A First Date Tale

Chapter 1 - sunshine without sunscreen

It was a sunny afternoon in Hitech City, I won the battle against my laziness this time and got on my bike, but it still had an effect on my low-effort white tee and thrifted levis, “Maybe it’s because of the Saturday blues? Does that even exist? at least the nikes saved me today.” or so I thought, while wearing my helmet. I started my ride, the breeze too started grazing my face through the little vents.

These past few months became very repetitive, for a change of pace, I’d decided to hit random places on every Saturday, and that led me to the Coforge library at Kothaguda today. I parked my bike outside and clipped my helmet to it, looked over to the red devil on my shoulder saying “Look at yourself, you’ve got tanned already, I told you to stay home and watch movies!” which I had brushed off, after hearing the angel on the other shoulder saying “You’ve got this K, I’m proud of you, fuck that red painter!”

I got inside finally, after a tiny-teensy bit of trying to make my hair look less homeless on my bike’s mirrors, and turning a blind eye to the never-ending cussing between my shoulders. To my surprise, the library looked untouched, almost like the pages in these books were never flipped and the tiles had never felt footsteps. The library looked like a desert, I could hardly spot 2 or 3 people at the front. “Reading got too old for Instagram, I guess.” I thought, letting a slight sigh out.

Chapter 2 - lazy astrology

I got bored of the usual top recommendations, and ventured into the back shelves, it was empty as I expected, I picked up the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and started revisiting a few scenes, and then suddenly, I saw this silhouette in a blue pullover sweater entering my peripheral vision, a hand picking up a book from the shelf. I slowly turned my head to see who it was, It was a woman with shoulder-length hair, reading “The Three-Body Problem”. I couldn’t see her face, only her slightly tousled hair and her silent page flips.

Just as I started brainstorming ways to break the ice, my phone buzzed, it was a text from my friend Abhinav who has a cult like attachment with astrology, “yoo K, remember that famous astrologer I told you about? I met him today, he told me to avoid getting acquainted with women for a while, but when I gave him your details, he literally said this week is your prime time, talk about luck nigga, ik you don’t take this shit seriously, just saying, got the gang in the evening at the usual brewery, make sure to come outta your gym cave just like you promised”

I was not sure whether the message made me less anxious or made it worse, I decided to take the positive side of it and prayed for the planets to align. Of course, even though I’m not a cultist like my friend, I do have ‘some’ beliefs. I hoped the astrologer was right this time, just this time.

I could feel the sweat in my bones as my heart kept thumping, louder and louder as she kept flipping pages, slowly. I wished for the book to never end. It had already been 5 minutes since we both started reading, with a slight correction being, me acting like I was reading, but thinking about how to say “Hi”, it was a mess inside my head. “JUST SAY HI, JUST SAY HI, JUST SAY HI.mp3” was blasting like a DJ mix, the kind of mix that is played during Ganesh Chaturthi at Tankbund.

I took a deep breath, and slowly looked at her, this time, she adjusted her bangs to the back of her ear, I saw her face, clear as a day. She seemed like the type of girl poets write about, the type that makes the moon jealous and the type that doesn’t require words to assert dominance.

“That’s a great choice!” I said, finally, in a low pitch, hoping that my voice reached her ears. “I know, that’s why I picked it up” she replied, firm and fluent, looking back into my eyes. After hearing her say it in such a voice, I regretted coming.

“So, you’ve read it?” I asked her, trying to clear my voice. “No, it has been on my list for a while, finally got some time to read it.” she said, lowering her voice. “You’ll definitely like the dark forest theory in the second book.” I said, remembering the time I went into a rabbit hole on extraterrestrial life. As soon as she heard those words coming out of my mouth, she closed the book on her hands and slowly walked towards me, and whispered,“That’s the same reason why I picked it up. Now, if you can excuse me, I’ll enjoy the book.” smiling, waving her hand to me, ever so slightly, as she settled herself to the nearest chair, and started reading her book.

It felt as if the randomness dissolved into thin air and left me in the middle. I took the gamble, and sat opposite to her chair, reading Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I thought of asking, “Do you mind?” while sitting, but again, how could I? after she made the effort to make sure my ears get her voice. I just couldn’t be another stranger, even though we were.

I didn’t know how or why it happened, as I kept reading through 5 to 10 pages, I caught myself looking at her more often than not, and to my surprise, she had always been looking back at me when I was doing so, with a contagious smile. I tried my best to hide my expressions with the book as a cover, she saw through my eyes anyway.

