The Walk - 2

For those who haven't read the first part. click here.

It was decided that we would be going for a walk. Lot of things were racing in my mind on what to ask. Somehow my confidence was falling apart now. The questions I had thought of seemed to have jumbled in my mind and I was trying to sort them out to make some meaningful questions. At any moment we would be out of the house walking with each other to know each other. Time was running out, I had to do something very quickly to think about how I would go about asking her and my mind refused to sort them for me. Then we were out and the sorting was still going on.

Randomly some question shot up and the next ones followed -
Me-"Hmmm...So what are you doing?" (Thank god! nice start)
Her-"I have finished my BA and am doing computer course currently".
Me-"Ok... So do u have anything in particular to ask me?" (Damn!!, How did this come out. This is too early. Oh no... what do I do now)
Her-"Hmmm.... err... Nothing in particular".
Me-(Phew!! that was close. Get some decent question now) "Ok, good..." (Come on maan, ask something... something... next question....) "Hmmm.. So nice area. Have u been to Bangalore before?" (Good. This question came out without being thought before. Good work.)
Her-"No. I have never been to Bangalore before. How about you? Have u ever gone out of Bangalore?"
Me-(Some time for next question) "No. Never. I have lived whole of my life in Bangalore." (Oh god!!... Why is this next question taking so long...come out maan) "So u interested in sports?" (what the hell is this? Sports? Couldn't u think of anything else?)
She was caught off-guard. She would've never anticipated this question. She took a couple of seconds, stared me and then,
Her-"Sports!!... I watch cricket sometimes and I like to play badminton. What about u?"
Me-"Cricket... only cricket." (Now don’t start explaining the rules of cricket. Change the topic...) "So where are these computer classes? How do u travel?"(Good. decent enough question to make amends)
Her-"The classes starts at 10 and end at 4. I go by bus. Its around an hour of travel from my house"


We had already completed a circle and got back to her uncle's block. We looked at each other and decided probably we had enough of talk and moved towards the house. Thank god the walk finally ended. I decided first thing is to make a list of sensible questions to ask her the next time we meet. Lots of talk was going on in house. Then I took my seat and waited for our exit. During this wait, I had a talk with her granpa about their family tree. Lots of names were taken which I had never heard in my life. Just nodded head to what he was saying. The wait finally ended after half an hour. All the people came to drop us till our car. Everyone exchanged their bye byes. Finally, I had a last look at her with smile on her face before putting my foot on the accelerator...

The Walk - 1

"Hello, yes... tell me". It was 8:30 on Sunday morning (26th August 2007) and I was getting out of my deep sleep when I heard my mom talking on the phone. "Yes, 4-30 is it? ... Ok... We will be there at 3... Bye". I knew immediately that we were going out somewhere on this Sunday too. I did not know where and why. At least I was happy to the fact that there was no program planned for the whole of Sunday morning. Finally I woke up thinking of what I would do till 3.

I overheard the following conversation between my mom and grandma.
Mom-"They arrived today morning and we have to be there by 3. What do we take for them?"
Gramma-"We will take some sweets and fruits that should be fine."
Mom-"I haven't seen them in last 25yrs. I wonder if I will recognize them".

Who are they talking about? What are they upto? Where should v be at 3? What was that 4-30? All these questions were racing in my mind while having my breakfast. Still I had the patience to wait till my mom would break the mystery to me. Finally the moment came when my mom came to me and said "Go shave ur beard. We have to go to my uncle's house after our lunch". I nodded eventough I had no idea who this uncle was. At least now I knew where v r going. Next came the answer to my other question.
Mom-"Be really nice. you will get your time to talk. Think of what u r gonna ask ok".
Me(With a confused expression)-"What? Whom will I ask what? Who are these people?”
Mom-"Oh god, u really dunno? We r going to see a girl for u? They arrived this morning and are at my uncle's place."
Me(Choked cough)-"Eh..What?!!! Girl for me? Hmmm...Then what’s that 4-30 about?".
Mom-"Oh they said, rahu kaalam starts at 4-30, so v have to meet the girl before 4-30. So we have to be there at 3".
Me-"Alrite. fine". (Thinking- What am I gonna ask. Favorite movie?, favorite food? Career choice?. Well forget it, I won’t be able to list it. I will be dynamic out there. Let’s see what happens!) And with a confident smile on my face, I waited for 2 when we were supposed to leave.

At 3- We arrived at their place. Two people welcomed us at the door. I guessed them to be the girl's parents and indeed I was right. They looked at me as if I was a divine soul from heaven. I couldn't give them any expression and gave a nervous smile at them. Finally there were talks all around telling how they had lost contact for last 25yrs, how my mom n family used to play in their backyard etc etc. None of them made any sense to me and my eyes were searching for only one person whom I had come to meet. Finally after lot of chit-chat, the time came when the girl came out from the room holding a tray with snacks and tea towards us. Then my mom talked to her. My gramma talked to her. I couldn't muster the courage to ask her anything, at least not at the time when everyone was around us. I was wondering when would I get time to talk to her in private. It was 4-15 already. I kept waiting for my time and finally when everyone were done with their part of questions, my turn came. I was given a choice to talk to her in their room or maybe have a walk outside in their quarters. I had made my choice instantly "I would prefer WALK" I said thinking about all the things I was gonna ask her. The same confident smile came on my face...

.....To be continued..... Click Here