Socha Na Tha

He was excited but also nervous. They hadn’t spoken in a week while he had been off to Goa and she had been busy with Pihu’s engagement. As soon as he had landed in Bombay though, he had messaged her and they had picked a date and time to catch up.

It felt horribly like a date and it didn’t help that Seema didi’s words kept running rounds in his head. He did not want to be presumptuous but he could feel it in his bones that something was changing between Chanderi and him. He could only hope it was a positive change.

Chanderi didn’t know this but the butterflies she could swear were dancing in her stomach were almost identical to the nervous excitement that Chiranjeev was feeling. Had she known, she probably wouldn’t have felt so irritated with herself for acting juvenile while meeting a friend.

She couldn’t deny though that he had stopped feeling like a friend a while ago. One week to be precise. Seven days were an awfully long time and she hadn’t been able to keep up the facade that she was okay and had not missed him fiercely.

They had chosen a low stressful place to eat. They both loved sangrias and pizzas and so had decided to meet at Pizza Express. It wasn’t a date place, it was casual and they could pretend to be friends for as long as needed. It was perfect.

He was already at the table when Chanderi walked into the restaurant. He knew it was just his feelings but she looked breathtaking in her white t-shirt and blue jeans. He kept his eyes on her as she walked through the tables and reached where he was sitting. Had he stood up? He didn’t even remember standing up. But he was standing, like he couldn’t wait to have her in his arms again.

They exchanged a hello, a hug and an awkward dance before choosing a place to sit. The initial few minutes were spent hiding behind menu cards but he soon realised she was staring at his face.

He grimaced. “I know I look like a tomato.”

She laughed, then hid her mouth behind her hand but he knew she was still laughing. “Did you get…burnt?”

He rolled his eyes. “I didn’t realise I would get this badly burnt. Apparently, the sun is particularly strong after the rains and combine that with the salty sea and what you get is this.”

She smothered another bout of laughter behind her palm. “It looks like you enjoyed yourself.”

“I did. It was very relaxing, something I find difficult as a teacher.”

“If that workshop was any indication, I can imagine.”

They shared a chuckle. Even though Chanderi had made sure to carry child friendly needles and scissors, the students had still managed to poke each other and one had nearly strangled their finger with the embroidery thread. She had been near tears seeing the girl’s finger turning white when Chiranjeev had swooped in like a knight with scissors to save them.

“How was Pihu’s engagement? I saw the pictures. They looked so happy.”

She did not comment how Chiranjeev had been religiously following all her stories and posts on Instagram. She had shared more photos than usual for his benefit after all. And if Chiranjeev had been using the same tactic to keep her apprised of what he was doing in Goa…well…

They talked, finished their pitcher of sangria, had two pizzas and shared a cheesecake and still they were not ready to leave. So, they stayed, talking as if they hadn’t met in an age.

*

She reached home at midnight. They had left Pizza Express at 10 and then gone for a drive, which in Bombay meant they had been stuck in traffic because he had made a gallant offer to drop her home. They had spent the drive making each other listen to their favourite songs and it had been a perfect evening.

She felt so content once she reached home, she had no trouble falling asleep. Even her over-chattering mind was quiet.

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Chapter 19 of 26 of the ongoing series Chanderi. You can read all posts here. Written as part of #BlogchatterA2Z.