Not one minute had passed in silence since we drove past the lake and I was realizing, when it came to interaction,Deep was far from boring. He almost gave me a mini tour of the city during the drive and imitated a typical tour guide as he pointed out landmarks and heritage buildings that fell on route keeping me completely entertained and engrossed.Almost half hour later, he stopped the car in front of the beauty salon where Shreya was busy getting ready, it would take another 10 minutes she informed us on phone, so Deep and I kept talking while we waited. This time I casually inquired about his studies and work.
"I'm an engineer and have just started my career, my life's all about the daily grind. let's talk about Keya instead. So, you go to college, in Delhi? " inquired Deep.
"Yeah Delhi university, my final year of studying economics,can't believe its almost time to leave.I wish we didn't have to leave college ever" I sighed
"Hey! senti-mental! I believe in making the most of our present, so while you're in the final year, make sure you never leave a single opportunity to have a blast with friends and even the teachers if you wish" he laughingly added.
"Ya right right! actually apart from studies I'm into lots of co-curricular activities,actively involved in college theatre and university fests.So, I am definitely having the best time of my life or as you put it ,having a blast! didn't you too in your days?"
"Oh without doubt! I wish I could go back there, not that I don't enjoy my job, but being a student is out of this world, no responsibilities, no tension, one should live that phase to the max with all those friends whom you may or may not see once you pass out,professional life can be pretty unnerving.",for a moment he seemed lost in a memory and then returning from the thought he continued, "Aah nevermind! You made me nostalgic, damn! I should be angry at you"
"I can see that, sorry! I seemed to have pulled the wrong strings."
"C'mon, you didn't pull wrong strings, I have no wrong strings, they are just strings,all strings attached ready to be pulled" he chuckled, "but if you're still feeling sorry , I can tell you a way to make it up to me",his eyes twinkled while he said that.
"Ahaan, how? may I know?" my curiosity was growing and I looked away from him
From the corner of my eyes I saw him turn towards me on the driver's seat, then he gave me a long stare and said "A Kiss".
My eyes widened, my throat dried up, I clenched my fist, a chill ran down my spine, in three seconds I was scared, confused, surprised and a lot many things, he wouldn't be able to harm me in the middle of a market place was my first thought and Shreya would be out of the parlour any moment now, "Relax Keya!" I calmed myself, I felt his gaze on me, so gathering myself ,I turned to confront him in order to clarify whatever nonsense he had in mind and made eye contact. Then I watched as Deep coolly slid his hands in his jacket's inner pocket, taking out a small chocolate and placed it on my lap saying "I meant a Hershey's Kiss,eat it" breaking into a fit of laughter. This time I was the senior ragged by a fresher. My face flushed as I picked up the chocolate from my lap, this was the most embarrassing moment of my life and also the funniest I realized. I gave out a nervous chuckle and sighed.Five minutes later unwrapping the chocolate,I looked at Deep, his laughter had subsided,so I jokingly remarked "God! you almost freaked me out with that sense of humor of yours". He nodded like a true prankster and replied "there's a lot more to me than you see baby" chuckling he added, "by the way I must tell,you look gorgeous in green" and then giving me a genuinely warm smile he stepped out of the car to check if Shreya was ready to go.
We reached back to the house right on time to Boori aunty's respite and the ashirbaad ceremony commenced shortly after Anurag's arrival.The couple was surrounded by onlooking relatives while the elders blessed the couple one by one with rice, darbha and sandalwood paste and the ceremony was completed with Anurag and Shreya exchanging rings as rose petals were showered on them. Even though not a Bengali custom,the current generation cannot celebrate without a DJ, so the ring ceremony was immediately followed by uninhibited dancing by the old and the young alike, it was an entertaining sight to watch the most unlikely people grooving to party music. later,at the dinner buffet Ma and I saw that it was a gathering of a hundred odd guests and personally attending to each guest can quite a task, but everybody was extremely happy with the arrangements, all credit going to Deep. His event management skills were a talking point this evening as I was told by baba later. I was strolling around with my dinner plate looking for a place to sit , I ran into Deep who was busy playing host and asked him to get his plate of food and join me , to which he replied tongue- in cheek, "As long as you're eating, my stomach's full". Once again taken aback by his bold words I scurried for an appropriate response and said, "You're flirting with me mister! do you realize that?"
"Obviously I am, didn't you realize that? ha ha"
"Huh very funny! so won't you stop?"
"Naah! especially since I know you're single"
" Ahaan!Who told you I was?"
