Beyond The Fallen Sky

"I trust you, Nat …If you said that to me, that means that you are already gathering your courage to say so…but, why don't we wait a little bit, I got to know her better first ….and then when she agreed and willing….and then we proceed...".

"…Alright, but truly, Selene …is a nice woman, beautiful as well…and she knows how to fight AND repair stuff…". (Natasha)

"You said that the is a part of a Scavenger Group Called 'The Left-Over Group'? …. that is an odd choice of name…".

"I guess so, but it is what they are, left-over woman in another words, the Discarded …. they used that name as a play and a sort of advertisement as well…". (Natasha)

Turns out, despite the sad name, the L.O Group actually quite famous, and they often hired for a job, since many pity them due to their status, 99% of female merchants and store owner would often hire them for a job as a gesture of supporting another woman. Brilliant marketing if you asked me. Natasha asked me to marry her best friend, Selene, who I have the honor to met from afar yesterday. It was a sudden proposal, and I know that she had steeled herself to suggest this to me, so I cannot deny her at all.

So, I suggest to get to know her first, naturally it was me who the one will be getting to know Selene first. From there I will see where the things are going, even if Natasha was eager and I am willing, the person in question had to give her answer as well. According to the norm of this world, If I wanted to, I can be sure to take her even without her permission, but as a gentleman and as myself, I refused to do such things. If there's anyone wanted to be in my family and be my partner, they had to do so willingly and wanted to be my partner. After all, carelessly doing things would easily be the end of my life, as always, we are currently driving to Station Ail and Wail, to open our stall.

"Woott!! Woott!! …. Everyone, Azra Family Co. is here!!...". (Crowd)

"Hey, Azra! …you're late!". (Crowd)

I supposed on my day 6 of opening my stall, I'm now have a lot of loyal customers. A crowd has already formed all around my usual stall spot, the crowd cheers and heckled me, for my tardiness.

"BAM! …. Hahaha, I'm not late, you lot were too early!".

"Hahahaha!!...". (Crowd)

I joked a little bit as I parked my car and slammed the truck door, thankfully the crowds just laugh it out. Although I am not one to be scared easily, still, these is a crowd of scavengers, the kind of people that constantly fighting and surviving in the wasteland. A bunch of borderline crazy folks.

"Wait a bit, eh guys…I need to get the set up going, and then we start okay...".

"Sure, take your time, man!!...". (Crowd)

As I ran to the guard post, Natasha and Alfred went to work, setting up our stall, the crowd of my loyal customers patiently waiting, when I got to the guard post, Robert, as always were there.

"Robert, here's the fee, as always…".

"Azra! haha…. well, here's the plaque, as always…. oh yeah, by the way…have you decide yet?'. (Robert)

"I do… why don't you and Philips come over at 12, we can discuss the contract properly by then…".

Robert anxious face were beaming with a smile, relief that he got a positive response from me.

"Sure, Philips and I would be there with the contract and money as well… you already prepared the merchandise, right?". (Robert)

"Of course, after all… today is the start of Station Ail and Wail business cooperation with Azra Family Co. I had to get the merchandise ready for my customers…".

Robert guffaw loudly, acknowledging my sincerity of performing business with the town. Promised to see each other's later and the permit plaque in hand I head back to my stall. The set up were already finished, the stove top were hot and oiled, only waiting for me to put the burger patties on them. Natasha as always were our cashier, and she already started to sell our Sourdough Bread and Mineral Water. Alfred on the side, also opened a new counter, the Barter Counter, which attracted a lot of attention.

"Morning Azra, as always give me 2 Azra Burger Sets….". (Bear)

"Oh, Morning Bear…2 Azra Burger Sets coming up!".

Funny enough the Bearded man that is my very first customer turned loyal customer, actually named Bear, the man was quite big and his beard were bushy as heck, still he is a kind man and known to be quite friendly.

"You are opening a new counter…Barter Counter….and, you only take golds and silver jewelries, old book, old painting, old money…and other mechanical and electrical items and parts…you take Automaton as well…damn, Azra…you want junks? And you trade them with your famous sourdough bread and mineral water? …. Are you…. okay?". (Bear)

Bear reading the price board on top of the Barter Counter slowly and looked at me with a genuine concern and worry.

"Why do you look at me like that?".

"I just thinking whether you are going mad or something". (Bear)

"Yes, Azra…you take junks and give the people bread and mineral waters… it was either you're going crazy, or you are just foolishly generous …". (Red Mohawk Scavenger)

No one comes to use the Barter Counter yet, but everyone was waiting for me to answer their query, they are wandering if I were crazy or like they said, foolishly generous.

"Hahaha… I'm fine, guys…I am not crazy at all…it's just…Azra Family Co. just wanted to do a little bit of good…. you know, in this crazy world…. help, mercy and charity….is rare, you know….so I thought, maybe I help those that are in need a little bit…".

Kindness in the wasteland is a rare occasion, people would rather die sometimes, than to take a helping hand due to suspicion and fear of being taken advantage. Still, sometimes kindness can exist, I am not going to say that I need those bartered stuff, but I am not going to say it up front. So, I just made a simple diverting fact statement, putting the effort to an attempt to do a charity and to give back to the community, and helped those that are poor and the unable to be able to feed themselves, with good food.

"If you put it like that, hey …who am I to stop others to do good, right? …at the very least, for them to barter…they do need to work a little bit right?.it is a transaction after all…". (Bear)

"That's right …a kindness and help without any returns is just suspicious …you scared me, Azra …. I thought you are one of those nuclear bomb worshipping cults or something…". (Crowds)

"Hahaha…of course I am not some cult member, Dude…hahahaha…".

"You make a good food, funny and friendly dude…and now, a generous and charitable as well…Damn it, Azra…you are a cool dude…". (Bear)

Laughter spread once again with my bantering jokes with my customers, but once again, my good guy image, the Azra Family Co. good image flourishing ever so slowly, all thanks to our correct, charity process that anyone can trust.