Dinner

It was one more stop and were would arrive at our destination.

“Wow, that was fast” I thought. I got down first, and offered her help. Would she accept to clasp, or say thank you, it was a microexamination…she did place her gentle palm in my palm and said thank you!

Her nails were long, clear and glossy. Her skin was so soft and smooth, she should be really eating right and dieting on nutritious food. These are definitely signs of good health that are indicators of many things, including the quality of offspring. :-P

We leisurely walked towards the restaurant on the next line. Well she was not aware of the direction we were walking, she was busy explain her love and training in Carnatic Music.

 "Here?" she exclaimed, we were at the gaudy entrance of Hotel Taj.

“Why don’t like it? Well I thought this is the best in the sector” I said.

“We don’t have a reservation” she wondered.

“O really, don’t we?” I teased her.

We walked a few more paces and asked for my reservation. We were on the “ Kings and Queens” porch, table 25.

A butler escorted to our table. I took off my coat, and handed it over to him.

Srikanth, reading his name on the badge, I said “ Please get us lemonade – chilled” . Yes sir, he said, carried away my coat leaving us in privacy.

“Would you mind excusing me for a couple of minutes” , I said.  
Do you need to be so formal…please, it makes me uncomfortable, came the reply.

Refreshed made few important calls and returned  to the young lady guest of the evening.

Her face was softly illuminated by the candle on the table. She looked awesome from that distance. She was staring at the Rose on the table, and gently caressing the petals.

I took my seat.

When did you book the table? Our travelling by metro was not planned – or was it? She asked.

Well…you see, that’s me, I boasted. Little could she realize that the short duration in the queue for taking tickets was more than enough for me to book a table for two.

Our limejuice was served. Whoa, it was chilled and thoroughly refreshing. I let the lady place the order.

 

Her choices were good. I liked the combination of tastes.

We talked more about our lives, as they are structured. I made gentle fun of everything she said, and it was all in right sense. She seemed to like it, well I assumed it so, her expressions and the atmosphere got only better.

After the sumptuous meal, we strolled down to the parking.

We haven’t come this way…did we? She asked. Well no, but we could go out this way I replied.

Ali was with my car, out in the parking, ready to leave.

Oo! She exclaimed. Rarely have I seen such genuine innocence in the recent past. I was bowled by it.

Ali handed over the keys, and asked “ Chalu Saab?” .

I let him go - Shukriya Ali, kal car ko service keliye lejana hai. Subah aake lejana. I said.

“Shall we move? I asked her.

She smiled and got into the car. Rock ON was playing.

I gently pulled off, and caught speed in no time.

Day 2

I was busy attending to my work, thoughts still lingering around her. Should I break the ilence? Well, being ‘the man’ I could and should take the lead. I had just finished my presentation to my boss.

Applauded for all the hard work that went into the work, I was all in my moods for fun. Returned to my cabin, turned on the AC, loosened the knot around my neck , we so fancifully call tie, and logged into my personal mail.

She was online.  I typed  H-E-L-L-O and hit enter. For a second I felt it did it twice, but no, actually there were two hellos on the chat box. We pinged each other at the same time, as fortune would have it, I was ahead by a fraction of a second.

I put in :-) and asked if she was busy. For the second time the reflection continued! The coincidence was to become obvious. "NO" .

Well, I asked if she was free in the evening. She replied she replied "Yes".

Can we meet at necklace road? I asked.  She smiled an agreement.

I called home to inform that I will be seeing the girl and will have dinner outside, and desert at home.

It was only then I realized that was little over perfect for this unplanned date. I was making a corporate presentation and I was wearing my best tuxedo,  the London blue cufflinks matched perfectly with the light stripes shirt. Pink gold xylus completed the look!

Boss called in for lunch. I always enjoyed the elaborate corporate menus, it only added to my joyous mood.  Nine am to five pm flew away like a couple of minutes. And now, five to six was like a whole working day! I asked Raju to clean my car, just in case, it would come in handy. No sooner did the clock tick Six, I zapped out and zoomed away in my freshly washed babe.

I was just on time. I parked my car and looked towards the bike parking stand. The angel had just come in, and was parking her peppy.

She was wearing a red-black kurta and jeans. I could already feel the magic. I looked into my window glass and adjusted my hair and tie, and popped in mint and was looking forward for the evening. ( I wanted to run in her direction, but i had to control the kid)

We greeted each other. I was mesmerized by her beautiful her smiling eyes, and was lost in them for a moment. They were  full of life and vigour!

 

We crossed the road, to the other side, just then public from the MMTS railway station were coming out.

