13

Arjun was very excited to meet Karishma since the morning of June 7. He couldn’t wait till the evening when he would meet Karishma. Arjun had dated girls earlier, but he never felt so special about anyone as he felt for her. And it was funny in a way, as they had met just a few times before that, and the longest meeting was the audition itself in front of so many people. But typically as in Hindi movies, bells rang in his heart whenever he thought of Karishma, his K. In his typical style, Arjun paced the corridors of his house in the excitement of the evening, and finally evening came.

Arjun reached the hotel a bit early as he was meeting someone else, a business meeting that his father had organized. He finished that meeting early and chose a nice location for him and Karishma to sit and messaged her where she should come. And then he waited. His eyes alternated between the door of the hotel and on the book he was reading to pass the time which moved ever so slowly. Arjun had no clue if Karishma was as excited as he was for the meeting. The time finally struck 5.30 p.m. and walked in Karishma.

“Hi K, you are on time.”

“Yes Arjun, I normally am.”

“That’s good. Have a seat.”

They looked at each other for a moment but neither said anything till Arjun broke the ice.

“What will you have, coffee or tea?”

“I am not so sure, maybe nothing.”

“You can’t have nothing, we have met for coffee.”

“Ya, since we have to sit for long, we will have to order something na?”

“Right, I just had mint tea sometime back, you want to try that.”

“Was it good?”

“Well, I will not recommend if it wasn’t.”

“Funny,” said Karishma as a smile burst out on her face.

Arjun ordered tea.

“So how have you been? How’s life?” asked Arjun trying to start a conversation.

“I am good, just been busy in various things.”

“Your hair looks a bit different today.”

“Why, you don’t like it?” asked Karishma a bit puzzled.

“I didn’t say that, I just said it looked different.”

“Different from?”

“From the way it looked the other day when you came for auditions when you wear wearing your Punjabi dress. It fell so well on your shoulders.”

“I don’t remember.”

“I do.”

“Well, its falling now as well and you don’t like it.”

“I didn’t say that. I like it the way it is. By the way what’s the dinner plan, who are you meeting?” asked Arjun changing the topic, which obviously was making Karishma slightly uncomfortable.

“Don’t ask, it’s a dinner which I have been forced into, and I don’t really want to do it, I might as well go home and go for a swim, which I love.”

“Then don’t go for it, if you don’t feel like it.”

“Arrey, I have already committed and I can’t say no now, there are some other people coming for it.”

“Well you should not do what your heart doesn’t like. I have a better idea, its drizzling and it’s a beautiful weather. Why don’t we go for a drive?” asked Arjun, hoping that Karishma would say yes for the drive in the romantic weather. Arjun already was planning to play some soothing songs in the car as they drove. Arjun always made the full movie in his mind even before the script was written.

“I wish I could, but I can’t say no for dinner. I hope it gets cancelled.”

“Why don’t you cancel it?”

“I wish I could say No. My friends tell me that I should learn to say No.”

“I agree. This is one thing we all should be capable of doing, saying NO to things we don’t want to do. Imagine if you could say no, we can go for a drive.”

“Don’t confuse me more Arjun, let’s just stay here now till my dinner. I don’t want to think more about it.”

“OK,” said Arjun, realizing sadly that the movie he made in his mind will never be shot.

“Listen Arjun, I will just go and change into something more appropriate for dinner. I am carrying a change, just give me a few minutes,” said Karishma and walked away to the Comfort Room of the hotel, leaving Arjun behind with his thoughts.

She took almost 10 minutes to come back and Arjun kept wondering what’s taking her so long. He got his answer when she came back, she looked amazing. She had redone her hair and put on a bit of a make up. Arjun wasn’t sure whether she re-did her hair because of his comment or she had always planned to do it. Arjun hoped in his heart that she did this for him.

“Wow, you look beautiful.”

“Thanks, you like it,” obviously pointing towards her hair.

