Will you go on a date with me

Arjun and Kabir were seated on a park bench facing families that were picnicking, enjoying the perfect October weather. The two men wore identical expressions of scorn, their arms crossed tightly across their chests.

Yash, Arjun’s nephew and Viaan, Kabir’s son were on a date. Since they were fifteen, they weren’t allowed to be in each other’s company without a chaperone. The boys had allowed the two men to accompany them on the condition that they would face away from their picnic so they could enjoy their date without embarrassment.

Kabir glowered at the families, feeling discomfited sitting so close to Arjun.

“Why are you dressed like you just came from a meeting on a Sunday?” asked Arjun sneeringly.

He was in navy blue shorts and a shirt with lemons on it. He looked the picture of casual and sloppy. Unlike Kabir who looked so put together Arjun had the unholy urge to wipe dirt on his white shirt.

It didn’t help that Kabir and Arjun had been rivals in school. Well, rival was a strong word but Kabir had taken sporty to a whole new level. Not only had he been the sports captain, he had also played football, cricket, basketball and tennis. Arjun on the other hand had liked to…study. And read. And day dream. They had often clashed, making ridiculous bets like: if Arjun stood first in class, Kabir would score a century in the next match.

“Because I did come from a meeting asshole.”

“No rest for the wicked?”

“Shut up you,” he said with a grin. “The parents like it when the sports coach turns up non-sweaty and in ironed clothes.”

Arjun made a face. Kabir had never grinned at him good-naturedly. He had always smirked like he knew something Arjun didn’t. It had driven him up a wall then and it made him squirmy now.

“Anyway, why are you in a foul mood? I was half expecting you to be carrying a book so you didn’t have to interact with me.”

Arjun rolled his eyes and looked away. He had wanted to bring a book but the thought of Kabir taunting him had made him rethink. He was such an overthinker. He might as well have gotten something to pass the time.

“Come on. Are you seriously just going to sulk–”

“I am not sulking!”   

“It looks – oh hey buddy,” said Kabir as Viaan walked up to him. “Are you two done?”

He nodded but didn’t speak. Kabir wanted to tell him to use his words but he was sure Viaan spoke to his friends while giving his father the silent treatment. He supposed every teenager went through a I hate papa’s guts phase.

The two men took their charges, nodded to each other and went their separate ways: Kabir to the parking lot and Arjun to the building opposite the park.

As the two settled in the car, Kabir looked at Arjun’s retreating back, holding Yash’s hand who was jumping up and down, chattering away. He looked at Viaan who looked morose. Feeling wistful, he asked, “Everything okay?”

Viaan looked out the window. “He’s a bit much,” he whispered. “But I like that. It’s…nice.”

Kabir smiled. Those words fit Arjun too, surprisingly enough.

*

Viaan had sighed five times in the past twenty-five minutes and Kabir didn’t know what to do. Should he ask what was up? Would he get a response? Should he ignore his son? Was this about Yash? Maybe something had happened in school.

Maybe he should just ask instead of overthinking? But would Viaan think he was encroaching his space? Gods, why was raising a teenager so hard?

When he heard the sixth and seventh sigh, he couldn’t take it anymore. He kept the potatoes he was peeling away in a bowl. Their cook was on a vacation and he had promised Viaan he would make alu tikki for dinner.

“Is everything okay?”

He heard Viaan huffing and braced himself for an onslaught of a tantrum. What he got was unexpected.

“Finally. I have been trying to get your attention since forever.”

Viaan went to the sink to wash his hands, took the peeled potatoes and started to mash them. It was something he loved doing. “I broke up with Yash.”

Kabir swallowed a whole host of responses before saying, “What happened? I thought he was your best friend.”

He handed Viaan the masalas to be added to the potatoes. The peas were on the gas, precooked, waiting to be added to the alu mix.

Viaan made a dismissive gesture, flicking alu onto the platform. He went back to mashing. “He’s still my best friend. But dating added nothing to our relationship, you know? Just more pressure. Gods, we’re never dating anyone ever again. We have decided we’ll buy a house together and just stay as friends.”

Kabir chuckled. “Sounds like a solid plan.”

“I mean who needs sex when you have a best friend right?”

His face turned red. “Okay mister. You’re a child and you’re never, ever, ever to speak of sex again, do you hear me?”

Viaan grinned and Kabir deflated. His son may hate him from time to time but he was still his child and when they bantered like this, Kabir felt seven feet tall.

They added the peas and Viaan went to the fridge to get some cornflour to add to the mix.

“What about Arjun uncle?”

Kabir, who had been oiling the pan to cook the alu tikkis, stilled. “What about him?”

Viaan shrugged. He rolled a tikki and handed it to his father. “Yash and I thought there was a vibe. Just because we’re not together doesn’t mean you two can’t be.”

“Vibe?” Kabir hoped he sounded nonchalant. His heart was jumping in his chest though.

“What’s it called when you hate each other but also can’t keep your hands off each other?”

The tikki splattered in the pan, tiny oil splashes hitting Kabir’s cheek and neck. “What in the world are you reading these days son?”

“Don’t be such a prude dad. I’m fifteen, not five. Anyway, you like him. So, ask him out.”

Kabir turned to the pan, moving the tikkis around. “You…I can’t…It’s not…shut up and go to your room.”

Viaan cackled. He had just won the bet with Yash. He couldn’t wait to rub it in his face.

*

It was 10 and Kabir was back in his room, trying to concentrate on the match he had on his television but his mind kept drifting to what Viaan had said. Was there a vibe? Did he want there to be one? What if he asked and Arjun laughed at him?

They’d always had a weird friendship between them since school. They were never in the same social circles. Still, they found ways to be in each other’s orbit. Even now, Arjun often turned up wherever Viaan and Yash were. Had he, like Kabir, been hoping to run into him? Maybe make another of those ridiculous bets?

Kabir shook his head and picked up his phone. What could it hurt? Besides, he didn’t think he would survive if his son started calling him a coward.

Arjun picked up on the third ring. “Did you find out too?”

Confused, he said, “Do you ever just say hello?”

Arjun snorted. “Yash and Viaan broke up. In case your constipated ass didn’t know because you’re too scared to talk to your own son.”

Kabir sputtered. He opened his mouth to say something but then he heard a roar. First, he thought it was coming from his side but then he realized it was coming from his and Arjun’s side. Was he…?

“Arjun,” he said, “are you watching the Chelsea match?”

The silence on the other end was so absolute, he thought Arjun had hung up on him. He checked his phone but the call was still connected.

“This has got nothing to do with you. You keep blabbering on about them and I got curious. I should shut…you know what, I’m going to hang up now.”

“Wait, wait, don’t hang up please.”

He waited and when he didn’t hear a click, he let out a breath. “Did Yash tell you anything about a vibe?”

The groan was enough to tell him Arjun had been subjected to a similar conversation.

“And you thought watching a football match would give you answers? You could have just called me.”

“Shut up, we don’t have a vibe.”

“We could have a vibe.”

That made Arjun shut up. Kabir waited.

Arjun said, “Fine, fine. Let’s meet tomorrow at BBC and you can buy me a beer. We’ll see if there’s a vibe.”

Arjun did hang up after that, not giving Kabir a chance to respond. But that was okay. He grinned, feeling light as air, right as rain and bright as the fucking moon. He couldn’t wait to go on a date.

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This post is a part of ‘Out and About Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed.