Of chilled winter evenings

Her just washed silver tresses flew in the wind. She enjoyed the cold breeze....caressing parts of her neck and cheek.Tucking her hands into her Hilfiger jacket, nice and tight, she stood -as she waited for him.

Right next to the Starbucks was a mini football field.

Little kids in football gear ran around kicking a ball enjoying their game, laughing and following their coach’s instructions. It was lovely to just take in the whole sight.

She turned around. Was he here yet? Her hair whooshed across her face and she tried to get it under control...sweeping it away with her hand and moving it to one side. She turned back towards the kids.

They were now passing the ball with their hand. Each navy blue uniformed kid tossed it around - the ball flew into the air and bounced from one pair of hands to the other. She noticed a girl in dark plaits and how she had passed the ball onto a smaller one with blonde straight hair. “Two girls in this little team of 12 kids...nice. “ she thought to herself as she thought of her daughter who loved football.

Dunno why I was never encouraged to play sports...I’d have enjoyed it so much...

As she drifted away into more of her thoughts...she knew she had to turn around. The familiar black Jeep Wrangler was reversing into the parking.There he was ...in the driver’s seat, a hint of crisp white from afar.She smiled and walked across towards the car.

And he stepped out.

The two grinned at each other and started walking towards Starbucks.

Waiting long?

No, just got here.

He leaned forward as they reached the symbolic green maiden’s den and opened the door. She glided in.

The opening of doors- the fact that someone lets you in before walking in themselves...such tiny beautiful whimsical moments that stay with you. Moments that don’t happen everyday...and when it does it just nestles itself a bit longer ...lingering on in your thoughts.

Her mind darted towards how she must look through his eyes as he walked behind her.

So, how was the hustle today?

Hmmm...work was good. She smiled. Yeah, it was good.

It was pay day - wasn’t it? Had to be good...she was happy.

Ah - Interesting.He grinned too.

What’ll you have ?

Dunno - maybe just my usual....

Ah stop being such a bore....

Hahaha...and she caved. Just as easily.

They picked up their drinks and walked upstairs with their Zoro emulating black masks. Strange times these.

They walked out to the open air rooftop. And just around the corner, found the perfect cozy little spot.

Each finding their own little nooks- him against the wall and she facing him. She did turn the chair around to get a bit of him and the evening as a whole too.

She decided to quickly take a sip of the hot chocolate...but before she did. She said,- Hey, can I try yours? You are warned though - lipstick marks will be an end result !

He glanced over at her, scrunched up his face and retorted- Hahaha...like my mom's gonna survey this cup! Just try it girl.

He shrugged it away - the fuss.

A tiny little sip she took in and ...

Hmmm... She loved the no sugar, not too creamy Flat White. Just smooth shots of espresso that stayed on her tongue- just the right flavor.

Hey, this is good - the coconut milk is so not in your face. I like it- she said as she handed it back.

As they sipped their hot drinks on this chilled winter evening they looked across to the buildings that were around.

The glass skyscraper that happened to be a bit ahead of them looked striking as the whiter than white tube lights shone through the transparent glass panels. He tried to count and see which floor of that building was his office. Well -from so far he couldn't figure it out and decided to let go.

The cold winter evening breeze still blew on and their warm drinks seem to help ease into conversations. What were they doing there? They themselves didn't really know. It's just a catch up she had said. But of course, they had just met each other two days ago.

And the last time was with red wine, indoors and with a crowd of people around. They had cheered their tulip stemmed wine glasses of Cape Red, a South African fruity beauty that he had brought home. And boy did she go down well?! The wine that is !

After all it was the French wine Syrah that was the base - need there be any other reason for the lovely undertones of that vibrant red beverage ?

It certainly seemed to let loose all of her imagination that evening.

After they had receeded for the night at their own individual homes, their WhatsApp came alive.

