Am I still @lone?

‘Bas bhaia yahin drop kardo…’ I say to the auto rickshaw driver as I approach the sec-17 market.
‘How much?’…I asked.
‘Rs.5…’He replied.
‘There you go…’ I said as I passed on a 5 rupee coin to him and started my walk towards the main market.

‘What an amazing city Chandigarh is! But even more amazing are the gals!’ These are the obvious thoughts that would creep into your mind as you enter the city beautiful…Chandigarh.

And I was here 10 o’ clock in the morning for no special reason.
‘How times change…’ I concluded as I acknowledge the fact that I was all alone.
Just 2 months back I was here with a friend (read crush) of mine… We had taken a bus together to Chandigarh to go to our college as our mid-semester breaks got over. Coming back from home is always painful, but not this time… I had woken up at 6 to take the first bus to Chandigarh as she had agreed to accompany me on this ‘take the first bus’ condition.
Anyways, I had (happily) agreed. And then, for the first time I understood the merits of being ‘early to bed and especially early to rise!’ because we reached this beautiful city well before schedule. God bless the officials who have built the bus stand in the sec-17 itself! What sec-17 is for Chandigarh is what 'cp' is for Delhi! So I asked this ‘friend’ of mine if she would like to visit this very special market of the city. And to my surprise, she obliged.
People who have experienced this would tell you better, I can just say that roaming about in the market with a girl who looked awesome is…er awesome. Every second guy looks at you enviously (read jealously)!

‘How did this stupid guy managed to get his hands on such a cute girl?’ was the question everybody seemed to be asking.
Anyways I had taken this very special friend of mine to ‘Indian coffee house’. Now those who don’t know about this place, for those, I want to tell that it is a really special coffee house. Firstly, though they are not as flashy as today’s CCDs and Baristas, but these have a class of their own. Everything seems to be so traditional and classic. (Secondly they are not as ridiculously expensive).
So there we were and had our first (and last) ‘date’. (I know she would kill me for calling it a ‘date’, but that’s how we boys are!). So that was the situation 2 months back.
Things had changed quite a lot in these 2 months. At first we came closer, and then farther than what we were when we hadn’t even met each other… Times change, I told you!

And so I was there today in the same ‘Indian coffee house’, early at 10. I don’t know I did it intentionally, or it just happened, I just went and sat at the same table where we I and that girl (I told you, She’s my friend no longer) sat. This was the second time I realized that I WAS ALONE while I glared at the chair where she sat! Anyways, I was greeted by the same (waiter) uncle who took our order 2 months back. (I can tell you, you would remember even the slimmest and the smallest detail of your ‘first date’.)
And I then looked around for my surroundings… Same ‘respected’ old uncles sat and discussed all sorts of topics ranging from government elections to terrorism...
Hey! Wait, there’s one sweet and cute girl sitting at the other end of the coffee house busy reading some novel or something… I kept looking at her till I realized that she too was staring at me…
I (automatically) shied away my eyes as if nothing happened…I tried to look her back…What? is she laughing at me?
No she is actually smiling!... I realized.
‘What should I do?’ I asked myself.
‘Should I approach her?’… well, maybe.
‘What would she think?’…I don’t know.
‘Should I too smile back?’
I was just busy in answering my own questions when a sweet voice shook me…Oh my God! It was her!
‘Excuse me, you seem to be alone.’
Yes I was, but my voice was unable to convey this simple message as it was choked.
‘Can I… sit here……?’ she said as she pointed to the chair where my ‘ex-friend’ once sat.

Chandigarh gals….I tell you….AMAZING!

Jab we met!

"Lets meet!"
"What! now?? Are you nuts?" I asked.
"Yes i want to see you today!"
"Listen Esha, I know we both are in Delhi, but try to understand...Delhi is not like Haridwar where I can come and meet you easily..."I tried to explain.
"Meet me today or else I won't talk to you ever..."
The next thing I heard was 'Beep... Beep... Beep...' She had hung up.
Now one thing I want to tell you guys is that when a girl puts the phone down without hearing your Ifs and Buts, You better take her seriously.
And thats why I hate girls. When they come to know that you like them, They can USE you. Literally. As in my case, I had to rush from Rohini to Noida just because she had put this 'Never gonna talk to you' condition. Not that I didn't want to meet her, but travelling 40 kms just to meet (or rather see a girl in this case) is surely nuts.
But still, after 30 minutes, I was in the shahadra bound metro heading towards Noida thinking about that great escape which I had from Esha's house after uncle...er..Esha's father spotted me lying on her bed!
Me and Sumit rode so fast that the return journey took us half of the time in which we had reached Esha's place! 'I'll kill you bastards' look I had from uncle...er...Esha's father.... Oh!!! I just cant forget!!
I had scary nightmares of her father trying to kill me using poisnous 'nimbu paani and imported buscuits' in the following nights...
Still, it was after that incidence after which we two began to interact...Now we atleast qualified for the definition of being friends!

