Do something Cupid {Chapter 3}

Ayan Pal:

So that was it, we were finally meeting for a date. It was a Saturday, holiday for IT folks but she had office. I asked to meet on Sunday, she said she had to buy some grocery from Bigbazar sale. Ok! Now who cancels a date to buy grocery? Wasn’t she really weird? Of course, she was one of those girls who get offended when asked about her salary rather than her age. She wasn’t from this planet.

So, I had a haircut, trimmed my beard, used soap in shower, bought a new T shirt, and she was making sales report in office. She didn’t even message me once all day and I was actually, worried if she actually wanted to come and that fear actually made me not call her. I seriously couldn’t take a relentless no, I was already falling for her.

However, last night she had asked on what’s app to pick her from near her office which was some 2 hours from my place. I still couldn’t gather courage to call as I boarded the train, I feared she might feel offended and wouldn’t come. You see, Mumbai actually let’s one feel the perks of a distant relationship even if both the person are in Mumbai, it’s that big. Anyway, I didn’t want to be fool by travelling so much and then she not coming. Seriously, I doubted, whether she actually existed?

I dialled her no. anxiously.

‘Hello!’ She picked.

‘Hi! … Shreya…’ I fumbled.

‘I thought you wouldn’t call.’

‘You were waiting for my call?’

‘Yeah! We are supposed to meet right?’

‘Wow!’

‘C’mon, now don’t get so excited. Anyway, I will finish off my work by the time you’re here. See you then.’

‘Shreya! Wait.’

‘What?’

‘You’ve a sexy voice.’

Period.

‘Sexy is a big word to say so soon.’ She warned.

Oh god! What should I tell her then? Shreya! Your sales reports are amazing. Whatever. I didn’t message her rest of the time, her such antics were always turn offs but then those melancholic eyes!

***

When I reached Goregoan, I was in double mind whether to call her or simply text her. You see, I wasn’t that scared even from my mathematics teacher in school. Seriously, was I actually there for a date or IIT-JEE entrance exam? But then, she called.

‘Hi! Ayan!’

‘Hi!’

‘You reached?’

‘Ya!’

‘Ok! Then wait for 10 minutes. I will just send an email and be there.’

I mean was I actually thinking to marry this corporate slave? I wouldn’t have been surprised if she brought her laptop on date. Now, I was thinking to run away from there. Anyway, I wasn’t rude like her and yeah! I did care. As we had already decided that we would go to Marine drive which was again an hour from her place, I got tickets to Churchgate wondering how much time she will spend with me.

So after few calls, couple of messages, a little bit panic and some confusion, the girl with those melancholic eyes was finally standing in front me.

‘Hi!’ She smiled.

‘Hello!’ I greeted.

‘So, finally we meet.’ She said. She didn’t seem that sadistic as she posed on chats rather she was pleasant. And yeah! There wasn’t any laptop with her; perhaps she wasn’t even carrying a hand bag. It seemed she was just out to buy some cigarettes after office. However, the tinge of carelessly put lip gloss and that roughly combed hair at last minute meant she was actually looking forward if not damn serious about the date.

‘You don’t carry a bag.’ I asked her casually.

‘You’re already worrying about the bills?’

‘Well not really! Ok! I got it. You carry this laptop bag to office.’

‘Yeah! I do. So I just kept my bag at office and came to meet you.’

‘God where do you keep other stuffs? I mean girls have a lot things to keep with them.’

‘You know a lot about girls.’

‘Well, I mean very girl is same.’

‘No. They aren’t. At least not me.’

‘Ya! I know that very well.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘Shreya! Can we have peace tonight?’

She narrowed her eyes and then out of blue, she started laughing.

‘Dude! You’re really cute.’ She ruffled my hair.

And then, there was some magic and everything around seemed so much scripted. May be the universe was actually conspiring us to get together. I never felt that we were meeting for the first time rather it seemed just another day of us being together. There were no questions asked by any of us, there were no plans either. It was just me, she and the awesome city that night.

***

Shreya Ganguly:

I had always dreamt of a fairy tale romance but then this one was turning out to be actually filmy. You see, as we were walking down the over-bridge, the train arrived. Ayan almost forgot that I was with him and he ran to board the train. Typical Mumbaikar attitude – ‘pran jaye par train na jaye.’  I lazily strolled after him; he jumped in the train and peeped towards me holding the bar.

‘C’mon! Shreya! Hurry up!’ He yelled at me.

Before even I could react, the train started moving. I panicked and reached for his hands but then he pulled back. He shook his head to signal me to stay back as the train picked up speed. I watched him go, our first date ended even before it actually started.