With conversations and dialogues that seemed to come from a space of raw energy. Their stories spilled across the online tables and their pain seemed to seep into each other. Oh what mockery of their lives they had lived. Why how and what next phases seemed to echo on. Till sleep finally hit them. Each in their own phase.

She brought herself back to the present - yet again.

Having simultaneous conversations was very normal to her. One with him and one within her head. She could balance them quite well. 🙂

As this evening stretched ahead before them, they seemed to share more about their lives. They spoke about the mundane, about the fun times, about his mother and his sisters, and his father, and how life was treating them and how life had been in Kuwait as a youngster.

The exposure of leaving the Middle East and the growth that happens when one stays in a foreign land with oneself for company. Well you can’t exactly call it foreign land as it’s the land you are native to but foreign it certainly is to you till you adapt, adjust and finally it becomes a part of you.

The Middle East makes you comfortable. It lays out a life of relative ease. It draws out a middle path where one lives a life of near bliss if you can chalk one out with a bit of smart planning. Here there’s not much variance between the pockets - everyone is at a comfortable level and of course some are far more than comfortable...but it doesn’t get to you.

India on the other hand gives you plenty of opportunities to realise your true worth - net worth ie. It hits you time and time again and unless you really know how to sustain your self, you can pretty much go in for a tumble!

His sisters are unmarried. One had just turned 30 and the other was older than him. The middle kid - that was him.

He being single and keen to look into companionship has been trying to mingle for a while now.

Indian parents being the pioneers of keeping busy by arranging real life potentials for a ‘suitable’ match, and hence his mom plays the match maker in their lives. His mother lays out pictures and profiles for the three siblings to go through and the ensuing comedy between them as they snitch on their parents and get their goat makes for some amazing banter!

Listening to all his stories she laughs and laughs and laughs.

But somewhere in between, all the touch points seem to have pervaded their conversations. He spoke of his matrimonial ads and forgot to elaborate on his tinder adventures. She spoke of her husband and his absence and made no mention of how the unstable tomorrows may pan out.

The matrimonial adventures were definitely the highlight of the evening. From doctor and engineer matches for his seemingly strong ambitious sisters- who certainly had staunch opinions and sharp minds of their own to him getting all witty and cherry picking some bold females who are older and lets say well settled monetarily are enough banter for us to rummage through with a chuckle.

Of course to think if his mom was chuckling....that is an entirely different story! How he imitated his mother her voice and her total disapproval of older women and of him trying to be a lazy rascal ! Adorable to say in the least. His affection just shone through.

Hey, I have a cousin- she’s 32 and single. Check her out! She suddenly suggested. He looked like he was hit on the head with a metal pot!

What?

Ya- wait - and she quickly goes through her insta handle before finding her cousin. He peers at the visuals and then they talk about the people and possibilities.

She also refers a candidate for his younger sister....and they do a quick exchange how his sister and her friend looks and how it could all just work out!

Indian match making at its height here on the rooftop of a Starbucks cafe on a nippy evening between two adults sitting on the fence with their real live tragedies!

“ Shit man -I will have to call you bro in law then! “ she rattled off laughing aloud...and he looked like he was done!

“ Shut up you ! “

The fun and laughter helped the two bond even more.

Some clean fun

Some hard truths

Some ‘what the hell are we even doing here’ reality checks

Three hours, 2 hot drinks, a short drive and some basic shopping time later it was time to bid adieu. A quick abrupt one it was. As she stepped out of his vehicle and onto the street. (Better that way...than an awkward long one...where one just hangs on...cluelessly. She thought.)

And so the evening came to a grinding halt.

A beautiful toasty session - one that warmed the cockles of their hearts.

As she got back into her car, the football field was all empty now. The kids had long gone home.

A delightful evening - she thought. As she drove away. Back to her world. Where her little long haired Dachshund awaited.

Yes - delightful and enlightened too.

An evening

Where they came across a world

far far away from their magical make believe WhatsApp world.

A never-the-twain-shall-meet world.

A world in which

you and I remain just that ...You and I.

SYRA