"Ain't you? Oh my God should I be worrying about getting bashed up by your boyfriend" replied Deep with a fake 'scared' expression that I found immensely cute.
"Ughh! Please spare me I don't have one. What about you huh?" my curiosity was flying
"I am trying to make a girlfriend, she's standing right in front of me."
I couldn't stop myself from gushing hearing that and coolly said " My god ! you're out of control man, ha ha ,fine! keep trying" I winked at him
"Without doubt I will but before that I need to go check on a few guests, I'll be back darling"
"Okay darling! I'm waiting" was my impromtu response,he gave me a friendly nudge and left.I had never flirted like this before and neither had I ever been so charmed by a man like I was by this one.
The rest of the evening went through well,with good music, food, dancing and endless conversations. I was introduced to friends and family every 20 minutes by my parents and I politely obliged, exchanged greetings and made small talk, but my mind seemed to wander everytime and I couldn't figure why.
The function came to an end quite late in the night and all the guests started to leave and the ones staying in the house prepared to retire in their rooms, I separated from the crowd and sat down on one of the benches in the lawn watching the cleaners prepare to clear the post-party mess, the caterers packing up the left over food and Shreya di's uncles shouting out instructions to them for the next day's lunch menu. In the midst of the commotion I happened to catch a glance of Deep talking intensely with one of his uncles, wishing him to look towards where I sat, but he didn't to my slight disappointment . For the first time I closely observed his looks, he was a medium built man with a blend of cute and handsome facial features and long wavy hair to give him a rugged appearance, as a finishing touch a pair of dimples and that infectious smile created the boyish charm he effortlessly carries around.His looks and behaviour were both complementary as well as opposing in an interesting fashion making me more and more curious to know him. It was at that moment when I realized how, in a span of just 5 hours two complete strangers had unexpectedly transited from complete indifference to friendly teasing without a pinch of effort,the boldness and the strikingly frank verbal exchange was a new experience for me and refreshing too. My early prejudices against the man had gone for a toss since the moment he offered me the Hershey's kiss. I felt unusually happy and strange by my uncanny liking for Deep,knowing that we've only just met .
It had been a long and eventful day. While going inside the house baba noticed me sitting on the bench and walked up to me. He mentioned the lateness of the hour and asked me to go to bed so I would wake up fresh next morning.I assured him that I would and that I needed to sit alone in the lawn for just a little more time. He approved and let me stay.So,once again left alone with my thoughts I flung my sandals away and placed my bare feet on the cool dewy grass, breathed in the breezy night air and gazed at the clear, starry sky.
"I'm an engineer and have just started my career, my life's all about the daily grind. let's talk about Keya instead. So, you go to college, in Delhi? " inquired Deep.
"Yeah Delhi university, my final year of studying economics,can't believe its almost time to leave.I wish we didn't have to leave college ever" I sighed
"Hey! senti-mental! I believe in making the most of our present, so while you're in the final year, make sure you never leave a single opportunity to have a blast with friends and even the teachers if you wish" he laughingly added.
"Ya right right! actually apart from studies I'm into lots of co-curricular activities,actively involved in college theatre and university fests.So, I am definitely having the best time of my life or as you put it ,having a blast! didn't you too in your days?"
"Oh without doubt! I wish I could go back there, not that I don't enjoy my job, but being a student is out of this world, no responsibilities, no tension, one should live that phase to the max with all those friends whom you may or may not see once you pass out,professional life can be pretty unnerving.",for a moment he seemed lost in a memory and then returning from the thought he continued, "Aah nevermind! You made me nostalgic, damn! I should be angry at you"
"I can see that, sorry! I seemed to have pulled the wrong strings."
"C'mon, you didn't pull wrong strings, I have no wrong strings, they are just strings,all strings attached ready to be pulled" he chuckled, "but if you're still feeling sorry , I can tell you a way to make it up to me",his eyes twinkled while he said that.
"Ahaan, how? may I know?" my curiosity was growing and I looked away from him
From the corner of my eyes I saw him turn towards me on the driver's seat, then he gave me a long stare and said "A Kiss".
