"U There?!" - Part III
For Part II click here
It wasn't until 2 am that Vicky realized sleep was eluding his usually droopy eyes and for a change neither were his aching bones creaky. It was perhaps the excitement of being back to teen age habits of chatting or Suma at the other end who was responsible for this unexplainable instance of behavior. He did not want this chat to end. But it was quite late and it was only fair to let Suma leave. There was a lot that they had chatted about. It was as if they were discovering each other and devouring every bit of it. There was no direction to their chat. They would chat about anything that came to their mind. But finally Vicky put his foot down and decided to call it a day and hit the sack. He smiled to himself slowly pulling the bedsheet over his head.
Suma leaned back in the chair looking at Vicky's profile picture. He resembled very much a warrior from mythology. His gaze was fixed onto something beyond what the lens had captured even though one foot hung lazily over the wall of the fort by no means letting go of the arrogance he had displayed earlier in the day. There was something strangely familiar about Vicky that caught her eye. Nothing else had occupied her mind for the last 180 odd minutes and she doubted anything else would for the remainder of the evening till she was awake. Finally she put her PC to sleep and shut of her office lights. Stepping out of her office she checked for the reflection in the glass of her cabin. She very much looked her 27 years and unlike others her age she had never had to worry about eating habits to keep the flab away. She thanked her ancestral genes for the gift. Despite a stressful day, her face was fresh and she did get a few quizzical look as she made her way to the lobby and the parking lot. In her last 4 years at the Blue Dolphin Media Corp. it was never ever shut. There was always the stray employee working on some urgent article or meeting a deadline. She felt around her neck for the sapphire dolphin pendant on her chain. She had received it on her 11th birthday as her father had made it clear with logo resembling pendant, who would take the MD's seat after him.
Suma approached her car still deep in thought. She reached for her keys in her pocket and just as she was about to open the car a pair of headlights blinked in her direction while her cellphone beeped. She checked her watch for the time. In the dim lights of the parking lot she could make out it was just after 2.30 am. Wandering who would be calling her so late she fished out her cell out of the purse and smiled on seeing Vicky flashing on the screen. The headlights flashed again in her face and she could make out the shape of an approaching SUV. Suma cut the call as the car stopped next to her. She was well to aware who it could be at this late hour.
As she opened the passenger car the after shave fragrance filled her nostrils. Vicky had pre conceived the effect it would have on her as it did on most ladies around him and had thoughtfully applied it despite having a stubble. Suma strapped herself in the passenger side and they pulled out. The ride ahead was going to be exciting. She had known this man for just more than half a day and the better half of the night and here she was driving to an unknown destination with him without asking questions. After all she was feeling as excited to understand his effort in driving to her work place despite the odd hour just to meet her.
The car sped through the open roads as the traffic lights appeared to smile in their amber glaze. Vicky did not fail to notice that Suma was still in her morning combination of Kurta and jeans while he had the time to shower and change. He inquired about her dinner and quickly turned into a 24 hour cafe when she told him about her growling stomach. Incidentally she had forgotten about it until he asked mentioned food. After purchasing a couple of sandwiches and some milk shakes they were on their way out. They were enjoying the chatter of the RJ on the all night show, even though their own brains were reeling with thoughts.
Vicky brought the car to a standstill at the ferry dock. This one had long fallen out of use since the bridge construction. Suma folded her hands to protect herself from the winter chill. They settled down on warm bonnet of the SUV as the water leapt at the tyres resting on the edges of the dock. Even though the dark waters were not visible the sound of the gentle waves hitting the wall was echoing in the dead of the night. Suma nibbled away at Vicky's sandwich even though she had finished her own on the way. They leaned on the windshield and sipped their milk shakes as their conversation veered around childhood, families, friends and other such banter. The chilly air was making them come closer or perhaps it was their souls seeking companionship. Vicky slowly put an arm around Suma, as easily as she eased into it to the warmth of his body. Vicky continued to chat about his college chums as Suma's head rested on his chest. As animatedly as he was talking he realized that perhaps Suma had found solace and dozed off in his arms. Looking at her face in the darkness .. he gently nudged her as the words crossed his lips -- "U there?!"
