm definitely taking you up on that dance."
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Post by Alejandro Benavides on Feb 21, 2011 16:45:37 GMT -5
"Oh, I'll make sure to take advantage of that moment then," he said teasingly.
"Good. We're going to do one of those latin dances I showed you before. You dance pretty well muy señora." Alejandro grinned. Sitara did in fact dance well. Anyone could dance, even if it was off beat. There was really no 'set' way to dance, and Alejandro liked to see people have fun. That was the most important thing. It didn't fail to pass his attention that when Sitara danced, there was something about it. She let go of what was going on. She looked free whenever she danced, like there wasn't a care in the world that bothered her. That was what was supposed to happen. Everything was supposed to be left behind while you went out on the dance floor.
"I'll wait until after you had a few more of those, just to make sure you're loose enough," he teased again.
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Post by Sitara Mehti on Feb 21, 2011 23:37:18 GMT -5
Sitara grinned at him. "Well, what about you? We've got to get you loose, too, don't we?"
She waved her arm at the bartender, calling him over. "Come on, Al, what'll it be? Drinks are on me tonight. Whatever you want."
This was, in a way, her own act of rebellion. Drinking too much helped her to loosen up and eased much of her stress. her father wouldn't approve of this, either, but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him, right?
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Post by Alejandro Benavides on Feb 22, 2011 0:09:02 GMT -5
"I'm always loose," he said with a laugh. "However, I'm not going to object to something to drink." Alejandro enjoyed a drink every now and again. He never drank to get drunk, or at least too drunk.
He told the bartender his drink of choice then turned back to Sitara. "It's the Spanish in me that keeps me loose." Alejandro winked. "We're going to show the people how to dance, si? Maybe we should go to an actual club next week."
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Post by Sitara Mehti on Feb 22, 2011 22:00:22 GMT -5
Her father would be spitting fire if he knew she was even thinking about going to a club. But if she lived her life according to every single thing her father expected from her, she would never have any fun at all. And by rebelling in small ways, maybe eventually she could work her way up to the big things. It was worth a shot, anyway. Of course, if she didn't actually tell him that she was going to clubs and bars, it probably wouldn't make much difference.... but to her it would. Maybe.
"Yeah, OK," she agreed. "We could go to Enchanted. I hear the Wrackspurts are playing there for an extra week."
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Post by Alejandro Benavides on Feb 23, 2011 14:11:51 GMT -5
The Wrackspurts was a group that Alejandro listened to every now and again. He didn't claim himself to be their number one fan or anything like that, but he did liked a few of their songs. "I've actually been wanting to see them live," he admitted. "We'll make it a concert night." He was looking forward to going to see them play. "Plus, I have to watch after you and make sure you don't go home with one of the band members," he said jokingly. "After all, it would break my heart." Alejandro grinned and then took a drink from his glass the bartender sat in front of him.
"Going to a club will probably be a lot more fun than just sitting in a bar, watching drunkards sing. It'll be even more entertaining watching plenty of drunkards attempt to dance."
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