6. Aasim

Day 6- Aasim

This is a fun one.

It was snowing. Not fluffy snow, but hard ice sprinkles. The kind of snow that will stay in your hair and make you look all mystically pretty. I was walking in Flushing and really had to use the restroom. I walked passed everyone's favorite Flushing-Halal cart, on the corner of Main Street and 40th Road, right by TD Bank. I briefly glanced a look over at the man inside the cart.

Before I was able to escape, I felt a fish hook tickle my ear, "Ehhhh.... pssst. Hey! Yoohoo!"  I turned around and saw a little face peek through the window, "Long time no see sweetheart..."

I walked up to the window and came face to face with a man I had a brief interaction with 9 months ago on a hot summer evening. Although my memory of him is foggy, I do know for sure my order was chicken over rice. He had a short, stubby white beard all over his face, colorful eyes shining with brilliance. He was wearing a brown beanie hat and a comfy navy sweater. With his multi-tasking skills, he was stirring chicken on the grill and glancing at me.

"Where have you been?"

My eyes widened with amazement. For our less than 5 minute conversation during a hot summer night at 4AM and all of the customers in between these 9 months, he remembers me? Wow. So I briefly told him about my internship with LiNK: Liberty in North Korea, travelling the states for the past 6 months, fast forward to coming back for the Christmas holidays, settling in New York City looking for next big move. "How have YOU been?"

His name is Aasim. "Oh you know... the same. Working..."

"Busy today?"

He stopped what he was doing and looked out the window. He scrunched his face and shook his head, "No, not really. Later busy. Same thing everyday, you know? Do you want something?"

"No, thank you," I said politely.

He works at the cart 4 times during the week. "Are you meeting your boyfriend?" he asked. I laughed. I shook my head no. "You Chinese?"

I smiled, "Yes, I am."

"Oh... I can tell... You don't have boyfriend?" By now, he was finished cooking and was beginning to clean, putting things away. I shook my head. "Oh? Why not?" He leaned forward and said, "You know, I am single. Looking for a wife."

"Oh really?" I laughed, "I'll be sure to keep an eye out for you," by now the snow was coming down harder and my bladder wanted to go to the restroom. "I'm going to get going. Great seeing you again."

"You sure you don't want anything? It's okay! What do you want?" He said offering me some yummy foods on the grill.

I wish I was hungry, but I was full from my lunch earlier. "Thank you, I appreciate it, but I'm good. Thank you!" Before I walked away, I asked for his name.

"Aasim. My name is Aasim."

"Ah- Aasizz?"

After dancing around with the pronuciation of his name for a minute, I finally left knowing I would have cravings for some Halal food later, knowing exactly where to go when the craving came. There's always a time for some chicken over rice. Be sure to stop by and say "hi" to my awesome friend Aasim!