Thereafter...It was no looking back! We would chat non-stop for hours in the school and then on the phone. We started to like each other's company and would spend time together as much as we could. And now, since we both were in Delhi, she wanted to 'see' me and so did I.

And there I was....after travelling for 2 hrs. In the Shipra Mall... as decided.

I searched around for her...But to my surpise, She was not there.

Oh common Esha, u stay at a walking distance from here, I stay 40 kms away... And still, I am the first one to reach. I was frustrated badly. I was waiting for her to come and I promised myself to burst with anger in front of her. In the meanwhile, I was making the owner of McDonald's happy as I had gulped down 2 large cokes and 3 Chicken McGrills.

And then I finally got a call from her...'Oh I am sorry dear! My aunt and sister were not leaving me alone! I'll be there in 10 mins.'

'As if I cared! you remain with your aunt and sister...I am going back Esha...' I shouted.

Just then, two soft hands covered my eyes and I could smell... It was her.

I instantly got up and turned around to literaly fight with her.

But what I saw, made me speechless.
She wore a yellow sleeveless top and blue jeans...She intentionally left her hair loose...I know, just to tease me.

She looked drop-dead gorgeous, but even more with her hair loose. And hence, instead of bursting, I froze. STUNNED!

'Hi sweety!'
'H...errr...Hi! Esh...Esha'
'So you wanted to go back...I guess'
'Me? I mean...I....What?'
'Okay okay Mr. nervous...Sorry for being late...' And then she smiled! Oh god, My feet appeared to be atleast 100 kgs heavier.
'So shall we sit down?'
'Oh yes...I mean...Ofcourse...Lets sit down.' I guess I was just acting stupid (again unknowingly).

'Common Gagan, this is not a blind date...I mean... you have seen Esha atleast a hundred times before, maybe even more..Then why are you so nervous?' I asked to myself.

'No dear, Its just...just different today...She is looking awesome' came the reply.

'Lets go in for a movie....' Esha broke the silence.
'What! I thought you just wanted to see me, and u have...Now how this movie thing came in?'
'Just aiweyee... I have time...and so I thought.....'
'Ohkey....then lets proceed ma'am...'

God I tell you... These girls can totally control you and your emotions. A minute ago, I was gathering my anger and was frustrated, and now I was too happy that we both would be going in for our first movie together...
We bought the afternoon show for Jab we met and sat down...
The movie was awesome no doubt, But surprisingly being able to watch it with a girl I liked...seemed to be like 'icing on the cake'.
What we exactly did while watching the movie...I don't remember.
The thing I can recall is that when we both came out of the theatre, She was holding my hand...or rather the other way.
I don't know what effect the movie had on both of us...But we both were as dumb as possible.
We quietly proceeded to the CCD and sat at the corner table.
She ordered something for me...I just couldn't concentrate much on the coffee, neither I can recall if it tasted good or bad. I am not even sure if it was hot or cold!!!
The only thing that was going in my mind was 'Jab we met!'
What I was able to do was to co-relate the characters of the film with the situations in 'our' lives.
I mean, Jab we had met, conditions were even more filmy than what were depicted in the film itself.
Then I concentrated hard on the character Kareena had played.
'Esha could fit in the role so easily...'I thought
Because Esha...She could speak for hours together.
She too was as cute as kareena..
She had a past too...
She too was unable to get out of her last relationship...
Coincidently even in her case, Her boyfriend had ditched her...
So suddenly, I could see Kareena herself sitting in front of me.
"Should I be Shahid kapoor???"
Or rather..."Could I be Shahid Kapoor???"

Whatever, I had decided that it was now or never...I mean, even she must have got influenced from the film...Which inspires us to move on in life...

So I had decided to......to propose her.
It took me atleast 10 minutes to gather courage for what I wanted to do....

