The first dAtE!

When I first wrote a blog I was told by my friends, the next one will come after u score a job and probably that would be the last one. So far they seem to be right. This is my second and as no one likes to take fundaes (one thing I love to give) I m trying a story this time.

It’s a strange story although I have read it, seen it couple of times in all the books and cinema. I had always dreamed that this would some day happen to me but after 21 years, like every other human being I satisfied my self saying these things happen only in movies.

As a child I remember looking anxiously and wondering why does every hero in a movie has to have a heroine. When I grew a little older I got my ans, I preferred spending time with friends who were gals or I enjoyed playing langdi over cricket for the obvious reasons. Anyways I had to face the harder facts and one day my friend told me all about heroes and heroines. Although his explanation was consistent with all the observations but it took time before I could digest it. From that day after watching a movie or reading a story I always use to have my version of the story starring me and the gal next door. A lot of time as well as gals passed by before I realized not even one of them did their roles properly or even recognized who the hero was. Anyways they were unlucky and couldn’t realize opportunity at their doorstep.

But now that I was no more a kid, I started perceiving the real world, where in I was supposed to study then get a job and then my parents will look around and arrange my marriage. I could now understand why marriage is such a big celebration. And until then I can keep my enthusiasm up by watching movies and reading stories. 

One fine afternoon I was offered a date and that too with a beautiful gal,……… Ok I won’t be skipping how I got this offer but I would say it was by luck, I never had anything in my mind as such. I was chatting with her friend and as usual flirting. When she asked me whether I would like to go out with her, I said I would love to only because such promises were made a million times before and no one even talked about it the next morning. This chat left me thinking whether she was serious. I spent rest of my time swinging from yes to no but at 21:00 hrs when the time was running out and I was at the yes side I buzzed her and said “when are we leaving” she said “for?” I had already crossed my threshold I wasn’t ready to fall back I said “I thought we had a date” she said “alright in 15 mins, will that be fine”, I tried to look cool “that’s too quick for a gal unless u were already dressed up waiting for my IM”, she said ”No I m not”, this wasn’t required I thought anyways quickly wrapping it up I said “ok I all be there at 9:30 we will go to CCD” she said “fine”.

I had to dress up for the first date of my life, and I was shocked to find out that a big lot of my clothes were at laundry and I didn’t have a decent clean dress. Oh I forgot to mention I was asked to come well dressed that was one and the only condition I had to agree to. Borrowing was not an option because of obvious question” kaha jaa raha hain” and at 9:30 in the night u don’t have many ans to that ques, I finally settled for a cotton jacket and a simple jeans. When I got to her place I was already 15 mins late, I was ready to say its Indian standard time but with the first glimpse of her I forgot every thing, All I could do was stare at her and curse my self for loosing 15 wonderful minutes of my life. We exchanged a smile and set off for CCD. No one spoke anything for sometime. Now that I was in a real date I felt much more confident and started off saying “you looking wonderful today” she replied “U too looking good today”. We reached CCD at 10:00 ordered 2 chocolate truffles. Her lack of interest in the menu could mean two things either she was not there for the treat or she liked chocolate truffle over everything else.

“How many such dates have u been to?” I asked, “does that really matters” she answered with expression on her face turning to disgust. Another bad start I thought but then she took some pity on me “not many actually, I go out with frens and I would not call that a date”, 

Well you wouldn’t call this one a date too….…, I thought. “ Is this a Date” she said with a capital D, promptly I replied “no no its just 2 frens hanging out I thought!” I tried to bring some innocence on my face, “then why did u call it a date in the first place” I felt like in a interrogation rather “because that’s what I call it when a gal and a guy hang out” this wasn’t going right I had to turn the direction “wont u agree in such a situation there is a feeble chance that the two end up liking each other and become a happy couple” finally I saw a smile on her face “ ya there is” she said “ there you go that is what I meant when I called it a date with “feeble” being the key word”. She was smiling and looking down, I was looking at her with a broad smile I knew she would catch the sparkle in my eyes, but I couldn’t help staring at her. “You are very good at words” she said “wow that means I m good at heart that’s where these words came from”. She started laughing now “oh really” , “ ya you don’t believe me ?” ,she was no less than me “that’s not good enough” , “I never said I m only good at heart” , “then what else” “I m not telling you, you must be already thinking I m trying to impress you” “And you are not“ “why will I“ “because you think there is a feeble chance” “what you and me no no you got it all wrong” “then correct me“ “I thought you would know feeble means pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness so I meant our chances are next to impossible” and so on we went.

We talked about a lot of things, place we were from, our school, our college, our friends, what we like, what we dislike etc etc. For the first time some gal told me I m cute and there are gals who admire me. Although it was only after a long time I realized that was her generosity because I was paying the bill. I wasn’t aware of the time all my energy was focused on impressing her. Finally CCD waiter asked us to leave as they were closing down. My luck was on its high and it started raining. We were on bike so we had to delay our departure and we sat on chairs in front of CCD. It was only after the warning from the CCD owner that police would be here soon and we would be in trouble if we are found sitting here, I looked at my watch it was quarter to 2 and we finally set off for our hostel. I dropped her at her place and said “I had a great time” she gave me a smile and turned around. From there I drove my bike as if following a snake trail and singing some song dil ne tumko chun liya hain tum bhi iseko chunonaa. 2:30 am I went to bed with a broad smile still on my face.

But like every other dream this one was also short-lived until I realized that it is not even close to what I was expecting. I never heard from her, she neither replied to my IMs nor did she reply to my SMS. I was not left with courage to call her.

Disclaimer: This is work of fiction. Names, characters, place and incidents are product of author’s imagination or used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organization, or person is entirely coincidental.