My first date

It is my first date. I am pretty nervous. I have never been mesmerized by a beauty so pure ever before. Her small eyes, pure and deep black eyes keep haunting every moment ever since I met her. Love was about loving the most irritating things about her. I hated looking into her eyes. I would keep searching for myself, but always in vain. But there was something about her. I loved her eyes. They are so deep and so mysterious, as if there is a huge universe to be explored. I had to tell her about my feelings today. I wanted to waste no time in spending each possible moment with her. So I got a bouquet and some chocolates. Women love chocolates, my friends told me. So I grabbed a Roche and headed for “The Gossip Mongers” café. We were to meet there at 8. It was 7.30 and I was ready for my date. I sat in my car and kept mumbling trying to tell her how much I was in love with her. As the watch ticked close to eight my heart started beating faster. There she was, walking towards the café. She went in and then walked out. Seeing this beautiful lady in front of me, I was almost sure, I would have a seizure. But the phone rang with a sweet tune that was meant to be her call. I saw her through the wind screen. I picked up the phone.

Hello?

Where are you?

Just parking my car. Where are you?

I am at the café. Come right in.

O.K.

Cya.

Beep. Beep.

I took my breath in and headed to the café with the bouquet and the pack of chocolates. She was sitting looking towards her mobile, as if irritated. I took the flowers and offered it to her as she stared at the mobile phone. A smile crossed her face.

Thanks. They are beautiful.

Not as much as you.

That is so sweet.

No. This is sweet.

I handed the box of chocolates to her.

Oh God! You did not have to get all these things, frankly.

I thought you would like it.

I like it Harsh, but it is just so formal.

Sorry for being so formal. I am like this, you know. With all these corporate bull shit in life, I tend to be such in every aspect of my personal life. I should learn to shed these habits.

No, its ok. I mean you don’t have to be so formal with me. We are good friends, and friends don’t need to give flowers and chocolates every time they meet!


O. K. point taken. So how was your day?

O.K. how was yours?

O.K.

An eerie silence followed.

“So…” both of us spoke simultaneously, as if we both had the same things in the mind.

“Sorry, you tell” I offered.

“No you tell”

What would you like to have? Tea or coffee? Something to eat?

Actually, yes I am hungry. Lets order something?

You would like to have chicken or mutton.

I am vegetarian.

Even the chicken and the lamb are vegetarian, you know.

She stared at me silently.

Bad Joke. I accepted.

Oh O. K. Veg then!

One veg burger, one chicken noodles, and two cappuccino.

Anything else sir?

Anything else madam?

No that will be all.

O. K. Sir, your order will take 10 min.

Fine. Thank you.

So tell me. How is life?

Her mobile phone rang. She disconnected. With a frown on her face.

Is something bothering you?

No, it is just o.k. Sometimes the past gets behind you and you have nowhere to go.

Well pasts can be painful sometimes.

She smiled.

Why do you have to agree with everything I say?

Do I?

Yes you do.

O.K. So I disagree with you. Past has many memories that you don’t want to forget. Some of the most beautiful things have happened in the past, and even more beautiful things are just about to happen to you.

It was a little overwhelming, but for an amateur, I was quite on a roll.

Not for me, she said.

You want to share it with me? That is, if you don’t mind.

No Harsh, you are a close friend. I can tell you everything.

Close friend! I would like to be more than that. I thought to myself.

Trust me, I am a good listener.

That you are. You know, there is this friend of mine I have, or rather had. We were pretty pally with each other. It was like we had met once very briefly at a railway station when we were in college because he was a friend of a friend. Then we lost touch and one day he landed up in my office for some work. We instantly recognized each other and our friendship started growing. We became very close to each other.

The sky thundered and a small little drizzle started outside. Couples waiting outside rushed in while some teenagers started dancing in the rain. I wondered if the roof was leakng as there was a drop rolling down her cheeks. She wiped her eyes. She has a relationship that is over or almost on the verge of being over, I thought. Am I a crying shoulder?

We used to spend very less time with each other but we would be in touch once a week or sometimes once a month. It was a beautiful relationship until he proposed to me.

The lightning cracked in the distant sea on a lonely boat. I barely heard what she said after that. After a while as she stopped moving her lips, I gathered enough courage to ask her.

Do you love him?

He is a wonderful person.

Do you love him?

I cant. You know, I am not made that way. I tried to tell him to move on, but he doesn’t.

Do you love him?

He says it is o.k, if I don’t marry him as long as I don’t marry anybody else. He is crazy. Why does he want to waste his entire life for me?

So you don’t love him.

Her mobile phone rang. She cut the phone.

See, he keeps on calling me up like this. I need my space. This is what it all gets to. Initially you say you will give the space and later you start getting on to each other nerves and sooner than you realize the love is all gone and it’s a pretty boring congested life with questions being asked all the time!

Your order sir. The waiter intervened.

Some mustard please. She said to the waiter.

Sure madam.

So now I feel it is time to shut off. Probably he would stop calling me.

Did you tell him what you felt?

No. about what?

About how you feel about him.

How do I feel about him? I don’t know.

So you don’t love him?

I could hardly eat my chicken noodles. It was as if the dead chicken was stuck up in my throat trying to chuckle.

He is a wonderful person.

And you don’t love him?

Beep Beep. She got an SMS.

See this is what the problem is. He sends me SMS like this when he knows I don’t like such SMS.

She showed me the sms. …I lve u…

Why don’t you call him and tell him how you feel. I am sure he would understand.

You think I should.

Yes. Pretty much. If he has fallen in love with you, it is pretty much your fault.

What do you mean?

You are so beautiful.

She smiled. She looked beautiful.

So u are saying I should speak to him.

Yes.

And tell him what?

Whether you love him or don’t love him. Things will be pretty clear then for him, wont it? The problem is you are not telling him whether you love him or you don’t. That is the only thing he wants to know. He is not asking you to marry him, is he?

No.

So whatever you have in your heart, tell him. If you don’t love him, then tell him you don’t. If you love him, tell him you do. Whatever comes later face it then.

I felt my heart pain as if I had dug a dagger into my own heart.

I think it makes sense. You are really cool, you know that.

Yes I do, I am like that from my childhood.

She punched me in my arm and we laughed.

So call him.

Now?

Yes now. Or I know you will never call.

I will.

No you wont

O.K.

She dialed the number.

“Hello, Pranay?”….. Oh…. can I speak to him?.... What?... How?.... When?.... Oh my God!... How is he now…. Where is he?

Tears started rolling from her eyes.

“Oh my God! What have I done?” she started weeping. People around looked at us with an uncomfortable gaze.

Is everything o.k. sia? I asked her trying to pacify her sobs.

He had an accident… He was trying to call me… I cut the phone twice and he smsd me that he loved me. She sniffed into her kerchief trying to recompose herself. Now he is with the paramedics. He is critical, he has lost a lot of blood. They are taking him to City Cross hospital.

Lets go there, I said.
She sniffed into her kerchief trying to recompose herself.

I knew my date was over, but a new friendship was born.