It was evening now.
Scorn’s car stopped near a social club; a vintage place that blends high-stakes tension with strict and unspoken rules of etiquette.
It was styled with dim-lightening all over the four walls, cigar smoke clouded the whole environment and the heavy security created a powerful and grim atmosphere overall.
It was a regular social club but it acted as a buffer and a place for everyday socializing.
It was Zakai’s first day to enter such a place after getting promoted as a boss of his gang.
Upon entering he realized that the people had a particular lingo.
His mouth gap widened as he couldn’t get any idea what they were talking about.
“Pal!
Gotta moll?” A person came closer to Zakai and asked with a smile on his lips.
Zakai looked at the person’s hand that was holding a glass of wine.
“No…I don’t drink…” Zakai nodded his head refusing the unasked question.
The man came closer to Zakai.
“Do you live in this hood?” Gently the man grabbed Zakai’s chin and pulled his face closer to him.
With gentle strokes, the man started to brush his thumb upon Zakai’s lips.
Startled Zakai by the sudden touch shoved off the man’s hand and pushed his away.
But the man seemed unhappy with Zakai’s refusal.
Suddenly his lips curved downward with a frown on his temple.
“Have a beef?”
Zakai looked nervous.
He couldn’t understand anything.
“Pal!
He’s my moll.” A voice was heard amidst the tension.
Zakai looked behind him and saw Opel walking towards him.
“OH!
You’re all wet.
It’s not what it seems to look like.
I must be a Jive Turkey sir.” The man suddenly bowed his head and vanished in the thin air in no time.
Opel stood next to Zakai.
When Zakai looked at him, he winked.
“Are you good?” Opel asked.
“What…what was that?
What alien lingo was he talking?” Zakai asked Opel.
“Gangster phrases!
Whether you mean old-school mobster vernacular or modern-day street terminology, knowing the right lingo will make you feel really connected to this underworld.” Opel answered.
Opel nodded his head.
“But what was he asking?
And what did you answer?” Curious Opel asked.
“He wanted to know if you have a girlfriend.”
“What’s moll?” Zakai asked.
“Girlfriend.”
“Then why did you say that I’m your moll?” Zakai got curious.
This time Opel didn’t answer with words.
He simply starred at Zakai and smirked.
Zakai looked confused.
“You wanna stay here and miss the meeting or are you coming with me?” Opel turned around and started to walk.
Brushing away his thoughts, Zakai ran after Opel.
Opel opened a jib door that was perfectly blending with the surrounding wall paneling.
Then went past a secret tunnel and reached a hall.
The walls had the same blind doors just like the one outside.
Opel pushed open one of them and went in.
Zakai rushed in too.
The room had a long table and seven men gathered around sitting and chatting over some topic.
“Pals!
This is Zakai.
He’ll be leading a gang that covered Block K near the Hall Of Dignity.”
“He…hell…hello…hello…”
“A young blood?” One of them prompted.
Another one replied, “He’s so very close to someone’s ideal bae!”
“Zakai!” Opel cut their conversation.
“Have a seat.
I’m gonna start the meeting now.
Zakai sat on an empty chair offered by Opel.
Then Opel took a file and went near the digital screen.
Soon the projector scattered a beam of light on the screen.
There were pictures of some gangsters along with a map.
“There were some territorial disputes in this area few days ago but we have been handling them discreetly to avoid drawing police attention.
We came up with some agendas.
We are strategizing on how to pay off officials and minimize the police surveillance in that area.
The documents are next to you.” Opel delivered his speech and then sat down calmly.
The meeting got a little stretched to more than one hour.
Zakai, in the first half paid attention at his best but when it got delayed, his eyelids could no longer stay put.
Meanwhile Opel, who sat next to him, saw him dozing off.
Opel giggled looking at Zakai sleepy face.
“Pals!
I think we had enough of discussions today.
I’ll inform Boss about it.
Let’s wait for the next meeting.” Opel announced making sure he wasn’t loud enough to wake sleepy Zakai.
Before anyone could stand, Opel raised his hand and with the gesture of his hand he asked them to move out without any noise.
One by one everyone went out leaving both Zakai and Opel alone.
Opel gazed at Zakai’s face.
“Poor soul!
How much did life teach you in such a young age that there’s never a little smile on your face.”
Opel patted gently onto Zakai’s head making sure not to wake him up.
“Played computer games or watched movie- what did you do last night to get sleep deprived?” He put his hand on his pocket and took out a cigarette packet.
Then he slided his hand inside Zakai’s coat and kept the packet.
“Get some refreshment when you wake up kid.” He smiled and left the room, closing the door gently.
After a few minutes, Zakai’s awakened from his sleep.
Looking at the empty room, he rushed out.
“Hey sir!
Where is Mr.
Scorn?” Zakai asked a gang man who was walking past him.
“Mr.
Scorn is in the meeting room with Opel.
But no one is allowed to be a part of that meeting.
I advise you to just take a round of this place so that you won’t get missing.” The man smirked and went away.
Zakai looked his left and right.
Then he looked for some doors where the meeting was going on.
He seemed curious.
Zakai saw one door which was near the dead end of the hall.
He ran there avoiding any of the gang members.
Standing near the door, he placed his ear attached to the door and started to eavesdrop.
Luckily he could hear some faint sounds.
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** Meanings of the vernacular old gangsters’ words **
− Moll- girlfriend
− Have a beef- have a fight
− Hood- neighbourhood
− Flat tire- dull, boring person
− All wet- completely wrong about a situation
− Jive Turkey- A slang for someone who is foolish or full of nonsense
− Bae- partner