Mumbai: In a Mall: Food court: 7:00 pm:
Navya was sitting at a corner table. Restless and awkward. She was continuously glancing at her wristwatch and sometimes mumbling some cursing words to her best friend.
Navya: (Mumbling) "Nandu..you are a blackmailer...a cute blackmailer...but still, a blackmailer and I am an Idiot...an idiot who is sitting over here for an idiotic blind date."
Cabir stepped out of the escalator and approached the food court area with a sheepish heart. The entire way he kept on praying and trying to boost up his sinking confidence. Literally, he perhaps was not so nervous during his board exams and even in his first interview. He again swallowed his saliva to moist his dry throat. Fortunately, Aliya had come with him as eventually, she couldn't keep faith in her brother's sarcastic tongue and Navya's mercurial temper which automatically rises by seeing her brother. So it is better to present some sane person to protect the people of the Mall from their predictable verbal combat. However, Aliya said to him to meet Navya alone because nobody comes on his first date accompanied by his sister. She assured him that she will observe them from a distance and she will be there if needed. After having this assurance he finally got ready to step on the battlefield. Cabir looked around for Navya and easily located her on a table. Her face was partially visible yet he could apprehend her mannerism. With a deep breath, he approached the table.
Navya: (Ignorant about her surrounding) "Even he is an idiot for sure or he has some same kind of weird friend who has insisted him to come in this Blind Death...ummm...Blind date...whatever...but I will wait for only 5 minutes more. Enough of this drama."
She once more glanced at her watch and kept on shaking her legs in impatience. Just then someone cleared his throat from behind.
Cabir: (Mumbled) "Ahem...How will the drama go if there will be no drama queen?"
Navya was startled and turned her face. The person she faced was the biggest shock of the day for her. Though she couldn't hear his entire line the word drama queen caught her not so poor hearing ability. She sprung up from the seat and scrunched her eyes and forehead.
Navya: (In a hostile tone) "What are you doing here? Are you stalking me? And what did you just say?.... Drama queen?"
Cabir cursed his tongue. "Shit she heard...mend this Cabir...mend the damage." His mind scolded him. With an embarrassing smile, he raised his hands in conviction.
Cabir: "Drama queen?....No..no I said Lama Beans. It's a Mediterranean restaurant in the US. I just love its food. You should also try."
Cabir didn't even know what the shit he was talking but right then it was the only way out. Navya made her face in sarcasm.
Navya: (Sarcastically) "Then you probably came into a wrong place or you must be basking in your glorious memories. This is Mumbai...India and it a normal food court of a Mall. I am afraid you might not be able to have your exotic Mediterranean food here."
Cabir smelt the taunt but now he couldn't afford any counter-attack. He sat on the opposite chair and got honoured with Navya's surprised and annoyed glare.
Navya: (Still standing) "Hey, you can't sit over here. Someone is to come."
Cabir: (With a nonchalant smile) "For a blind date? With you? Interesting."
Navya pulled the chair and sat on it with a thud.
Navya: (Chided) "Hey you, mind your business."
Cabir: (With same compose) "I am minding mine only...and what is a need for being so secretive? It's a blind date, not a secret date. The man must be handsome..."
Navya: (Flared nose) "Irritating..."
She tried to get up from the chair when Cabir grabbed her wrist and ended his line.
Cabir: "Like me.."
For a moment Navya kept on shuttling her eyes between his hand which was holding her hand and his eyes which were now dancing with jest. Her mouth opened in a perfect 'O' shape. She couldn't believe her eyes and his words neither she could match Nandini's perfect joke. Cabir perhaps read her mind.
Cabir: (In a tranquil voice) "Don't blame Nandini. It was me who insisted because I really wanted to meet you. I wanted to end this cat-mouse banter and I wanted to say sorry to you."
Hearing Nandini's name Navya became a bit composed yet she pulled her hand back with a jerk. Nandini arranged this date with Cabir and that's why she didn't reveal the name. But she said that he likes me and wants to confess his feelings. How? Until now they only have fought whenever they met. Navya's irritation was replaced by her uneasiness. It is easy to fight with a man but it is damn difficult to hear about love and all from that man only. She stared down.
