On The Rocks Please.

                                                    Episode- 3

6.00 pm. She is waiting in the cabin, I approached her, “Shall we start?” 

“Of course.” She added.

We both slipped into the car, ‘My Inner voice praying: This meeting must turn into a date soon.’ I drove her to the cafe, which is on the opposite street to our office, just to maintain a low profile. We got a table.

She looks, as fresh as in the morning; I wish, she notices my interest in her. Nevertheless, she is a controlled woman, no expressions displayed, and that's dangerous.  Somehow, we both started the conversation at a time, WOW!! That’s a good sign.

She suddenly asked, “Are you married?”  

God!! That’s insane to answer but simply said “No".

She asked, “Are you in any plans of getting married soon?”

OMG!! My Inner voice: She is so straight.

“Frankly, I am an eligible one to get married; so it’s obvious,” I said and smiled weirdly.

“Oh!!  That’s great,” she said.  

“Vidhi, Let me be straight, as you are a matured woman, and can understand things going around you as well.”

“I am Listening,” She said.

   “Honestly, you are so pretty today, we made eye contact.” she is blushing again. I see a waiter coming to take the order, and we ordered a cappuccino and garlic bread.

Straight to the point, “I want to confess something Vidhi, I am in Love with you, head over heels, and will you trust me and accept me?”

 Solid ten minutes of radio silence between us.

She started stammering, and suddenly said, “I have a baby".

“WHAT!!!!” I shouted.

‘My Inner voice: am I in a situation room? Weird, Strange, Hopeless.  I DON'T KNOW, mixed feelings.

Another ten minutes of radio silence again.

Slowly, I pull back my guts to talk, and asked her, “Is the baby an adoption?”

 “Because you never bring up, you were married and claim single, and suddenly this baby thing?” I asked.

She said, “No.”

 “Mr. Vinay just listens, to have babies, not necessarily one must be married, you must have known this by now.” She said mockingly.

 I understood her humor late, “WHAT!!! Of course, I knew that.”  I crack sharply.

“Please, don’t mess with me, what are you trying to say? And better be explicit, I have plans for us.” I beg.

“Yes Vinay, I am very clear that ‘I have a baby’ and also a ‘single mother’, and now let me know your interests and plans if any?” She said and left me.  

‘What a rude woman she is?’ I thought.  

I just detained myself in the cafe, for two more hours, having her cup too.  My inner voice teased: how well I extended my time.   

After many days, I’ve thrown myself into a bar to hang out with my hangover, and ordered a neat, “whiskey on the rocks please.” Rounds two and three were completed, I checked my watch its 9.30 pm.

My Inner Voice: WHAT THE HELL ON EARTH I GONE THROUGH TODAY? I am in love with a young woman who is a Mother, unmarried, and if it is okay with me, I will be a father, no ‘Step Father. What a privilege? WOW!!!! I can be A Husband & also Father at once. Finally, I managed to my flat safely, without blowing the machine. I.e. The breathalyzer. 

Monday morning as usual, I thought, but it`s different, of course, a little hangover & it's a client meeting week, and also the final week of project submission.

The meeting started at 10.00 am. My team is ready with the presentation, Vidhi is so normal, that nothing has ever happened between us. How a woman can fake or cover up situations? Is it an art or natural instinct? You Never know? But she is proactive, Surprising & Alarming.

On the ending note, some of our teammates are supposed to travel to the client`s location the same week.

I Received an email:

Sub:  This week's Official Tour Schedule.

Dear Vinay,

As per the presentation, understood the importance of working in the client’s location, hence, please submit any four names of your teammates including you.

Hope we complete the project by the weekend.

We let you know about further arrangements. 

Thank you

Sailesh

Sr. Project Manager.

Immediately, I gathered the team and explained the emergency of flying to the client`s location. Arun and Bhanu volunteered themselves, I personally picked Vidhi, as she is much more needed than any other. We all decided to fly & close the deal by this weekend.

 My Inner Voice: Travelling with her, going to be much worse? This isn`t expected at all.  

Hope you are enjoying my blog, will continue in the next episode with a romantic journey...

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