'Esha....I mean...' I paused.
'Esha see we both...' I paused again.
Not a very impressive start...I told myself.
'See Esha....' I was sure I would do it this time...'We both have been best friends since the last 4 years....And now I want to move our relation further.... I LOVE YOU!'
Yes I had done it....I had opened up my heart...That too quite neatly.....I wanted to rejoice, to celebrate...But I guess atleast at this pirticular moment, you must wait for the other person to reply you back before getting overjoyed!

And then, when I concentrated back on her face....All I could see was a tear or two sliding down her soft cheeks......

Our first 'Date'

"Common...Paddle fast" I yelled!
"I am trying... damn it"
"Maybe this is the most stupid thing we've ever done Sumit...isn't it?" I stupidly murmured...

Yes stupid it was...To ride a bicycle 8 kms away on a sizzling summer day.
Sumit and I were drenching from sweat...And strugling to grasp breathe.
And did I mention that we were on the same bicycle!!!

No, we were not just roaming around in the town coz we were mad, but we had, or atleast Sumit had a pirticular reason behind that...to go to a girl's place to meet her.
Now the girl, whom we were going to meet, was a classmate of mine.
Mind you we were just classmates, and not friends.
And this friend of mine...sumit 'likes' this girl...Named Esha.
So basically My friend is going to meet this girl, then what am i doing with him?
"Shit this is so embarrassing,I am going to see a girl who never even shared a 'hi!' with me"...I thought.
I sometimes really behave stupidly...I told you.

And so there we were, after riding halfway accross the town, standing in front of her gate.

"Ring the bell"....I uttered.
"No! you do it"...came the reply instantly.
"Why should I?"
"Coz I want you to..." God I hate this friend of mine.
"Why dont you dare?"I challanged him.
"Why don't you?"

And while we were arguing with each other, esha opened the door, appearently to throw some litter out.

'Hey Esha!' I stupidly said, more out of shock... to see her when I was least prepared.
'Hey..er...ga.....gagan and hi..Sumit!'' I guess she too was equally shocked.
'What are you guys doing here?'
Oh intelligent question esha....What are we guys doin here was one question that I was trying to answer myself for the past 15 minutes...I thought.
'Nothing...just passing by!' sumit explained...
Yes why not Sumit, we were just passing by!...God I wanted to kill him.
'Why don't you guys come in?'
'No..er...we have to go...I've got some work to finish...Sumit'
'Noways, you can finish all of 'em later dude...'
'yes...common in guys...'

And there I was, sitting inside the bed room of a girl who just doesn't qualify being my friend... or rather it was the other way round.
'What can I get for you guys?'
'Can I get some water please?'...I replied so instantly that I don't remember what finished first...Her question... or my answer.
'Oh wo to main la hi rahi hoon... I meant, what else?'
'Nimbu-paani'....STUPID SUMIT.
And why not, we had come all way accross to drink nimbu pani after all. And then she went to the kitchen to make the all important beverage for us. Apparently she was alone at the home.

'Where's you mom?' Sumit broke silence for the first time.
'She is in the school, might be comming back any moment'

At that point I didn't realize what did being in a girls bed room meant while her mom is away.
I was busy uttering all sorts of ill words to sumit when I gazed at esha's photo which she had put on her computer table. It was the first time when I noticed that She looked so beautiful! She wore a pink top and white skirt. For the first time I noticed the innocence and the cuteness of her face!
I was still praising her when she reappeared before us and served the nimbu pani and some imported biscuits.
'They are nice...n tasty' I commented. I was more interested in starting a conversation than being good to those ill tasting biscuits.
'Ya. my didi sent this for me'.
'Where from? Delhi I guess.'
'No, not from delhi...but from California, she studies there.'
'So you must be recieving all sorts of imported presents!'
'Oh ya...sometimes I do.....'
'hmmmmm...' I guess this was all I could say more.

It was after finishing my nimbu pani when i suggested...'Sumit, we should be leaving now.'
'Oh ya.....er...I mean yes...We should leave'
'Okay guys...see you in school'
'Ya. And Esha what about that chemistry notes? Have you completed them?'
I hate sumit when he gives in all sorts of bahane to spend some more time with her.
'Oh! Yes sumit. I have. Let me get them for you in a moment.'
And while we waited, sitting on her bed...I just dozed off and lied back.
And then suddenly, the door opened, and I was like totaly dumb.

'Namste...er...uncle' Said Sumit, more out of fear than respect....

Here I come.....

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