The first date

She was young…. all of 21. He was older…. around 25 (She wasn’t sure of his age and thought it was rude to ask). And he was the guy who was really desperate to meet her. It was a date finalized in her favourite chat room. Meeting him at a local burger joint was even more intimidating. With scores of local aunties, uncles and friends walking in it was a hard task to remain unnoticed from the crowds. She had waited a good ten minutes outside for him.

He was sitting in front of her. Fair, handsome and confident. She looked around to check for some known people before settling down. Thankfully, the conversation started well. He didn’t speak much initially, just asking a question or two. Panic set in. “He didn’t like me. This is going to end in the next fifteen minutes,” she felt. Pretending to be in charge, she kept on talking. “Why are you looking around so many times?” he asked when he saw her looking around for the third or fourth time. “Oh God, how do I tell this guy that this is not a safe area…she worried. “Well, this place is getting crowded I would appreciate a more private place,” she said. They caught an auto and went to the creek.

It wasn’t really a beautiful place. Just an ordinary sunset view over the murky waters. Plastic bags filled with dry pooja flowers floated on the shore. Nevertheless, the place had some greenery, a few decent stands to sit on and some quiet. “I didn’t know that such a lonely place existed here”, he said. “I know palmistry” she quipped. “Oh really,” he said excitedly. She looked at his right hand and gave her observations. It was slightly difficult since she didn’t hold his hand. “You can hold my hand,” he said gently. She smiled back at him.

It had been over two hours since the seemingly ‘uncomfortable’ encounter. They were walking on the road, his hand gently in hers. “Why are you holding my hand and walking? What will people think about us? She asked gently rebuking him. “This is Mumbai, no one really cares”, he was smiling mischievously. A far cry from the really quiet sober guy she had met only four hours ago. “And how many hands have you held so far,” she asked. “This is the first time on my first date” he replied. He looked 100% genuine saying so…and this is what mattered for the moment.