“Of course, your hair falls so beautifully on your shoulders, just like the other day. You really look beautiful.” Arjun so hoped that she took so much time to look more beautiful for him, but he didn’t have the courage to ask her.

“Thanks, means a lot to me when you say that.” Arjun was pleased with that comment.

“You are always welcome.”

The tea was served in the meanwhile which Karishma liked.

“Good choice, on the tea.”

“Thanks. Well I choose my things well, and generally I have a good choice. I only hope the things I choose, I get in life,” Arjun said, somewhere hoping that he may get Karishma. He had started to develop feelings for her.

“If you try properly, you will succeed,” said Karishma, probably giving a hint to Arjun.

“Try I will, with my best attempt, doesn’t matter how many years it takes to achieve my goal.”

“Ya, that’s the right attitude, everything in life is not available so easily, for some things you need to wait and work hard.”

“Can you give me an example of something that I need to work hard for?” asked Arjun teasingly to see if Karishma answers it or just watch her expression change.

“Could be anything from studies, business or love, anything,” answered Karishma a bit sheepishly, the love being said there after a brief pause. Once again their eyes met and smiled, there was something happening there for sure. This time Karishma broke the silence, “Is there something on my lips, I am feeling a bit uncomfortable there.”

“I can’t see anything, maybe it’s the lipstick you just applied,” and then he thought in his mind, ‘which makes your lips look so good’. More than once he thought of removing something from her lips either with his hands or his own lips. It wasn’t time yet for Arjun to take any liberties, he didn’t want spoil the beautiful meeting.

“Yes, maybe.”

“You look beautiful K,” Arjun couldn’t resist saying it.

“You already said that twice earlier,” Karishma was counting.

“Yes, but you didn’t stop looking beautiful since then, so I said it again.” Karishma blushed.

“And so what’s your plan, will you keep saying it every few minutes like a timer on your watch?”

“Do you mind if I keep calling you beautiful?” This was a trick question as Karishma didn’t know whether to say yes or no, so she chose the most common way a girl chooses when she doesn’t want to answer.

“Whatever.”

“What whatever, answer the question,” insisted Arjun.

“It’s your choice. Tell me something about the play that you wanted to discuss about,” Karishma changed the topic.

“Well nothing in particular, we are still working on the script. But the script that I have now with me is for a play called ‘Paagal’ (mad), it’s about three men who act stupid in certain circumstances and is a very good comedy.”

“And I am sure you will play one of the roles, will suit you well,” teased Karishma as both laughed at Karishma’s sense of humour.

They didn’t realize when two hours had passed and suddenly Karishma’s phone rang, it was her friend who had reached for dinner at the restaurant in the hotel.

“I have to go,” said Karishma as she hung up.

“Stay a bit longer. God knows when we will meet again.”

“Abey, I really have to go, we will catch up soon.” Karishma got up to go.

“Can I give you a hug,” asked Arjun, gathering enough courage to say those words, something which he wanted to do since he had first seen Karishma.

“Sure,” said Karishma.

It was the first hug between the two connected souls and Arjun felt fulfilled after the hug. Karishma left soon, leaving Arjun with fond memories and perhaps enough thoughts for him to make a movie in his mind again, this time a romantic one.

He messaged her, “Thanks for the wonderful time, always a pleasure being with you!”

Karishma replied back, “Likewise.”

“You take care and don’t be too late, go home early,” Arjun was taking care of her and Karishma already liked the pampering Arjun was extending to her.

“Sure,” she replied.

“Send me a message when you reach home and drive safely,”

After a while, he got a message from Karishma, “Leaving now, its drizzling.”

“Ok, drive safe,” Arjun reminded her.

And after a while, he messaged again, with a four line poem,

“A hug speaks more than a thousand words The embrace encompasses an eternity for the heart beat One memory captured in that moment Is enough breath for the soul till the next meet!”

“Good Night K.”

He didn’t get a message back, but Arjun slept well that night, perhaps dreaming silently about his K. It was the start of a love story.