It’s about love… [Take-71]

[Previous Take][First Take]

The talk

It was fun. I felt like I have captured the top of Tiger hill and victory was in sight. I had been given the sketch-pen and the map and I could now draw the line-of-control, the way I liked. Topic was up, loud and clear, and so were the intentions. I took a few sips of my lemonade and watched her toying with the spoon. I wanted to spend a few moments to observe and let the situation get a bit normal.

Me: Ha ha (an invented laughter) Moms are moms..you know… She wanted you to know that she is dangerous… ha ha ha… (a genuine one this time)

Niks: (Smiling)… You always talk to your mom like that?

Me: Yeah… almost always…

Pause. When the food is good, pauses tend to be a few munches long. You tear a bit of tandoori roti, look for choice of Veg/dal, soak the roti in the gravy and munch it. Repeat from step one.

Me: I haven’t told her about you yet… I mean not until what I said just now.

Niks: Hmmm… Who all do you introduce to her like that…?

Me: Oh no-no-no (Sniff! Sniff! something’s burning) I mean I have … but I haven’t told her much about you… [Pause]… Nothing about that I like you or have seriously thought about you… [Voila! I said it. Yes! Yes! Yes!]

Niks: (Eyes focussed at Biryani plate)Hmmm (humming in a feeble tone)

Me: You know … It won’t be difficult with her… I believe so… as yet… can’t say about the future though… But, she is most likely to understand and agree easily.. (Argghhhh what am I saying…did it make any sense)

Weather seemed to have changed a tad. I was feeling some droplets on my forehead.

Me: Actually I wanted to ask you if you’ve thought about my proposal

Niks: (With an innocent look) What proposal?

Arghhh! What do you mean what proposal? I escaped a cardiac arrest trying to tell you my feelings on chat one day. And she wants to play games. Common now! Don’t do this to me. Let’s talk baby… Your show of innocence is now putting me on rage. Cool down buddy cool down. Deep breath in, long breath out.

She too wasn’t able to handle the situation. Discomfort and restlessness showed on her face.

Me: Hmmmm! I really understand your situation. Since when are you facing these problems?

Niks: (Totally lost) Whaat?…. (paused ..perhaps to think again on what I just said)… prob…lems?

Me: Don’t worry! Medical science has found miracle drugs… oh and why go far… tonic for better memory are available in our Ayurveda. (I said with a very concerned expression)

Niks: (Cracked up) he he

Me: (Smile) Any way.. Let me revise it for you. I like you and would like to marry you… Should my parents talk to yours? Or would you …emm.. like to do it some other way.

Her face grew tense again. I tried to cool her down and tell her what this longing and confusion is doing to me. She tried to think, as it appeared from her expressions. I was already delighted to have expressed things that have been bugging me since months now. And I was also charged up to take any answer. The undying hope deep within gives me that strong optimism. I believe I always knew the answer. But will I be able to hear it from her? More importantly will she utter it now?

[To be continued...]