Cabir: (With an emotional tone) "I know we always fight whenever we meet and till now I haven't left any good impression on you. But at the same time, I like you. I have never said this to a girl but...can we start with a fresh note?"
Navya budged on her seat. Now she overcame her previous shock and even the awkwardness.
Navya: (Impassively) "Don't you think it's a very short time to like a person? We hardly know each other and the bit we know is not very pleasant."
Cabir: (With more intensity) "Then I should change the word like to love because love can happen any time and with anyone. I love you Navya and I want to be with you for the rest of my life."
His candid confession left Navya sealed lipped. She could feel how her face became red and hot.
Navya: (Stammered a bit) "I...I don't know...wha...what to say...this is...I mean this very new to me...and...you are so fast..it's.."
She paused abruptly due to a lack of proper words.
Cabir: (In his usual frolic tone) "If I am not fast now, it will be late for our tomorrow. And for your dilemma that what should you say then I have an advice. Just keep your hand on your heart and close your eyes. If you can see me then you also feel for me. And after that it won't be so difficult to say, Love you too."
Navya frowned but this time with a playful smile on her lips.
Navya: "And what if I see some other's face?"
For a moment Cabir became numb. Gattu Singh's face flashed in front of his eyes. His jaws tightened.
Cabir: (With a rigid tone) "I will replace it with mine...very soon."
For a moment Navya kept on looking at his determined face and in the next moment giggled in amusement.
Navya: (In between her tee-hee) "I love your confidence...it's stubborn yet cute."
Cabir was observing her and again fell for her, waving away his suspicion about Gattu. He placed his hand on hers.
Cabir: "Can't you remove the word confidence and replace it with YOU. I will live long for some more years. Please..."
His tone had flippancy but his eyes were carrying sincerity. Navya noticed it and turned her face to save her blush.
...............................................................
Same place: On another table: 7:25 pm:
Aliya was observing everything from a distance. Navya's giggle and blush removed a burden from her chest. "Not bad Bhai...I unnecessarily underestimated you. You have finally made her smile and if a girl smiles, she is trapped." Her mind complimented her brother with a dancing heart. Suddenly a soft cordial voice grabbed her attention.
The unknown person: "Excuse me, can I sit over here? This place is fully occupied."
Aliya noticed a girl in twenty's was standing in front of her. Her both hands were full with a food tray and some shopping bags. Her dress sense and appearance instantly attracted Aliya's praise.
Aliya: (With an inquisitive voice) "Sure...I am alone...no body is sitting on this table excepting me. So you can sit...easily."
The girl smiled with gratitude and kept the tray on the table. It seemed she got relief after a long wait.
The Girl: "Thank you so much. Actually, I came for shopping only but as you know felt hungry after some time."
She made a cute face and sat at the opposite table. Aliya noticed her shopping bags. All are exclusive and expensive brands. Her eyes filled with admiration. Being a fashionista it was quite obvious. The girl placed a burger in front of her and gestured to have it with her eyes. Till now, she was mouth full.
Aliya: (Wobbled in courtesy) "No.no I am not hungry. You carry on."
The girl gulped her morsel and grinned.
The Girl: (In a playful tone) "If you are hesitating to share food with a stranger then let me introduce myself. Hi, I am Soha. Soha Sanyal. Nice to meet you Ms.."
Soha wiped her hand in the tissue and forwarded it to Aliya for a handshake. Aliya smiled and met her hand.
Aliya: (Cordially) "Hi, I am Aliya Deshmukh...Nice to meet you too."
Author's note: So this is dedicated to my cute sister Imaginaringstories as her birthday gift.🎂💐💐💐💐 To my sweet friends _sagigirl_ Nandinibera avanthikaraj for their best comments and Mr_satya as the first follower of the week. Lots of love. ❤❤❤