Hey is that you again. - III (Sequel)

Note: This story is the 3rd part of a 3 part story. Even though it can be read as a separate story, the author would recommend you to read the 2nd part Can I Hold Your Hand – II (Prequel)

Summer 2013:

“I thought you left smoking.” He heard a female voice say.

He turned around and saw her smiling at him.

“Times have changed”, he smiled back brightly, a pack of Marlboro Lights in his left hand.

“But I see you are still a movie buff”, she said, noticing the latest Richard Linklater movie in his right hand.

“How have you been”, he asked. “I am good, what are you doing here”, she asked. “Well, I was in the city to lecture a bunch of college kids”, he said. “Lecture huh! And why didn’t you let me know?” she asked. “Well, I didn't have your number”, he said. “You and your lame excuses, you had my mail and chat id right”, she said. He gave a sheepish smile, lowered his eyes and scratched his head.

“You will be punished for this”, she said. “Do you have to punish me every time we meet”, he said in mock protest. “Yes”, she said. “Ok, what’s the punishment”, he asked. “I know a good French restaurant nearby, buy me lunch”, she said.

They went to the payment counter. He paid for the pack of cigarettes and the DVD. They came out. He turned to go towards the parking lot. “We have to go this way, come on”, she said. They walked.

They reached the restaurant took a table and ordered the food.

“How’s your hubby”, he asked. “Ubberbusy”, she answered. “And kids”, he asked. “I have a one year old daughter, she has started walking now.”

He smiled at her. She smiled back. She had the same smile he noticed, just a few fine lines beginning to appear near her eyes.

“And how’s your wife and kids”, she asked. “Don’t know”, he said. “We got divorced last year and haven’t heard from her since then” he said looking out of the window.

She looked into his eyes. He turned and smiled at her.

“And what happened to you hair”, she laughed. “Well, you win some you loose some”, he said.

They talked about old times and common friends. She never asked him about his life again.
The attendant appeared with the cheque. She reached for her wallet. He stopped her. “It’s my punishment, I will pay this time”, he said. “Ok”, she laughed. He paid.

They came out of the restaurant. “I have a car, should I drop you somewhere”, she asked. “No, I am fine”, he said. “Have dinner with us tonight”, she said. “Sorry, I have some engagement tonight.” She did not ask again, she knew he would never come.

“Ok then, bye and next time you are here let me know”, she said. “Yeah sure I will”, he said with a smile. She sat in the driver’s seat, started the engine and waved at him. He waved back turned around and started to walk.

He reached the parking lot and slumped into the back seat. He asked the driver to switch on the music system, and take him to the hotel. The car started to move he closed his eyes.

She reached the parking lot of her building, switched off the engine, heaved a long sigh and closed her eyes.

She was about to get out of the car when she noticed a magazine on the dashboard, left by her husband. The headline said “Top five Asian entrepreneurs of the year”. A familiar face smiled brightly at her from the cover page. She smiled back at him.

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person dead or living is purely coincidental.

Can I hold your hand - II (Prequel)

Note: This story is the 2nd part of a 3 part story. Even though it can be read as a separate story, the author would recommend you to read the 1st part I Will Miss Holding Your Hand - I

The moment he saw her entering the Internet café he knew there was something about her. She took the computer behind him. He turned around to see what she was doing and could clearly see her computer’s screen.

She didn't notice him. She opened the chat window and began chatting with her friends.

“Superguy: Hi! Wanna chat.” an IM popped on her screen. “412Gal: Who are you?” came the reply on his screen. “Superguy: Just a stranger” blinked the IM on her screen. “412Gal: I don’t talk to strangers.” came the reply.

“Superguy: but I am not a bad person pls chat with me”

“412Gal: no! don’t bother me.”

“Superguy: pls pls pls I promise I will behave myself”

“412Gal: no”

“Superguy: pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls L”

“412Gal: no”

“Superguy: pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls L”

“412Gal: ok ok!!!!”

That was summer of 2003, she was a second year B Com. student and he a second year engineering student. They both had come to their hometown for vacations.

2005:

“Superguy: hey, guess what I cleared the interview and got admission I am in ur city now. J”, popped up the IM window on her laptop screen. Her face lit up with a smile.

“412Gal: hey that’s gr8 congrats! J

I have a news too. I got the job. Yay!!!”

“Superguy: hey that’s great. Congrats!

Can I ask you something?”

“412Gal: yeah!”

“Superguy: now that I am here shall we meet up?”

“412Gal: ummm ok!!! J” , she replied with a big smile.

She waved at him when she saw him across the street, he waved back.

