Straightening Ali by AMJEED KABIL Read Free Book Online Page A

Why should I fuck with your head? There’s quite a market for us Pakistani boys. We’re seen as a bit exotic because there are so few of us gay ones about. We can get away with charging a little extra. How do you think I managed to buy my own car? You know I’m not good at saving,” Ali said, making his claim more plausible for his brother.
    Yunus went quiet for a moment while mulling over Ali’s “revelation.” “So you’re not gay after all. You’re just a prostitute. You sleep with men for money, not because they turn you on, but because you want money. I see now. Do you need money that much? Ammi gives you lots of money, so why are you so desperate?”
    Ali groaned, realizing his untruth had spawned another theory to explain his sexuality. “Whatever,” he muttered, not wanting to enter into another cycle of verbal abuse from Yunus.
    This time the silence managed to sustain itself until Yunus stopped to refuel at a service station on the M1, just before the junction for Nottingham. Ali went with him to get himself a chocolate bar. “Walk like a man,” Yunus told him as Ali hurried away for a few minutes of respite from Yunus’s company.
    Ali picked up a Kit Kat from the counter and paid for it. He smiled at the shop assistant when he was given his change, and walked past Yunus, deliberately ignoring him. Ali went outside to wait on the forecourt next to the car for Yunus.
    It was nice to be out of the car and away from Yunus. The cool November air hit Ali’s face making him gasp, but it was refreshing in comparison to the stench in Yunus’s car. “What am I going to do?” he thought despairingly as he remembered where he was going. He didn’t have long to sink into his thoughts before Yunus returned.
    “ Stop giving out gay signals you dirty bastard. You poofs, you can’t stop it can you?” Yunus said, getting into the car. Ali got in, unsure what Yunus was talking about. “I have a good mind to beat that poof in the shop up, but the garage has CCTV.”
    “ What are you talking about?” Ali asked, still puzzled by Yunus’s comment.
    “ The queer cashier. I saw you both giving each other gay signals. You should be ashamed of yourself. You’re seeing your fiancée today, but you can’t leave your gay ways behind,” Yunus said.
    “ What do you mean? I was buying some chocolate and smiled at him when I paid. I was being polite, you stupid bastard,” Ali said furiously. “Just leave me alone. I hate you. The only reason I tolerate you is because we have the same mother and father.”
    “ I’ll only leave you alone when you tell me you’re not going to be a fucking queer boy anymore,” Yunus said calmly. He smiled wickedly revealing his recently enameled white teeth.
    “ Why are you so horrible to me? I’m doing everything that this family wants of me, but you still won’t leave me alone,” Ali exclaimed. “Why do you carry on like this all the time? What have I done to make you hate me so much?”
    “ I don’t hate you. I love you. You’re my brother, and I’m looking out for you. I’m the head of the family, so it’s my duty to look after you all. It’s a bad world out there, and I don’t want you to be a poof all your life. It’s not right. I want you to be happy, get married and have children as much as Ammi does,” Yunus said, sounding sincere and actually making Ali half believe him.
    “ You’ve just talked about what you want,” Ali said. “But you’ve not asked me what I want. I’ve never wanted to get married. I’ve never wanted children.”
    “ You don’t know what you want, Ali. That’s why we’ve sorted everything out for you. Just leave it to your family. We will look after you,” he said caressing Ali’s shoulder caringly.
    “ Leave me alone,” Ali said angrily, cringing from Yunus’s touch.
    “ I have to make sure you don’t pick up men anymore. If I ever find out you are still getting fucked by men when you’re married, I’m going to break