"Hey KP are you free for dinner this weekend?" I read and re read until I could see the text in white everytime my eyes blinked. Not that I'm being judgmental, but there is this little set of butterflies in my stomach. I never thought about this in detail, it was a spur-of-the-moment question. I mean, she was free to say NO to me, at any point of time, so I'm going to respect her decision and my own feelings, and well let the butterflies linger. Talking about feelings, there isn't anything concrete yet, but maybe something very light, yes yes some butterflies and thats it. I wait for the day to pass, so I can meet Tara again when we go home, and talk more to the butterflies inside me.
I wait by my car and she's walking very very slowly, holding on tight to the strings of her backpack. I could run to her and hold her hand, but she likes walking that way, I've noticed. She likes to have those few moments of maybe what peace-with-herself instances, and the way her face glows those times is just magical. One could just keep watching her do that. Okay KP, stop. "Hi KP, have you been waiting for long?" I smile and shake my head. "Lets go Tara". My heart is now pacing fast, wondering what to talk about and she starts talking "hey KP, can we go for dinner Thursday night? The kids and kannamma are going for movie and dinner, just check and let me know" Like my social calendar is full. I nod my head and we continue to talk about things that have no bearing in our lives.
The thing I like about Tara is she never makes me feel uncomfortable, because between her and me there are so many things. Like she's my best friend's wife and we lost him only sometime back. Im not bothered about what anyone else would say, I just want to make sure I dont hurt her, or myself in the process. Good thing is she also knows how to say NO, but whether I'm in a place to take that NO is an entirely different subject. Lets deal with that when it comes. For now, I just have to plan for Thursday night. As days pass, I'm getting more jittery. Its Thursday and I have to pick her up at 7.
I park my car at her parking, walk towards the door and push it slightly and it opens. I walk inside the hall and sit on the sofa "hey Tara I'm here". "I'll be down in a couple of minutes KP. Almost done". I sit on the sofa not knowing what to do. I look at the photo frame at the table beside, the four of them laughing at some joke, Hridhay's hair flying with the wind, Adi's face on Hridhay's shoulder, Kathir and Tara holding hands. I could almost hear them laugh, each of their voices distinct, what a perfect moment. I touch my friend's face, as though I would feel the warmth of his skin. "Im sorry KP.." I turn to look at her, at the top of the stairs, and that instant im transported to the present, to where I am and where we are.
She looked radiant, taking every step with confidence, her eyes looked clear and maybe did carry a little twinkle. I walk to the end of the stairs to greet her and she shakes my hand and looks at me. She fixes the collar of my tshirt and I laugh. She smiles, looking deep into my eyes and puts her hand on my chest. My heart has been racing as it is, and this sent it to tachycardia. I put my hand on hers, and my heart steadied. I take her hand l, give it a squeeze and look into her eyes. Yes, her eyes did twinkle. She moved towards me, closing in on the inches between us. I feel her warmth radiating, she brings her face forward and pecks my cheek. I let it linger, sinking inside the moment we are in and take her face in my arms. That instant, her phone rang, and im sure people even three blocks down could hear it.
She takes a deep breath and runs to her phone and I look at her (thankfully my hands aren't still in the air cupping the face that was there moments back). I try to overhear and there are only parts that I can. I'm sorry may I know who this is...? .... how can i help you? some ooos and aaas. And finally, please give me some time. She takes her bag, puts her phone inside and walks. Neither the glow, nor the twinkle in her eyes still there. "Hey Tara, everything okay?" "Yes yes. Everything is okay. It was Aarnav's dad".
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