I couldn’t understand what just happened. Why didn’t I keep pace with him? Why couldn’t he actually miss a fucking train? Why the hell, the train had to go? Why was cupid so harsh on me? I had a lump on my throat as I walked to a bench thinking about those possibilities and then suddenly, it struck me that what was actually the big deal in it? He would get down in next station and come back; it was as simple as that! I took out my phone to call him.

‘Hello!’ I said.

‘Hi! Shreya!’

‘Ayan! I missed the train.’

‘So did I! Same pinch!’

‘What?’

‘Just turn around.’

He was standing just behind smiling at me.

‘What the fuck! You jumped down from the running train.’

He nodded. ‘That’s ok with me. I’m a Mumbaikar.’

‘Ayan! That’s being foolish.’

‘Shreya! I came back for you. Be happy for that.’

If you ask me, I wanted to hug him tight and also give him a tight slap at the same time but then I just turned away so that he didn’t see me smile.

‘Shreya! Ok! I’m sorry.’ He followed. ‘It won’t happen. Don’t get angry please.’

‘I am not angry, baba. Let’s go now. I don’t want you to do the stunt once again for me.’

***

We took the next train to Churchgate, I wanted to go to Marine Drive. I had heard so many good things about it. It’s been really sometime that I had been in Mumbai and now I was regretting that I didn’t even try to explore the city of dreams. Even in college, I had come here for some Industrial visit and had a night out at Marine Drive. It was really amazing but then I was the only single in our group, I had felt outcast that night among the couples and here it was my chance to revisit those lost moments. Might be, I was being too much optimistic with Ayan but then he was too cool to resist falling for him.

‘You told that you’d some interview yesterday.’

‘Yeah! I had and they said that the HR will call me.’

‘Do you even know what does that mean? You’re not selected.’

‘Of course, I know that. Even I didn’t want to work there.’

‘Oh c’mon! Grapes are sour, isn’t it?’

‘Not like that. I seriously didn’t want to work there. I mean the furniture, it seemed they bought from OLX and even Facebook was blocked there.’

‘Furniture, Facebook are these your criteria to choose a company.’

‘Anyway, there were no pretty girls too.’

‘What?’ I glared at him. ‘What did you say?’

‘Shreya! I’m kidding. Why so serious?’

‘This is not funny, girls are not for entertainment.’ I was loud enough to turn few heads towards us.

He looked at me baffled and then shook head. We had reached Churchgate. Might be because of the hustle or that I really hurt him, he didn’t say word to me. Marine drive was just 10 minutes’ walk away from there yet he was searching for a Taxi. Dumb!

‘No one will go. We better walk.’

He nodded and walked along with me. We were to cross the road and just then the signal got green. We had already reached the halfway, the cars vroomed at us ferociously and honked at us to give them way. I easily panic but then those approaching speedy cars froze me. I couldn’t think whether to run to other side, step back or simply scream. I was freakingly scared. But Ayan came to rescue, he held my hand tight and pulled me along with me. He looked calm as he waved at cars to let us go and we were finally on the other side. I sighed. He dropped my hands.

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hold your hands, just wanted you to cross the road safely.’ He said.

‘Ayan! I didn’t think that at all. You’re a nice guy…’

‘Wait a minute! I hope you’re Friendzoning me.’

‘Na baba! I am saying peace. Let’s enjoy the date.’

‘So you think it’s a date?’ He smiled.

I just turned away, I didn’t want him to see my cheeks go red. It happened every time, he smiled.

After few hiccups, we finally reached the Marine drive. The road to Marine Drive wasn’t even complicated, just few turns yet we missed then every time. Actually, talking to him is not just interesting but engaging. He knows about everything, no matter what you talk to him, he will always conquer you with his knowledge. He even knows what’s the capital of Lakshadweep? Mini Wikipedia he is!

We walked a few distance through the place searching for a proper place to sit. As we passed through a group of boys, one of them actually came too close to me, almost brushing me. I was freaked out. Ayan was walking next to me, I clung to his shoulders to avoid those bunch of hooligans.

‘Shreya! Is everything ok?’ Ayan asked me.

‘Yeah!’ I nodded, still holding him. ‘That guy came too close to me.’

‘Oh really! He might have done that unknowingly.’

‘You don’t even know him.’

‘Exactly! You don’t even know him.’

I had made my mind not to argue with him in such things after the train episode. I nodded and walked with him.

***

We sat on the promenade facing the sea. Enjoying cool breeze, staring at the stars, listening to the waves with a cup of coffee, that’s the best thing you could do in Mumbai. It’s not just nostalgic it’s moment to be cherished forever. Perhaps, there were hundreds of people spending such time every day and that day being a weekend, it seemed a full house but then when you’re with Ayan, you’re actually with just him.