As the clock hit 4 PM, I placed the book on the table, and slowly leaned closer to her, and whispered, “How’s the reading going?” She leaned closer and whispered back, “I think I had enough sci-fi for today. You tell me, how’s the reading?” I took a quick pause and glanced at the cool wind blowing through the grey clouds, and imagined how tenderly it’d kiss her frail hair, and cheeks. “Maybe, books are better with coffee, question is, do you like coffee?” I said, looking at her, while secretly praying to the universe, gods, simulation masters, forefathers, whoever watching over this great fumbling of mine, to make sure that I do not fumble.

“Maybe, or maybe not, what if I like coffee and what if I don’t?” she replied, closing the book, leaning back, I could see the smirk on her face as I played along. “I’ve planned to visit this place that serves best brews in the town, and if you’re up for an adventure with Hyderabad traffic, why not go together?” I said, as slow as I could be, ending with “And if you were curious, I’m Karan, working as a consultant at Freshworks, Gachibowli.”

“So, Karan, is this how you woo innocent-looking girls who are into sci-fi?” she said, giggling, and covering her mouth. “Only those who pick up obscure books.” I replied, with a smile, while screaming internally. “I must say, it worked, thank the weather. And where is this ‘best brew’ place?” she said, leaning closer again, eyes sharpening with a smile tracing through her lips.

I stood up, and left the book on the table, and said, “It’s a 30-minute ride, near Kachiguda. It’s called Valanam - A fabled kitchen, you’ll love it.” “Let’s find out before it starts to rain then.” she added, and stood up after me.

We came outside, and to my surprise, what looked like a sunny day, turned into a mix of dark clouds, ready to pour at any second. And again, I looked above, and hoped for the sun to split the clouds.

“You sure that it won’t rain?” she said, reluctantly, looking at the grey clouds. “No. There’s only one person I trust with weather in Hyderabad. Telangana weatherman.” I said with great confidence, as I opened his weather forecast for the night on X, that said, “Scattered rains around Gachibowli”

“I trust him too, what I don’t trust is the weather, let’s hope.” she said, sitting on the back of my bike. “You didn’t say your name, is that a surprise for me?” I said, as I started the ride to the Cafe. “Ahaha no, sorry, my bad. I’m Alisha, currently studying at ISB, previously worked at JPMorgan as an analyst. We do use the same road every day.” she said, laughing. “Alisha?” I questioned. “Yes, what is it Karan?” she replied. “I just wanted to say your name out loud.” I added, looking at her over the mirror. “Eyes on the road, mister!” she grinned, pulling down my visor with her hands.

It took us more than 30 minutes to reach the Cafe, thanks to the Hyderabad traffic, I enjoyed the ride, and rain was nowhere to be seen. As we got inside, I ordered a cappuccino for me and she had a cafe latte. We spoke for 2 hours, talking about how aliens can slave mankind, her time at JPMorgan and my unending love for exploring new places, we finally ended up eating 2 chicken pizzas with extra cheese, and, of course I let her eat the last piece of both.

Chapter 3 - invisible bird’s hello

“So, was that a date, Karan?” she questioned, after we reached the bike’s parking. “Yes. It was a date. I didn’t want to make it a ‘date’ because it would imply for us to show only the perfect side, I wanted to see your messy side, the side where you join your hands when nervous, the side where you fix your bangs when complimented, and especially the cute face you make when you talk about aliens with so many details. I’m sorry for not saying it upfront.” I said, looking at her. “It’s okay. I knew where this was going. You’re too nice to a point that it makes me scared. Are we going too fast?” she said, reluctantly, looking at me, and trying to avoid my eyes at the same time. “You don’t have to hide what you feel. I won’t hide it. I find you interesting, and I want to see where this goes. And I’m serious about it. There’s no need to rush, we have all the time in the world.” I said, holding her hand. “I’m glad. Can we please have this talk later? I’m tired, let’s go for now, I’ll fall asleep any moment.” she said, pointing at the bike and her watch. I smiled and nodded calmly. I didn’t know that the time jumped, it was a quarter to 9. I started the bike and took the shortest route to her apartment in Gachibowli with her guiding me.

“I think I see some dried up bird shit on the back of your tee, oh god, it looks terrible. Karan, how old is this, are you expecting a baby shit or what?” she said, laughing hysterically, rubbing on my tee with her fingers. “WHAT? oh no, I didn’t even feel it, when did it DRY?” I said, with a hundred thoughts going into my head, thinking that it has been like that all evening. “That’s for later to worry, it’s raining, go fast, we’re nearly there. Looks like your weatherman is correct again.” she said, pointing fingers to the waterlogged streets of Gachibowli.

What was supposed to be “nearly there”, was three kilometres away, just enough to get us drenched in rain. I gave her my helmet just in time so that she wouldn’t catch a cold. “Karan, you’re literally soaking in water, we’ve reached the apartment, it’s the first floor, let’s go inside, I told you to keep your helmet!” she said, running inside to the apartment. “Wait for me, these uncles are looking at me like I’m doing some crime!” I said, running behind her to the apartment.

By the time we got inside, my effortlessly worn outfit was looking like a mess, and on top of that, my entire t-shirt was basically a free strip show for her. I removed the t-shirt and said, “Alisha, got any tees that fit me?” “Help me find it, I think I have them in my room.” she said, holding her giggles, while scanning her room. “UGHH, do they really have to cut the power? it’s not even raining that hard! Karan, can you bring your flash? my phone’s dead.” she said, navigating through the room. “Here. You live alone?” I said, handing her my phone, trying not to stumble in the dark. “No, my flatmates went home for the long weekend, yesterday was a holiday, remember?” she said, looking for fresh clothes. “Oh, I got it now, I guess it was boring for you, explains about the library visit.” I said, looking over the window, seeing water droplets. “Kind of, turn that side and hold the flash, I’m changing my sweater, and don’t you dare look.” she said, changing to fresh t-shirt and pajamas. “uh, fine. I thought you were searching for a t-shirt for ME, I’m freezing over here too, alien glazer.” I said, trying not to sneeze, but failing.

“You just had to wait for 2 minutes. Here. dry yourself first with the towel. This is one of my t-shirts, it’ll be a bit loose for you. What about the jeans? that looks so uncomfortable, I won’t look, remove that and wear these pants.” she said, handing me a pair of nightwear. She faced the other side while I changed my clothes.

Chapter 4 - a great woman once said…

We settled into the sofa, with warm clothes, and I started sneezing. Power felt like it wouldn’t be coming anytime soon.

“I hope the rain didn’t spoil any of your night plans.” she said, sitting beside me on the sofa. “Shit. I completely forgot about a get-together with my friends, this is the third time I did this, I see a voice message, let me check.” I said, thinking about who the sender was. “So, they called me a few times and I got a voice message from Shreya, a college friend of mine, I really hope she’s not drunk.” I said, while playing her voice message that started with slurry words:

“K, the fuck is wrong with you? we’ve all agreed to be here previously, guess what, everyone is here except YOU, even Rahul is here from Secunderabad. ‘I’m sorry rahul, not talking to you, this asshole bullshits us a lot, and gets away.’ i swear K, one of these days, I’ll pay goondas to draw dicks on your bike while you’re asleep. AND, AND, you didn’t even bother to call abhi back. you’ll see what’s gonna happen next time i see you, IDIOT.”

“What? dicks? pfft, ahaha, looks like you got a free graffiti contract for your bike.” she said, laughing over the sofa. “It’s the norm for her, but I’m glad I ended up with you, without the rain, we wouldn’t be so close.” I said, leaning my head on the sofa, looking at her directly, with nothing but raindrops and cold getting to me from the outside. “I lied about the bird shit, I wanted to touch your back, and I noticed when you were struggling to open a conversation at the library, that’s why I acted like I was fixing my bangs. It’s not all YOU, mister nerd.” she said, putting her fingers on my face, and running them. “Whoa, wait a second, so you were into me from the start too?” I said, surprised at everything that happened from the afternoon. “Isn’t that obvious? who would agree to ride a stranger’s bike, dumb-ass, don’t make me spell it out.” she said, getting closer to my face, until it was just our noses, inches away from rubbing each other. “Okay, okay, give me a minute to think, my phone’s dead too.” I said, putting my phone aside, and just looking at her, through the darkness. “You know, I think astrology is not so bad after all.” I said, holding her hands, while she was trying to find my other hand. “The other hand is hidden, find that out.” I added. “Oh, astrology? okay, and? how about I find both of your hands!” she said, snuggling into me. “Hey, that TV remote is poking my back, put that aside.” she said, looking at me all flustered. “What? the remote is literally on the table, uh, and I think that’s the sofa’s edge.” I said, showing her the remote on the table. “Oh, so the sofa’s edge makes noises when pushed with my back?” she said, climbing on top of me. “Yes. It’s definitely the sofa.” I said again. “Fine, hold still, we’ll see who’ll tap out first.” she said, laying on top of me.