“Late at the first meet itself.” She said. “Sorry you know how the traffic is.” He said. “No sorry, you will be punished; you will have to buy me a beer now.” She said. “Beer! You drink beer?” He asked. “No, do you?” she asked. “No” he said. “Then lets do it, come on I know a pub here.” She pulled him towards the other side of the street.

As they entered the pub, Mark Knopfler began to sing “You get a shiver in the dark…”

After a couple of drinks and enjoying some great music, she paid the bill and they both came out of the pub, a bit high.

“You want to eat something?” he asked. “No I don’t feel like.” she replied. “Me neither.” He said.

“Let’s go to the beach.” She said.

“Now, it’s almost eleven!” “Come on, it’s never late here.” She said laughing and pulled at his arms again.

They could see the dim yellow light coming from the buoys as they bounced in a semi circle far in the dark sea. The breeze was cool. He could see her black hair, brown eyes and dusky skin in the light coming from the vendor’s shops nearby. He liked the way she laughed and the way she smiled as she gazed at the black horizon.

She turned to look at him. His eyes wandered towards the sea. She looked at his brown eyes. Not exactly the way she had wanted him to be, but still she could tell her friends that he was tall dark and handsome, made her laugh and listened to her.

"So what do you want to do when you are out of college?", she asked. "Well, may be I will work for some company for a couple of years and then start my own venture.", he said.

"Venture, you mean you want to start your own company.", she said. "Yeah thats the idea.", he said. "And you think you can impress a girl by saying such things in the first meet.", she teased. "No, I am serious, one day I will feature on the cover page of worlds best business magazine.", he said. "Oh yeah, we will see. Now come back to reality.", she said, pinched his arm and laughed.

“Hey I want to tell you something”, he said. “What?” She said. “You remember the first day I IMed you on chat” he said. “Not exactly but kinda yeah, why?” she said. “I had actually seen you at the internet café and stole your id from your screen.”

“What”, she yelled. “Yes, I am sorry, I never told you”, he said. “Why would you do that and why didn’t you tell me that before?” she screamed. “Well I thought you would be angry and wont chat with me, look I am really sorry”, he said.

"Of course I am angry", she said and kicked him in the shin in mock anger. He grimaced in mock pain.

“You will be punished for this”, she said.

“What, more punishment? You already kicked me”.

“Yes and your punishment is that you will have to buy me an ice candy”, she laughed.

“Ok!” he laughed.

They bought an ice candy. She paid. They shared the ice candy.

“You know we are virtually kissing right now”, he said. “Ha Ha Ha! I know you watch a lot of Friends, but don’t crack these PJs”, she teased him, threw the ice at him and ran. He chased.

They talked, laughed and walked on the sand till the cops started to ask people to leave the beach.

“Hey but tell me how much do I owe for the drinks and everything, lets split it”, he said. “Let it be my treat this time you can pay next time”, she said. “Ok”, he said with a smile, not knowing she won’t let him pay for all the times that they would meet for the next two years.

“I live nearby, will you walk me home?” she asked. “Yeah sure” he said.

They walked towards the street.

“Next time, you mean you want to meet me again”, he asked. “Yeah why not, don’t you want to meet me again”, she asked with a smile looking into his eyes. “Yeah”, he smiled back into her eyes.

He held her hand softly. She clasped her fingers around his. They walked.

Note: Click for the 3rd part of this three part story Hey is that you again. - III (Sequel)

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person dead or living is purely coincidental.

I will miss holding your hand. - I

"How much more time do you need?" She asked.

"May be three more years." He said.

"I am sure you will get a good job once you are out of college." She said.

The waves kissed their feet lightly, and they could feel the wet sand.

"You very well know that I dont want to be stuck to 9 to 5 job. I want to start something of my own." He said.

"But what? Everyday you have a new plan. I feel you are very confused. You really dont know what you want to do."

"I know what I want to do."

"You know that my parents have been after me ever since I took up this job." She said. He could sense the tension in her voice. He took her hand in his hand. "Just three years more, thats all I ask for." He said.

She looked far into the sea. He followed her gaze to the dim yellow light coming from the buoy near the dark horizon.

"My sister wants me to spend the weekend with her so I am going to her place tomorrow." She said. "I will miss holding your hand." He said. "I will just be gone for two days will be back on Monday morning." She said this time with a smile. He smiled back.

He didn't sleep for those two days, thought a lot and made up his mind.

His cell phone lights up on Monday morning. "Hey am back in town." The text message said. "Hey dats gr8 lets meetup in the evening, I want to tell u sumthing." He replied. "Yeah sure our usual place 8ish." came the reply.