Being quite couple friendly, there is like every kind of sellers selling different items which probably amuse the girls. Sometimes, I do feel, guys actually have a lot to do to impress a girl. Anyway, there were roses, candies, ice-cream, chatts, hot air flying lamps and also foot message available if you’re tired walking with your loved ones. And then, a guy selling candy-floss passed. I so much wanted Ayan to buy one for me but then he busy explaining me the latest feature of iOS 8. I gave him signals about my crave for candy floss by staring at the seller and telling that as a child I would buy these outside my school but Ayan told me how they add colours to them and how unhealthy they are.

‘Ayan! I want it.’ I lost cool.

There was no argument further. He ran after Candy floss seller who had by now had gone distance. I fiddled with my waiting for him, it had been more than three hours that I was with him and I checked my phone for the first time. I was really having a good that day night.

He was back in few minutes holding a candy floss. He just won my heart with that but then was I that easy girl? I don’t think so. I didn’t even say him thank you for the candy floss.

‘Can I ask you something?’ He said.

‘Ya!’ I nodded.

‘Who’s this guy?’

‘Who?’

‘Who made you believe that every man is a pervert?’

‘There is nothing like that!’

‘You can tell me.’ He held my hand which gave me goose-bumps. I tried to pull out my hand but he held me tight. ‘Shreya! I want to know about it.’

‘Is it important to you?’

‘Well, I got to know the reason what’s actually stopping you. Don’t you see how much I ….’ He trailed off.

‘How much you, what?’

‘I don’t know why but I’m way too attracted towards you. I mean, you kinda blew my mind. If I say I love you then you would argue that love is a way too big word and even I agree that would be early to say something like that but then if stay so negative about everything then nothing gonna work. Trust me; I don’t want to lose you.’

‘Hmm…’ I sighed.

‘That’s it!’ he raised his arms in disappointment.

I glance at him through the corner of eye; he was looking at the sea. For the first time in some years, I actually felt that someone did care for me. Perhaps, I had kept my past inside me for way too long. You see, more you keep them within you more the haunt you and I guess it was the right time because I know Ayan would understand.

‘Just like you, I met him on some Matrimony site. We were together in Delhi. We met and then started dating; I eventually fell in love with him. Things were so awesome between us, I even told my parents about him. And then, after two years he suddenly realized that he is not ready for marriage yet. He told me to move on.’

‘And you never actually did.’

‘Hmm…’

‘But then, does it make all men pervert? I would say you were dating a wrong person that’s it. Even I once dated a wrong girl once but I don’t think all girls are slut.’

‘What? You dated someone?’

‘Why you’re shocked? C’mon, I know I’m cute.’

‘Who told you this?’

‘Your smile.’ He was smiling sheepishly.

I blushed. No. I laughed. He knew how to make me happy.

‘Why did she left you?’

‘Well… I don’t exactly know the reason. She said I was boring.’

‘You’re not boring.’

‘Actually, I loved her way too much and I guess, she found it boring.’

‘Isn’t that stupid?’

‘Well, you girls anyway prefer bad boys over nice guys. Just look at you, he wasn’t a good guy but you’re still mourning for him.

‘Hmm…’ I sighed. ‘You see, the one you love and the one who loves you are never ever the same person.’

‘Well… I don’t think so. I mean if you fall in love me then your quotes will just contradict.’

‘You don’t love me.’

‘Why do you think so?’

‘You said you love someone.’

‘Correction! I said I loved. It’s past. I don’t love her anymore.’

‘What kind of love was that if it doesn’t stay forever?’

‘Nothing is forever, not even life. Everything ends someday.’

‘Now that’s strange thing to say.’

‘Why is it so? She didn’t love me, so I stopped too. It’s about give and take. You love, I love.’

‘Now that is even more mean to say. This is not a deal that you calculate profit and loss.’

‘Maybe. But for me, love is togetherness and not sacrifice. If you love someone truly and the other person doesn’t care due to various reasons, then I see no point waiting for that person. I mean I want to wake up with the person I love and not wake up to see if she had changed her what’s app dp. Follow the time, it never stops. Move on. Life actually has many more surprises waiting for you.’

‘Dude! Don’t you talk too deep?’

‘I talk straight, what’s in my mind.’

‘But then why me?’

‘Well… that’s about love, you actually don’t know why? Trust me; I don’t even care to know the reason.’

‘But then, I don’t love you. So, you should not follow me either.’

‘Actually, you don’t know whether you love me or not and that’s why you’re here. I am kinda sure about you, so I’m trying to impress you and being a boy, I will have to do. You don’t get anything unless you put in efforts. But then, I am pretty sure that you like me.’

‘How do you know that I like you? Again my smile?’

‘Nah!’ He shook his head. ‘Check your phone battery and you have your answer.’

I was dumfounded by his confidence. Seriously, I wasn’t actually not expecting him to be that smart. I wondered what to say him further, I looked blankly at him.

‘You see that’s what we had learnt from our engineering days, if you can’t convince them then confuse them.’