The weather was cool outside and Anand could sense it sitting at his office. He wanted to go out and feel the pleasant atmosphere and appreciate the surroundings. Working on the final draft of his presentation he said “Aargh!!” thinking about the work that made him stay inside this sullen atmosphere. He finally decided hell with the work and thought “I can complete this later” and stepped outside the office building. He could feel the soft breeze hitting on his face and that instant decided it was perfect for a long drive on the newly bought bike he bought last week.
He rushed to his room changed his attire and drove off to his favorite and uninhabited destination a place nearby to catch the Sun “Set”, one of the few things he loved to watch.
With the cool breeze around, he raced his bike at 100 km per hour and thought “This is life” just for a moment though. Looking back at the vacant place in his pillion, he really wished he had some company now while riding the bike. He wished for that someone who would hug him from his back and urge him ride faster or someone who would hit him on his head now for driving dangerously, that someone with whom he could share the good and bad, that someone who could read his mind now and give him a kiss on his cheek. He did have a few flings in past but they were nothing more than casual affairs. As they say in the books or movies “girl of his dreams” is the one whom he was yearning for right now. He thought, I miss the most essential spice in life “ROMANCE”.
Thinking about these stuff, he reached the place on the top of hill from one can have a perfect view of the sun which would call retire for the day. As he was parking the bike he sensed someone was already there. This made him uncomfortable rather angry. He murmured “Lost another place to this so called civilized world”, thinking now many people would discover his favorite spot, he saw “HER”.
She was on the edge on cliff with her hair let loose and sitting oblivious of the surroundings. He stood there stoned watching her. Her face was so fair and was shining as the sun rays fell on her and the sun’s illuminous light made her hair golden. “She resembled a mermaid” he thought. He could sense something intense happening inside him similar to the sky around that started to colour itself with intense orange and red hues.
He walked casually towards her and just stood there. Looking at him with her grey coloured eyes, she said “sit down” and again went into oblivion. They both just sat there watching the fireball disappear but anand could sense the fire burning somewhere deep inside at his left part of the chest. He didn’t know how to describe it. All he knew was she was the responsible for it she alone can dowse it. As he was busy admiring her, without looking at him she asked “isn’t this beautiful?” “Definitely not beautiful as you as you are”, he wanted to say but managed to squeak “Yea, one of the most beautiful…”
And again they fell silent.
He wanted to ask her many questions like who are you? What is your name? etc, and suddenly his face turned to colour of green pastures that were on hill thinking about what if she is already committed or something like that. He prayed “ man hope she isn’t” and many wild and irrational thoughts came across his mind.
“I am VIDYA”, she said. “Now’s the best part”, he replied pointing at the sky and “I am Anand”. The sun’s brightness was slowly diminishing unlike the feelings now he has for her. With a big smile on her face and extending her hand, “that was lovely” thanks for the company, she said. Looking at her sparkling grey eyes, he said “Anytime” feeling her warm and soft hands.
She: You come often here right?
He: Yea…
She: Alone… Eh?? So sad… (With a grin on her face)
He: Hmm… what to do it is difficult to find one who shares a common taste…
She: Well… Not anymore right?
He: I guess… (Winking at her)
Hitting him on his hand, she said “How rude is that?” . Winking at her He asked, “I wouldn’t be rude if you agree for a cup of coffee now and let ourselves to know about each other a little? What say?”
“Well that would depend on how good the coffee tastes and how good the conversation is?” she said smiling. He felt so relieved and couldn’t believe that she was single and most importantly she was interested.
“There is a shop nearby and I guess we can walk down a little or would you prefer a ride. Anything is fine with me.” He asked her vaguely. “Let’s walk and don’t spoil the nice time we had just now by having a bad coffee” she said. Laughing at what she said, “You are threatening me eh? You wouldn’t be disappointed I can say that”
“Better not”, she said and they started walking down the hill to the coffee shop nearby.
He was in a dilemma how to start and engage her in a conversation. He thought about his feelings for her. He could make out she was smart, friendly and of course superlatively beautiful but, “what made him crazy about her and what made her say yes for a cup of coffee to a stranger like me whom she has met just a few minutes ago” he questioned himself.
She interrupted his thoughts asking him “what made you think that I would say ‘yes’ when you asked me join you for a cup of coffee”. Anand was stunned; “she was actually reading his thoughts” he thought and answered “you know what I was thinking the same”.
Both reached the coffee shop.
Holding the cup with both hands, she said “It smells good”. “Try it, tastes even better” he told. She had that one real fast and asked “Can I have another?” “Sure but first answer did I make your evening pleasant” he quipped.
She said “I would answer it if I have another one” raising one of her brows at him.
Grabbing the second cup, “Hmm…” she quipped, “I guess I made your evening which would have been ordinary if not for me”, And started smiling. The cup he was holding almost fell. He didn’t see that coming. “You read my mind” he blurted.
They started walking back to the place where he parked his bike. He noted that she fell silent. He understood, she knew what he felt about her and thought he has to speak up now.
“Vidya” calling her name for the first time, he said “You are right! You made my evening”. She was silent.
Holding her hand smoothly now, He continued “I no more wish for lonely evenings… and would you share such evenings with me hereafter” She was still silent.
Looking at him she smiled and replied “Sure… but only, if you promise to buy me another cup of coffee for me now…”