My eyes widened, my throat dried up, I clenched my fist, a chill ran down my spine, in three seconds I was scared, confused, surprised and a lot many things, he wouldn't be able to harm me in the middle of a market place was my first thought and Shreya would be out of the parlour any moment now, "Relax Keya!" I calmed myself, I felt his gaze on me, so gathering myself ,I turned to confront him in order to clarify whatever nonsense he had in mind and made eye contact. Then I watched as Deep coolly slid his hands in his jacket's inner pocket, taking out a small chocolate and placed it on my lap saying "I meant a Hershey's Kiss,eat it" breaking into a fit of laughter. This time I was the senior ragged by a fresher. My face flushed as I picked up the chocolate from my lap, this was the most embarrassing moment of my life and also the funniest I realized. I gave out a nervous chuckle and sighed.Five minutes later unwrapping the chocolate,I looked at Deep, his laughter had subsided,so I jokingly remarked "God! you almost freaked me out with that sense of humor of yours". He nodded like a true prankster and replied "there's a lot more to me than you see baby" chuckling he added, "by the way I must tell,you look gorgeous in green" and then giving me a genuinely warm smile he stepped out of the car to check if Shreya was ready to go.
We reached back to the house right on time to Boori aunty's respite and the ashirbaad ceremony commenced shortly after Anurag's arrival.The couple was surrounded by onlooking relatives while the elders blessed the couple one by one with rice, darbha and sandalwood paste and the ceremony was completed with Anurag and Shreya exchanging rings as rose petals were showered on them. Even though not a Bengali custom,the current generation cannot celebrate without a DJ, so the ring ceremony was immediately followed by uninhibited dancing by the old and the young alike, it was an entertaining sight to watch the most unlikely people grooving to party music. later,at the dinner buffet Ma and I saw that it was a gathering of a hundred odd guests and personally attending to each guest can quite a task, but everybody was extremely happy with the arrangements, all credit going to Deep. His event management skills were a talking point this evening as I was told by baba later. I was strolling around with my dinner plate looking for a place to sit , I ran into Deep who was busy playing host and asked him to get his plate of food and join me , to which he replied tongue- in cheek, "As long as you're eating, my stomach's full". Once again taken aback by his bold words I scurried for an appropriate response and said, "You're flirting with me mister! do you realize that?"
"Obviously I am, didn't you realize that? ha ha"
"Huh very funny! so won't you stop?"
"Naah! especially since I know you're single"
" Ahaan!Who told you I was?"
"Ain't you? Oh my God should I be worrying about getting bashed up by your boyfriend" replied Deep with a fake 'scared' expression that I found immensely cute.
"Ughh! Please spare me I don't have one. What about you huh?" my curiosity was flying
"I am trying to make a girlfriend, she's standing right in front of me."
I couldn't stop myself from gushing hearing that and coolly said " My god ! you're out of control man, ha ha ,fine! keep trying" I winked at him
"Without doubt I will but before that I need to go check on a few guests, I'll be back darling"
"Okay darling! I'm waiting" was my impromtu response,he gave me a friendly nudge and left.I had never flirted like this before and neither had I ever been so charmed by a man like I was by this one.
The rest of the evening went through well,with good music, food, dancing and endless conversations. I was introduced to friends and family every 20 minutes by my parents and I politely obliged, exchanged greetings and made small talk, but my mind seemed to wander everytime and I couldn't figure why.
The function came to an end quite late in the night and all the guests started to leave and the ones staying in the house prepared to retire in their rooms, I separated from the crowd and sat down on one of the benches in the lawn watching the cleaners prepare to clear the post-party mess, the caterers packing up the left over food and Shreya di's uncles shouting out instructions to them for the next day's lunch menu. In the midst of the commotion I happened to catch a glance of Deep talking intensely with one of his uncles, wishing him to look towards where I sat, but he didn't to my slight disappointment . For the first time I closely observed his looks, he was a medium built man with a blend of cute and handsome facial features and long wavy hair to give him a rugged appearance, as a finishing touch a pair of dimples and that infectious smile created the boyish charm he effortlessly carries around.His looks and behaviour were both complementary as well as opposing in an interesting fashion making me more and more curious to know him. It was at that moment when I realized how, in a span of just 5 hours two complete strangers had unexpectedly transited from complete indifference to friendly teasing without a pinch of effort,the boldness and the strikingly frank verbal exchange was a new experience for me and refreshing too. My early prejudices against the man had gone for a toss since the moment he offered me the Hershey's kiss. I felt unusually happy and strange by my uncanny liking for Deep,knowing that we've only just met .
It had been a long and eventful day. While going inside the house baba noticed me sitting on the bench and walked up to me. He mentioned the lateness of the hour and asked me to go to bed so I would wake up fresh next morning.I assured him that I would and that I needed to sit alone in the lawn for just a little more time. He approved and let me stay.So,once again left alone with my thoughts I flung my sandals away and placed my bare feet on the cool dewy grass, breathed in the breezy night air and gazed at the clear, starry sky.
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