It was a much awaited get together. Some of us hadn’t met or spoken to each other for years together. We had mostly lived a facebook life. Majority in the group were by now married and some had graduated to parenthood. It was a perfect occasion to meet the spouses of our dear friends and expand our friend circle. Some of us took turns to take the new born babies and walk around and play with them.
As we all sat around the table and were laughing aloud recollecting each one’s past, back from college days, my phone began to ring. It was her, my crush from college times. Her face lit my screen bright. She still looked the same. Prettier I felt. I had even forgotten she was on my contact list. Deep somewhere, I was always looking forward to meet her today during our get together.
I received the call and even before I could think of an appropriate line to talk, she asked me if I was already at the get together. She was late as always and lost, again as always. She wanted some directions to guide the auto guy. As I continued to guide her on the phone I quietly walked out of the restaurant as I knew she would be at the restaurant any time now. As we hung up, there she was dressed in her casual best and looking her perfect best getting down from the auto. She heaved a sigh of relief as she saw me.
I walked towards her and stretched my hand to greet her. I couldn’t help but complement her and as I was jus pulling her leg about how she still couldn’t manage to move around Bangalore even after all these years, she kind of gave me a cold shoulder when she said “I did a mistake calling you of all people!!!” It took me a moment to digest that comment, but as we continued to walk our conversations were pretty formal. As we walked together towards the restaurant we did raise some eyebrows in the group which instantly gave room to some hushing and gossip. And we both knew what it was all about.
She quickly got absorbed with her group of friends and so did I. I quickly got pulled aside by my group of close friends who wanted to know what I was hiding from them. Considering my silent history they refused to believe me when I laughed at all their questions. They refused to buy the story that it was after several years I was ever meeting her or let alone speakin to her.
It was one long dinner and we all exchanged pleasantries and sure had one of the most memorable time. After having spent almost 4 hours at the restaurant we thought it was time to wind up as it was getting late. Especially for the girls who had come by themselves. As expected most guys came forward to offer the girls a lift back home. As we all started moving out of the restaurant in smaller groups it was a long walk towards the parking lot. While I was thinking hard whether or not to offer her a lift, one of the couples in the group offered to drop her home.
People slowly started to take leave and as few of us were standing by our vehicles and speaking, we found a person walking towards us in the dark. As that person approached us and into the light we realized that was a eunuch. As expected that person refused to leave us alone and started to strike a conversation with some of the guys. As this was happening, this person for a moment laid eyes on her and as this person took a step towards her and tried to grab her hand, quick on her feet she ran towards me though I was a few steps away from her. She instantly took cover behind me and in the process tightly clasping her hands against my arms. Her tight grip made me realize her insecurity, her fear. Sensing the mood and try to calm her I gently placed my right palm over her hands trying to reassure her all is fine. This is when she gently cuddled me from behind and rested her head against my back.
In the meantime my friends had managed to get rid of that eunuch and soon everyone’s eyes turned on us. She was still oblivious of what was happening and was tightly holding on to me. As I looked around I saw some wicked smiles on few of my friend’s faces. Trying not to make it anymore awkward, I told her everything is fine and was trying to calm her. She looked shaken. And then came the most unexpected thing after that, when she asked me if I could drop her back home?
To be Contd....
