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The doorbell rang. Jeff came running towards the door as it opened. He saw Amit standing.
“Hey boy, how are you?” said Amit.
However, this time Jeff was sniffing someone else standing next to Amit. It was a woman wearing a black skirt and high heels. Jeff sniffed her and then tried to stand on his hind legs to jump on her in excitement but was admonished by Amit. Jeff’s tail was wagging furiously.
“Oh my God. You have a dog. I love dogs,” said Naina and bent down to pat him. Jeff promptly licked her hands.
“I think he likes you,” said Amit.
“Yah. Me too. We have developed an instant friendship,” replied Naina.
Amit dumped his stuff and asked Naina if she would like to come with him to walk Jeff. Naina said that she would love that. So both walked down to the neighbourhood park with Jeff. It was pitch dark, as for some reason the street lights had not yet been switched on. It was end September, and the weather had cooled down a bit.
“So this is the place you come to,” said Naina.
“Yes,” said Amit.
They walked for a while and then Amit asked Naina to close her eyes. She did that.
“Do you hear some chirping sound?” he asked.
“Yah. I do. What about them?” she asked.
“Shhhhh..... Just listen,” he said. She listened quietly.
“Ären’t they crickets? We hear them all the while in our coffee plantations in Coorg,” said Naina.
“Yes they are crickets. Do you also smell the fresh cut grass?” Amit asked.
“I do,” Naina said.
“Can you hear the rustle in the trees once in a while?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. Both paused for a moment.
“How do you feel?” Amit asked.
“Very peaceful. I feel as if I have forgotten all my worries. All the sadness in my life has evaporated,” Naina replied.
“This is why I come here every day. I find happiness in all these small things that nature has gifted us, that somehow we forget to notice in the hustle-bustle of our daily lives,” Amit said.
“Now open your eyes and look towards the sky,” he said.
She opened her eyes and did the same.
“Oh my God. It is a full moon night. It’s so nice and bright,” she said with a smile.
“Yes, it’s such a beautiful night,” Amit sighed.
The moon light was falling straight on Naina’s face and Amit could see her smile radiating in the darkness. Her flowing hair was shining. He saw the reflection of the moon in her eyes. She was looking extremely beautiful.
“I want to see you always happy like this. Never lose your smile,” he said.
“I want to take a stroll. It’s so refreshing,” she said.
Both walked together. Without thinking, they were holding hands. Amit’s heart was beating intensely. He was feeling the warmth of Naina’s soft hands as they walked together.
No one uttered a word. They were just enjoying the beauty of the quiet night. There was not a soul as yet in the park. Jeff too was happily sauntering along.
Amit turned to look at her. Naina also looked at him. Then they both came closer and kissed. The kiss was long and languorous. It would have continued interminably but Naina had to pull apart to catch her breath.
It was then that she looked at her watch.
“Oh my God. It’s already late. I got to go,” she said.
Amit nodded. Both walked back to her car, and Naina drove away with a cheery bye. While she was driving, her BlackBerry phone beeped.
It was an e-mail from the HR.
