When Hari met Shalini - II

5.57 pm

Hari reached Shalini’s house… He got down… Shalini dressed in white salwar looking pretty as usual, walked down to him.
“Hai…”
“You are all dressed up… Are we going somewhere?”
“Yep…”
“Where to?”
“Usual place…”

Hari was so happy to hear that… Their usual place is a spot on the long road beside the beach… They would go there talk for ages sitting on the wall that separates the vast expanse white sand and the road. God Damn it Chandru… I knew it was a bluff… IIM guy my @$$...

“Why all of a sudden?” Hari couldn’t hold himself… His mind was playing lot of scenarios…
“I have a date with my fiancé… I want you to come with me…”

Hari slowed down. That was last of the conversation. Hari felt like somebody just him on his chest with a sledge hammer. The air seemed to suffocate him somehow. It was getting hard to breathe. Shalini dint seem to be aware of Hari's reaction. She was busy toggling songs in her i-pod. They were nearing the spot. He pulled over next to their spot. He got down. His hand, searching rummaging his pockets for a cigarette. He lit one, looked up, Shalini was sitting on the wall facing the blue sea. Her eyes closed, feeling the cool wind on her face.

Hari just stood there staring her. He would give up anything, anything to be the wind. The wind that caresses her face, whispers in her ear, makes her smile and just dies mutely in her hair… He sat next to her. Longest 20 minutes of Hari’s life. It seemed strange to him, Shalini once you got her talking; it’s hard to get her to stop. She hasn’t spoken a word yet. Hari tried to initiate the conversation.

“Your fiancé… Is he coming or what?”
Shalini turned to face him. She was upset. Hari couldn’t see her eye to eye, he turned away. “Its just that we been here for 20 minutes, he hasn’t showed up yet. May be he’s stuck in traffic. Did you call…”

Shalini interrupted him, “My fiancé is the biggest dumbo of all”
She was frustrated. Hari chewed down the words he was about to say.
Shalini, “How can one not understand when somebody loves them…"
Hari was like tell me about it… He dint say a word, he stared at the beach.

Shalini, “My stupid fiancé is sitting right next to me and asking where my fiancé is…”
Hari was taken aback, “Shalini… I… eh…”
Shalini, “Save it!!... I love you too… Let’s go some place to eat, I’m hungry…”