It wasn't until 2 am that Vicky realized sleep was eluding his usually droopy eyes and for a change neither were his aching bones creaky. It was perhaps the excitement of being back to teen age habits of chatting or Suma at the other end who was responsible for this unexplainable instance of behavior. He did not want this chat to end. But it was quite late and it was only fair to let Suma leave. There was a lot that they had chatted about. It was as if they were discovering each other and devouring every bit of it. There was no direction to their chat. They would chat about anything that came to their mind. But finally Vicky put his foot down and decided to call it a day and hit the sack. He smiled to himself slowly pulling the bedsheet over his head.
Suma leaned back in the chair looking at Vicky's profile picture. He resembled very much a warrior from mythology. His gaze was fixed onto something beyond what the lens had captured even though one foot hung lazily over the wall of the fort by no means letting go of the arrogance he had displayed earlier in the day. There was something strangely familiar about Vicky that caught her eye. Nothing else had occupied her mind for the last 180 odd minutes and she doubted anything else would for the remainder of the evening till she was awake. Finally she put her PC to sleep and shut of her office lights. Stepping out of her office she checked for the reflection in the glass of her cabin. She very much looked her 27 years and unlike others her age she had never had to worry about eating habits to keep the flab away. She thanked her ancestral genes for the gift. Despite a stressful day, her face was fresh and she did get a few quizzical look as she made her way to the lobby and the parking lot. In her last 4 years at the Blue Dolphin Media Corp. it was never ever shut. There was always the stray employee working on some urgent article or meeting a deadline. She felt around her neck for the sapphire dolphin pendant on her chain. She had received it on her 11th birthday as her father had made it clear with logo resembling pendant, who would take the MD's seat after him.
Suma approached her car still deep in thought. She reached for her keys in her pocket and just as she was about to open the car a pair of headlights blinked in her direction while her cellphone beeped. She checked her watch for the time. In the dim lights of the parking lot she could make out it was just after 2.30 am. Wandering who would be calling her so late she fished out her cell out of the purse and smiled on seeing Vicky flashing on the screen. The headlights flashed again in her face and she could make out the shape of an approaching SUV. Suma cut the call as the car stopped next to her. She was well to aware who it could be at this late hour.
As she opened the passenger car the after shave fragrance filled her nostrils. Vicky had pre conceived the effect it would have on her as it did on most ladies around him and had thoughtfully applied it despite having a stubble. Suma strapped herself in the passenger side and they pulled out. The ride ahead was going to be exciting. She had known this man for just more than half a day and the better half of the night and here she was driving to an unknown destination with him without asking questions. After all she was feeling as excited to understand his effort in driving to her work place despite the odd hour just to meet her.
The car sped through the open roads as the traffic lights appeared to smile in their amber glaze. Vicky did not fail to notice that Suma was still in her morning combination of Kurta and jeans while he had the time to shower and change. He inquired about her dinner and quickly turned into a 24 hour cafe when she told him about her growling stomach. Incidentally she had forgotten about it until he asked mentioned food. After purchasing a couple of sandwiches and some milk shakes they were on their way out. They were enjoying the chatter of the RJ on the all night show, even though their own brains were reeling with thoughts.
Vicky brought the car to a standstill at the ferry dock. This one had long fallen out of use since the bridge construction. Suma folded her hands to protect herself from the winter chill. They settled down on warm bonnet of the SUV as the water leapt at the tyres resting on the edges of the dock. Even though the dark waters were not visible the sound of the gentle waves hitting the wall was echoing in the dead of the night. Suma nibbled away at Vicky's sandwich even though she had finished her own on the way. They leaned on the windshield and sipped their milk shakes as their conversation veered around childhood, families, friends and other such banter. The chilly air was making them come closer or perhaps it was their souls seeking companionship. Vicky slowly put an arm around Suma, as easily as she eased into it to the warmth of his body. Vicky continued to chat about his college chums as Suma's head rested on his chest. As animatedly as he was talking he realized that perhaps Suma had found solace and dozed off in his arms. Looking at her face in the darkness .. he gently nudged her as the words crossed his lips -- "U there?!"
Awesome yaar... well written :)
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