Hearty

“Did you know iam such a steal?!” I asked.

“So am I!” he declared.

“My pleasure!” I said.

“Our pleasure, you must say!”

So he said. And we had a hearty laugh. That lovely charm and wicked smile, I had almost forgotten all about him and those salty banters. Till I heard that song,our song. The one that bought us togther, the one that melts your heart. And mine too.

We had sat there by the sea shore, mesmerized by the beauty of dusk. We together wrote a poem about the divinity of the sun that disappears into the ocean; leaving behind vague traces of its brightness. You had then turned to look at me, held my palm in yours and kissed me soft. My heart then had skipped a beat. Or so I think.

****

“3 long years! Isn’t that a long time, so much has changed!?” he asked.

“Surely. Apart from all other things that have changed you also a paunch” i said.

“Marriage does that to people!” he exclaimed.

“Oh my, what a waste. Did you know I had a thing for you back in college?” i asked.

“Oh my, you did? I wish you had said this earlier, before I got hooked up!”

So he said. And we had a hearty laugh. We spoke about life at spirited Mumbai and serene Bangalore. We agreed that we miss the Mumbai local trains and sensuous beaches. He cribbed about mid-life crisis and unending marital responsibilities. I complained about parental pressures and the irritating rat race. He then got a drink and offered it to me.

“A toast to our past and this tiny sorry that will last!” he said. My heart then had skipped a beat. Or so I think.

****

“He sounds quite exciting, why don’t you introduce me to him?” i asked.

“Tough luck, Madam!” he declared.

“I’m very sorry for you; I don’t consider those who don’t introduce me to interesting men for matrimonial purposes”

“Tough luck, once again!”

So he said. And we had a hearty laugh. He offered to drop me home, and I readily agreed. We walked up to the bike, talking about this and that. I laughed over his silly jokes, and he my wit. We decided to meet again the next Sunday. I said something about the comfort level we share, the ease with which we while away time conversing about nothin specific.He agreed to that and kick started the bike. I sat behind him and rested my chin on his shoulder. He then turned to look at me, from between the helmet, for no reason in particular. My heart then had skipped a beat. Or so I think.

*****

“Would you come with me to Dubai?” he asked.

“And do what?” I asked him back.

“You could look for a job, have a better lifestyle. May be we could even share an apartment and the expenses” he finished.

“That’s all?” I murmured.

“That’s all!”

So he said. And we went silent for moments. Just like the uncomfortable silences we had shared when we renewed our friendship after a long hiatus. We wanted to say many things,but didnt know where to start. It was embarrassing, atleast for me. I had expected something and he knew about it. I had prepared myself to hear something, which he had planned to say. But he had held it back. I wished him goodnight and switched off the phone. “Would you come with me to Dubai”, I heard him say. My heart then had skipped a beat. Or so I think.

********