Abhi was calm and composed when he had met Rima, primarily because he was still under the effect of the narcotic, and secondarily because he had now a plan to see if Rima was serious about him. Time seemed spaced and colors more vibrant. Abhi took to drag occasionally but never failed to wonder at the mental peace it seems to produce… It was high time that he knew what his beloved thinks of him and their relationship. Only problem was that in order for the plan to work it would take at least a week or two. They had walked from Music World, after having spent some odd 45 minutes window shopping inside it, to the famous Nandan complex mainly talking about nothing in particular. The meeting was as usual purposeless as Abhi had feared it would be. Sitting beside the moat that surrounded the complex; Abhi could not bring himself to follow the suit of other pairs around. It was dusk and the lights were fast fading. In the gloom Abhi made out various couples in various stages of endearment acts. They acted as if they were the last ones alive on the planet, completely disregarding the glances cast their way. It was not his nature to be very expressive about his carnal instincts and he disliked doing it in public… he felt rather out of the place. He only wished he could travel in time to see the plan put to work but time was unrelenting.
Rima had been blabbering on for sometime and Abhi had lost focus of what she was saying. Then when Rima told him about her latest crush that he stirred; Rima took no notice and kept on talking about the guy she had met in her work place. Abhi could sense the effects of the narcotic slowly fading and his senses sharpened. Rima had by then got dangerously close to him and he felt very uneasy and flushed. Rima’s touch had a sense of electricity about it and … Abhi realized with embarrassment … that aroused him… He got up abruptly and walked straight out of Nandan and kept walking.
He heard the voice behind him first entreat him, and as he kept on his pace, turn into commands, but he paid no heed. When he was almost near the Exide bus stop with Rima struggling to keep up with his fast pace, that he stopped and turned to face her.
"What is the matter with you?" she asked incredulously "what was the hurry about?"
"I … er ...I was feeling sick" Abhi managed to blurt out. It had taken a huge effort to calm down from the rage he felt for some inexplicable reason. He liked the company of a woman, but if there is no respect for your companion, no understanding of the likes and dislikes of your companion then it was better that he stayed alone.
"You were not feeling sick Abhi" she regarded him calmly "You have fled from me as if I were some man-eater. Are you jealous?"
"Nothing like that… dear" Abhi managed with a supreme effort. He knew he could not make her see what went wrong in that intimate moment. His reaction was very instinctive and he was himself not sure why he was so enraged. Was it her closeness that unnerved him? Or was it something else? Jealousy? Or was it because he had felt aroused even when he had disliked the situation and the surroundings? Was he a hypocrite?
"I was really not feeling well and I was in the need of some fresh air" Abhi replied as a mini bus sped away spewing a rush of black smoke.
She did not reply. They had kept silence for some moments when Abhi’s mobile rang. Relieved to have come out of the gloom Abhi hurriedly picked up the phone.
"Hi Dude! How’s your date?" Rudra asked
"Okay."
"Tell me has she stopped lying? Oh! Give me one good news?" Rudra’s earnest voice cried out at the other end of the receiver. Abhi knew Rudra was pulling his leg.
"Okay then. Talk to you later" he said as he disconnected deliberately cutting off any conversation. He was determined to not show his discomfort and that too in front of Rima.
They had stayed for some more time before they parted at the Rabindra Sadan metro station.
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