Monday, 27 July 2015
Not a love story: The first almost date- Part 1
There he was at Café Coffee day, at 5pm sharp, waiting for her and analysing his decision of being on time. How could he not work this through that a girl is always 2 quarters late on arrival?! Seemed like, those Sherlock episodes of last night didn’t work it’s magic on him.
Nevertheless, as expected, she came 15min later than the theoretically assumed time. 5.45 pm it showed on his watch along with a little disappointment on his face mixed with a pinch of regret.
Almost helping himself from the anti-climax and tiredness of waiting for someone, he stood up, walked to the other chair and pulled it out for her.
With more of a sorry-I-got-late-please-don’t-be-mad than a thank-you-for-the-chivalry face, she took the seat.
‘I am really sorry for making you wait like this.’ She immediately said apologetically enough to melt down Sahil’s little anger.
As a matter of fact, Sahil never liked to wait for anyone. He was an on-time guy and wanted others to appreciate the value of time as well. But much to his woes, things have never been the way he wanted them to be.
‘No, it is fine.’ He blurted immediately as if rehearsing it since hours, may be months, with different people at the receiving end.
Unable to comprehend the latent tension on the other side, she switched off the sorry-mode, assuming that would be of no use. After all, she has never been a make-up girl. She found it tiresome and tough to reconcile for her wrong doings after a certain point. And that point was mostly an honest ‘I am sorry.’ That’s it. Apology made for her.
Sahil didn’t like to stay with the wind too. He moved on fast. Something that time has taught him through the hard way. So he blended well and asked what she would like to have.
‘One peppy chicken roll and café latte’, she said almost hiding her excitement. She was a big time foodie and never compromised food for an hour-glass figure. ‘Who would skip delicious meals for something so materialistic,’ she would say. However, those calorie filled meals weren’t visible by her looks. Morning yoga and cardio have done its magic have paid well.
Then, almost interrupting him, she took out a gift from her purse and with a sweet sugary smile passed that to him.
He didn’t foresee that up to this extent, so he took it as a massive surprise which was quite evident through his next-to-weird reaction.
‘Oh my God. I… didn’t… mmm… that’s so sweet of you. Thank you.’ He said while fighting a frog in his throat and making awkward gestures to blend in with the situation.
She answered with a smile when he slowly placed that rectangular shaped gift box while guessing what’s inside it. He gave up too early and went on to order the food stuffs.
‘Thank you, I seriously didn’t anticipate that. You actually shocked me twice today. Haha.’ He said after coming back.
Sahil had a way of expressing himself. If he had a grudge or something he disliked, he would say it indirectly through something sweet. It is kind of an encoded message in a box of chocolate. So, mostly it went unnoticed or stayed hidden behind that alluring other sentence. This way he confessed and let go of the things while not hurting the other person. He disliked hurting people. So he avoided it as much as he could.
‘Haha. I am actually sorry for coming late. And about the gift, it is the least I could do for you birthday boy.’ She grinned.
Eshita believed that one should never visit anyone, on their birthday or a birthday party, without a gift. No matter how small it is, never go empty-handed, she thought, just like Sahil.
‘You are very smart, I must say.’ He said with the first genuine smile of the evening.
‘Thank you. Thank you.’ She chuckled.
Meanwhile, their orders comes and were about to get into business of eating, sipping coffee and more talking, but all this was taken aback by the ghastly look on Eshita’s face when she caught a glance of somebody. Somebody familiar to her. A lot familiar.
Monday, 20 July 2015
Not a love story- The birthday
Note: Read
the first chapter of this mini series here.
He
logged into his Facebook account and saw 6 notifications. 3 were the truly
displeasing candy crush requests, while the remaining were the birthday wishes.
But out of all those, the last one caught his mind that read, ‘Eshita has
written on your timeline’.
Sums up a birthday! |
Unable
to contain his excitement, he immediately clicked on the link and got
redirected to the timeline post of hers that read,
‘Wish you a very happy birthday
Sahil. May you get whatever you want in your life.
PS: Too bad you didn’t tell me
about your birthday. Thank God I surf Facebook round the clock and took notice
of other people’s wishes on your timeline. This will have consequences (party
type). *wink*’
He
read it and smiled. And after thinking for a second he typed the first
thank-you message of the evening.