“Did you ever travel by MMTS?” she asked.

O! I did, for almost a year from hafizpet to malakpet!

Thats the best way to travel in city I added.

"Did you also travel my the train? "

"I used to go to office by train un till recently, not much these days. I like travelling by metro" she replied.

"Would you like to take a short trip?"

" O yes why not!, she accepted the offer, smiling beautifully.

I went straight to the counter and bought two first class tickets.

Three minutes and the train arrived. I escorted her, extending my arm, indicating ladies first. She smiled a thank you. Not only we were the only ones to board the first class, but also we were the only one ones in the entire coach.

What more privacy a new knowing couple need? The universe was planning things already I guessed, but it was too early to fall into this.

Our professional lives were the subject of discussion. We talked about our working hours, even our bosses amidst other things.

“Do you have free time?” she asked.

“ No. Not after I realized how precious it is, there is no more ‘free’ ness to it” I replied.

What  do you do all day…if only you don’t mind telling me she said.

Well…

The Meeting...

Our families met yesterday in a traditional marriage proposal meeting.
“Pelli chupulu”. I was always skeptical about this institution of marriage and who else but my parents knew it the best.
I never thought i was a marriage material. Yet they could convince me for taking a try.

None of the items on the checklist for the Mr Prefect even remotely deserved a tick mark, let alone, the most eligible bachelor tag I was attached to by relatives based on my education, my successful career at work and my habits, and the strongest strings that tied this tag to me were my parents - their reputation and the upbringing and, my deep involvement with service and spirituality.

Well, after an hour long drive in city traffic, we arrived at their place. I just wanted to be my self, inside out, no hypocrisy, and it started with the dress. I was wearing my fav board golden bordered white dhoti, crisply starched white shirt, cuffed with my fav pieces of Park Avenue cuff links.

What pleased my most at their place  was the ambience and the huge photograph of our family diety. the fragrance of incense, light colors on the walls, well it was impressive indeed.

We talked leisurely for about fifteen minutes, then the father of the girl wanted her to come down. As always I was more intune with the elders than the second cousins and other youngsters around.

She came into the sitting room. Little did she look up in our direction, well i did see her, and it was all OVER...i had instantly fallen in love with that lady who was looking so gorgeous, in a light yellow pink saree. She was perfect intune with my likes, light jewelry, gait, haristyle, it was just all  perfect.

My heart was pounding...is she an angle!? That was really my first expression. she sat down so softly on the sofa.

Her parents introduced her to us. we were told that she is disciplined child, and very God Loving. She did her bachelor’s in Computer Science out of choice is currently employed with a big company as a team leader.

Her affiliation to the company and its culture ended with the job, and nothing to do with it after she punches out of duty.

Well that is something really unique these days in city, where getting wooed into after office glitzy and glam life is but natural. She teaches in the Sunday school to the primary classes children.

She was the best student in her academies and a carnatic classical singer.

Dad talked about me, rather crisply. he told her where was I working and told her I was  highly devoted ever since childhood and my strong attitude of service. Mom told her about my hobbies.

Well, what was I doing...letting people do the talking and myself basking in the warmth.

She smiled and looked at me for the first time.

I felt someone punched my from the inside of my stomach. I was looking at her, all the while, though she could feel it, she never made the eye contact with me while my parents were talking to her.

she said " Hi " sweetly smiling.  

I said "hello".

Those were all the words we exchanged. She was confident and shying at the same time.

Her parents offered us privates space, which i politely declined. I strongly disagree with the concept of a personal interview with a young lady. In our culture, she could never refuse, even if she did’nt like to meet me in person.

Few more exchanges of formal talks and I suggest we move. before we left, I gave her my personal card. (not business card). She respectfully received it .
we bade goodbye. I was driving our car, but was definitely swayed by her charm.

I did my own analysis of all the things on the face value. remarkable things,that form a part are the facts that her upbriging is so strongly routed in our way of life and culture, that the all powerful extended office lifestyle  could win her attention.  well, having seen how valuable and precious modesty to a woman is, and how women are treated in the vedic way of life, the modern day rampant silicon valley culture repelled me every single time I met it.

This was something I had seen for the first time.  Then on Sundays she teaches in the Sunday school in the VIP- village improvement program. well, she would not object my going out for social service as well.

11:00 PM

I was checking my mails for the days last time.

I see her name on top of the list for friend requests.

I accepted it. she was online already.

late night discussion often ruin the next day, especially if your day is scheduled to meet your Vice-president. moreover, i did'nt want to sound desparate to talk to her. I simply logged off. logged off for the day.

Moments...