The power was back, and the dark room was well-lit, it made us pause and we both were blushing. “Stop it with that look, it’s your fault for being shirtless.” she added. I held her when it was all thunder outside. For the first time, I felt how poets feel. And the night had just begun.

Chapter 5 - hypnotizing pajamas

With the lights back on, I settled into the sofa, at the same spot where the remote became the scapegoat, the rain kept going, slow drizzling, just enough to feel its cold breeze finding its way from the window, into our faces, she sat beside me, and said, “What do you wanna watch?” as if she didn’t sit on my lap a little while ago, I felt her curves brushing against my groin, so warm with a hint of cold fabric, like a lime mocktail, with a half cut lemon slice, refreshing and soothing. I looked at her, joined my arms around her shoulders and said, “Something that makes me feel this. Only THIS.” She held my arm closer and made me sit attached to her, cocooning, brushing shoulders, smelling my neck, and whispered, “I know a method, but I can’t promise that I’ll behave.” I nodded reluctantly, with a thought revolving inside my head “maybe she’ll hug?”. To my surprise, she clicked a random show on the TV, 2 broke girls, and got out of the sofa, I looked at her with my puzzled eyes, she sat on my lap, rubbing her back on me, ever so slightly, as slow and deliberate as she could, “I hope it’s comfy over there.” I said, trying to hold a bubble that she’s trying very hard to pop. “Don’t worry, I’m fine, I love Kat Dennings in this show, I get excited when I see her, you get me?” she said, pushing against me with all her might whenever Kat appears on the frame.

“Uh-huh, she’s indeed adorable, you can just lean back you know, no need to keep adjusting.” I said, with my eyes closed, trying not to let weird noises out. “It’s alright K, I’m comfortable already, and hey, something is poking me again, what are you doing back there!?” she said, trying to hold her laugh, watching the show, pressing harder. “You have the remote in your hand, I have no idea about that!” I said, eyes still closed, hands away from her back, my voice cracking. “Oh hey, it’s the pajamas, Now I know why, I knew they looked sus while buying them, try taking them off, I’m 100% sure it’s them, like pakka sure.” she said, all giggling, covering her mouth. “Oh yeah? let me take them off.” I said, playing along with her, removing the pajamas. “Is it gone now?” I said again, blushing, holding her hand. “No, it’s still there!” she said, pressing again. “It’s definitely the trunks this time. But I think you should remove yours too, it could be how they are made from that same brand, Alisha.” I said, undressing everything and making her sit on my lap after she did the same. “Umm. Yeah, It’s better now, the poking is gone, I can’t believe it’s the stupid pajamas Karan.” she said, ramming me with her back, holding her voice, just as I was inside her. “Is your tee comfy? let me look, something is popping out.” I said, tracing my fingers through her waist to her chest, carefully, just like running my finger on an hour glass, but it’s her waist. “I don’t know, K. Take a look, be gentle, I’m sensitive over there, okay?” she said, soft and mellow, as if she trusted me with all her sins, blushing while turning towards me, looking into my eyes, adjusting her bangs. “You know, you look adorable when you adjust your bangs? more than Kat Dennings.” I said, becoming a masseur for her soft lips, burying my face into her neck, smelling the rain-kissed cologne. “K, Oh, K. I- I don’t know what to say. You’ll make me go crazy for you if you keep saying things like that, and that too, while playing with my tits. I do it unconsciously, just like how you smile, and blush while talking to me.” she said, placing her arms on me, holding me tight, devouring me. We continued sharing our cells like rabbits on the sofa, and the clock didn’t go past 11 PM, almost as if the whole world forgot to move past 11 PM when we were inside each other. I felt her neck’s warmth, on my cheeks, and her buttery curves taught my fingers on how to caress her in the most gentle way. She pulled me up by the collar and walked backwards into the room, I followed without a word and pinned her down to the bed’s wall, she held me closer, pinned me to her body in reverse, and whispered, “I want you inside my veins, rip my pajamas, tie me to the bed and make love to me, make it long.”

Just as I kept ravaging through her lips, I glanced at the Fifty shades of grey book collection beside her bed. And, noticed her grinning back at me. “I’ll do so much more than ripping your pajamas, but it starts with them.” I said, ripping her shirt, watching her go feral on my neck and face. The rain still kept going. The thunder, waterlogged streets of Gachibowli, silence enveloping the area made me thank the stars.