‘Glad to see your message. Thank
you for it. I am ready to pay for my sin. *wink*’
Thereafter
he quickly skimmed through the rest of the wishes on his timeline. He thanked
each one of them who took their time out to wish him luck. The feeling was
profound because he hid his birthday info on Facebook a year ago only to
include people who genuinely cared and made efforts for him.
After
15 mins…
He
was watching a video on YouTube when a notification sound caught his attention.
He paused the video and clicked on the Facebook tab. A childlike glee spread on
this face. It was Eshita’s reply to his earlier comment.
‘You should be. *wink*’
‘Hi. Thank you for the birthday
wish. I didn’t anticipate that.’
He promptly sent this and waited curiously for her reply.
‘You’re welcome. Though I am
angry that you didn’t tell me about your birthday.*sad*’
Over
the two weeks of interaction, this thing never caught up as a subject to them.
They mostly discussed anything except for their favorite color, hero, heroine
and birthday.
All
those basic questions that once acted as a conversation starter for most people
was surprisingly overlooked by them. May be, the times have changed. Now, you
don’t have to discuss lame things, like favorite colour, to carry on a
conversation. The list of topics is huge today. And people have become even more
open.
‘I am sorry. But this thing never
crossed my mind. By the way, when does your birthday come?’
‘Yeah, right. It will be on the
29th of the next month. Do not forget to wish me. Haha!’
‘I won’t.’ He made a mental note so as not to forget about
it. Although, he quickly added a reminder to this cell phone because of his
terrific memory power which has gotten him into a lot of trouble lately.
‘Are you free tomorrow?’ He added.
‘Mm… yeah. Why?’
‘For dealing with the
consequences. *wink* Birthday treat.’
He crossed his fingers in desperation. Something that happens with most of the
guys when they invite a girl and do not wish to be rejected or put on a wait.
‘Ahaaan. Would love to. When?
Where?’
‘Whatever time and place suits
you.’
‘Ok. Then, Café Coffee Day at
5pm?’
‘Seems fine.’
‘Alright then birthday boy. Time to
catch a sleep. See you tomorrow. Once again, happy birthday. *smile*’
‘Thank you. Have a great time.
Ciao. *smile*’
With
a thoughtful face and a set curve of bliss he logged out.
Thursday, 16 July 2015
Not a love story: How they met?
In the 21st
century, there was a boy. Average height. High hopes. Low spirited but always
willing to take risks for experiences. And looked more like the Indian version
of Clark Kent (Minus the physique).
He had his definition
of love, the same as that of Gerard Butler from ‘The Ugly Truth’; true love is
a myth. And relationship is a slow poison. He was adamant. Unwilling to change
his thoughts and theories about love and whereabouts of it. After all, he had
his share of bad experiences in the past.
He was living his
mediocre life. Took fun, as much out as possible, from a mundane routine and a
boring job that did not pay well too. He was a big fan of Facebook, Twitter and
WWE. Give him 2 mins of free time and he could be found gazing his phone’s
screen, scrolling, reading, judging, assuming and what not.
His profession has
gotten him to be in touch with numerous girls of various shades and lifestyle.
Some liked party animals, unlike him. Some liked the chocolate guys of the 80s
that had a classic style of showing their fondness. And likewise, the list of
characteristics and interests were endless
with permutations and combinations. Almost.
However, there was
this girl, a little healthy (almost fit) and had alluring eyes with a gentle
gleam as if they were new to the world. The smile was enough to encourage
people to wash out their forlorn make-up. She was eccentric and straightforward.
But went blunt only under special circumstances. Mostly stayed jovial and
chilled.
One fine day they got
into a conversation because of some business purpose. However, the conversation
soon took a different turn and there was an endless discussion about movies, TV
series, songs and every other thing that entertains anybody. Not everything,
though.
Only when the eyes
yelled for a break and the head turned to look at the time, which was 4.30 in
the morning, they exchanged pleasantries and went to sleep. Unaware what the
coming days would be like, they dozed off. At least, she.
‘I didn’t know we had
so many similarities. She is intellectual
and witty. Hope we talk again.’ With this thought in the mind the guy dug
his head in the pillow. Switched off the lights, raced the fan speed and went
to slumber for good!