He found her sitting at the bench on the beach, gave her a apologetic smile and said "got stuck in the traffic." "Not a problem." She said. Their hands touched lightly.

"I thought a lot and I want to tell you something." He said. She looked into his eyes as if she knew what he was about to tell her. Before he could say anything she said, "Back at my sister's place, I met someone." She looked away far into the dark horizon.

"I will miss holding your hand." He said softly.

Note: Click for the 2nd part of this three part story Can I Hold Your Hand - II (Prequel)

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person dead or living is purely coincidental.

The Twitter Quiz.... #WTF me #Fail.

Ok I am doing it 'cause @nadhiyamali said that many of the tweeples would like to read this... If you like it do reply

1. What time did you get up this morning?

Around 7:15 for my morning jog.

2. How do you like your steak?

as long as it is chicken anything will do

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

LOVE AAJ KAL .. went watch Kaminey but the theatres were closed

4. What is your favorite TV show?

Friends have watched all seasons 953 times :-P

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Shimla or any place where it snows and has hills

6. What did you have for breakfast?

I Skip breakfast but cornflakes mostly with some milk and no sugar... would love to have Mom made besan ke paranthe everyday

7. What is your favourite cuisine?

Chinese... can have chinese four times a day... I like south Indian moghlai and tandoori as well.

8. What foods do you dislike?

Cabbage, tomato.

9. Favourite Place to Eat?

Since have been living away from home for long I crave for home made food... in Mumbai bade miyaan copper chimney urban tadka prataps dhaba... in Delhi karims and momos at south ext... in Jamshedpur blooms, hong kong, thele pe chinese...

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive?

I can drive any kinda two wheeler

12. What are your favourite clothes?

jeans t-shirts mostly but also sometimes like to dress up in my black suit with black shades tryinh to act like Will Smith in MIB

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?

Saturn to see its rings

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? ???

Cup??? How about a glass half full on the rocks :-D

15. Where would you want to retire?

wanna die with my boots on... so to my grave

16. Favorite time of day?

Night listening to some music tweeting sometimes and working like crazy

17. Where were you born?

Jharia ever heard of it :-P... largest coal belt in India... hence the colour

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?

Tennis

19. Who do you think will not tag you back?

I am following 800 odd tweeple so the list will be long

20. Person you expect to tag you back first?

@nadhiyamali 'cause she ordered me to do this

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?

all the twabes

22. Bird watcher?

yup chicks mostly :-P

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?

Night

24. Do you have any pets?

nope

25. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share?

started my own venture...

26. What did you want to be when you were little?

wanted to be BIG... suno sunao life banao :-P

27. What is your best childhood memory?

flying kites... playing tops.... climbing trees... my colouring book

28. Are you a cat or dog person?

Dog

29. Are you married?

Nope... havent met my match yet :-P

30. Always wear your seat belt?

I don’t drive a car and my bike doesnt have a seat belt

31. Been in a car accident?

nope but thokoed my bike thrice

32. Any pet peeves?

None

33. Favourite Pizza Toppings?

Tandoori Chicken Paneer tikka mushrooms

34. Favourite Flower?

Anything that the lady likes

35. Favourite ice cream?

Any flavour by gelatos

36. Favourite fast food restaurant?

McDonalds :-P

37. How many times did you fail your driver’s test?

What drivers test in India... pagal hai kya???

38. From whom did you get your last email?

Copyblogger

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?

Hard Rock Cafe with my friends \m/

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?

Sang you're beautiful in front of all my coleagues

41. Happy with your job?

bored kinda happy

42. Broccoli?

eat it forget it

43. What was your favorite vacation?

Four shots of vodka... 8 people... one SUV... 3 in the morning... driving to Shimla... four days before the final sem exams... heaven

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?

you mean the one I want to remember... with my family.

45. What are you listening to right now?

Rock Rules on VH1

46. What is your favorite color?

Black

47. How many tattoos do you have?

one

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz?

three four five may be six who knows how many i will remember to tag

49. In What time did you finish this quiz?

too long must have taken me an hour or so

50. Coffee Drinker?

Chai... or coffee at barista

My tags: @nadhiyamali @streetanchor @hiyer @krithikan @WickdWeirdWitch @thenewbnb @OldmonkMGM @prateekgupta @pallaviade @kyrasinging2 @meerasapra

Tagging all my twitter buddies who I like to interact with and RT ... sorry if ur handles not here doesnt mean that I dont like interacting with you...

Sex and Swine Flu!!!

by viveksingh | Create your own Cartoon at www.toondoo.com