Wait a minute...did i say O.N.E??...Oh THE HORROR!!! Its afternoon!! Christ! I sprung from my bed and looked around the house...Bridge was no longer in the bathroom. That's where I last saw him. No sign of Hanna (Haneefa) either.
"Abowoey! Kaghan hai Zabbbb? " I was still blabbering. Chivas speaking for me. I frantically looked around for them as if I were looking for some stolen Gold.
"Chilla kyu raha hai? Wash yourself...I'll make tea for you"
Rain! I rushed to the kitchen from where I hear her sound in the backdrop of utensils' cling-clang.
"you got so early? How?? and where are the others??"
"Early? Hello...its afternoon in India! We humans wake up in the morning...They went back home...Now, would you please wash your face and get a shower? U stink of alcohol.... Yuucckkkk!"
"Achcha? U slept with a stinker all night babes? Do you recollect?"
"I didn't sleep with you...I mean...We just slept on the same bed..oK..?"
"Oh..So you don't remember anything? Nothing of what we did?"
"Oye...DDLJ ke Shahrukh Khan..Im not Kajol ok...Now move your a** into the bathroom..Stinker!! Yucckkk!!"
"Ok Baba..Going..." It felt good to be in the hot shower after a crazy night that ate up my morning. I had tea soon after...Tea felt so good, bit by bit it helped drive away the headache pounding my head.
Me and Rain prepared lunch together..Simple dal and rice was all we knew to make. We were making the papads in the oven as we chatted.
"So, any evening plans?"
"Nahi yaar..Where I'll make plans.."
"Hmm..you'll come to Mahalaxmi with me?"
"Sure..no problem yaar!"
" And then maybe we can go for a coffee or something later on..something without which you can't live..."
"WHAT??????WHat did you just say?"
"What? I didn't say anything..I mean..I..."Poor thing was shit scared!
"Coffee? Oh Jesus! How can i forget? Rain....I am sorry, But i have to go .."
"On a coffee date?"
I just smiled, raising my shoulders making that face that i thought looked cute. If only Rain would have spoken about it otherwise.
"Ok...I will go with someone else.."
"Umm..can't we go like later..say tomorrow?"
"No..you carry on.."
The rest of the lunch we spent watching TV. It's the best way to avoid a conversation with someone you can't tell I don't wanna talk.
It was 03:30 in the afternoon. I started working out- on of the many passions I harbour. I wanted to make sure I look and feel best. I took over hlf an hour deciding which denim and Tees would go bets and show off some of my toned physique- I took a Jacket first, but then dropped the plan. Another few minutes over the watch and the glares I would wear. Not that I had a huge collection, but i had to choose from the two- three ones of each i owned. And the Azzaro perfume to top it all.
(whoever said men don't care much about the looks, I just proved to be a renegade. And I sure am not alone)
Not a single text from her. I was wondering who this friend of Riya's could be who is keeping her busy enough. I took the initiative this time- I sent her a text-' We are meeting at Mochas na?'It was 04:30pm, And I was all ready to go.
Beep....She texted back- 'Yes, will be there by 05:00'
So, here I was, glancing every minute at my watch. It was 05:25, and she still was nowhere to be seen. Frustrated, I put my head on my bike handle..Suddenly it dawned upon me. How will she recognise me? She didn't ask me how I look, or what I would wear for identification..Neither did I! Such a duffer!
I immediately called on her phone...Busy...Tried again..Busy..Then my phone (thankfully) popped her name- "Riya Calling"
"Hey! You reached? Where are you?"
" Im here, just near Mochas yaar..Where are you? What are you wearing? So stupid of us, we didn't even ask for identification.."
" Do you see a Red coloured Enfield parked near Mochas..?
'Hello? Riya?U hear me?"
I felt a tap on my shoulder just then. "Riya!" I exclaimed.
"Hi.." She was smiling. An her smile was as sweet as her voice was seductive. She wasn't one who would turn heads on the street- She looked pretty, bu nothing of the drop-dead gorgeous kind of material. She was wearing a black top with sequin work supported by strings that were tied by the neck. The black colour especially accentuated the fair skin of her body.She complemented her top with a knee length pink and blue velvet skirt with bewitching prints of floral motifs are heavily graced with sequin work. As I said- she was pretty, beatiful black eyes that were outlined perfectly. A nose that God perhaps stuck a bit hurriedly, but made up by lips that were full and the lipstick just made them appear more inviting.
"Finally we meet!" She said, breaking my gaze. She probably sensed I was checking her out. And why not?
Once inside the coffee shop, I was nervous. I didn't know what to start with.
"Strange Hai na? We accidentally talk over the phone, get to know each other and three days later we sit here in a coffee shop sitting next to each other!"
That's right. We were siting on the couch,not close enough to be in physical contact but not far either.
"It is Riya, If I never believed in chance- here's my time to rethink!"
"Hahaha..YEah..You better do...Things sure happen for a reason..
Neways, You doing BMS huh? Which year?"
"First Year"
She laughed out loud. I couldn't understand. What's funny about the BMS course. I tried to avoid it and casually asked.." What about you? How is your preparation for Board exams going on?"
She laughed out louder.Well, she had a pretty smile and good voice, somehow when you hear her laugh you feel the description was of an entirely different person!!
"What' so funny Riya?"
"You..You...(she was trying to speak whilst controlling her laughter..You..really..Thought I am in ..XIIth...hahah...and you still think so?"
She had just completed final year of Engineering,Mechanics- Awaiting calls from International B schools,she revealed.
"what??? Why?..I mean..." I realized she was right. Why would she give out complete information to a complete stranger?
" And you trusted me enough to come and meet me?"
"Yes..call it Madness if you will.."
"Anything else that you lied about? "
" No ya ... Now would you suspect evertyhng?"
"Sorry.." I said and sipped onto my Coffee of the Gods!
" No..Don't be..But know what? I am glad I had the gumption to come, cos you really seem to be the sweetheart I thought you might turn out to be."
Now when she called me sweetheart I felt like a kid. She was whole damn three years elder to me.So Embarassing! But the brighter side Was that an older (and perhaps smarter) woman loved my company so far and showed no sign of boredom.
'twas evening and getting dark. "Lets go for a ride on your bike. What say?"
She didn't have to wait for my reply- Minutes later we were on Marine drive- cruising along in my 350cc mean machine, with a delicate body that holding me tight.
An hour and a half later, we neared the gates of my residence.
"this is where I live"
"Here? Damn cool huh! You get an ocean view?"
"yup, from every room.."
"Sexy man!So exciting!"
"You wanna check out..anyways the evening breeze is really refreshing!
She thought long and hard even as my heart skipped a million beats.
"Umm..OK....No problem.."
"You can perhaps tell your parents you would be late for dinner."
"Hahahaha..Oh no my sweetheart! I dont live with my parents. I live with a room mate here..."
Her eyes met mine...The message was transmitted..Over and out!
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