Page 108 of Storm
Of course, one retired surgeon, and another on his day off were looking for fun, on the day I had no time!
God! Why do all the men in my life suddenly want my time and attention? And why does it kill me to say no to any of them? Shit!
Mom hurried forward saying,
“She will go alone today. She just needs to buy something I have asked her to.”
Mom tried to say something to Dad through her eyes, who immediately nodded in understanding.
“Alright then, go on.” Grandpa patted me, as Dad said good-naturedly,
“But tomorrow you’ll come with us.”
I promised them I would and calmly trailed out of the house with rising heartbeat and trembling steps.
I reached at exactly the right time in front of the clothing boutique, where Aariz had asked me to wait. And it suddenly struck to me as it does at times when one is feeling too self-conscious. My top's neckline was quite deep! It was actually a string to tie as a bow or just a knot at the front. I hoped it did not make me look slutty. I guess I was over-thinking. It was all right, given that this was a...whatever this was we were doing. It had to be all right. Even if it wasn’t, I couldn’t do anything about it now!
Otherwise, I thought I looked fine in black skinny jeans and a black scarf around my neck, my open tresses flowing carelessly in the wind.
For the hundredth time I wondered if I looked more than alright?! It was my very first date after all!
‘Nope! It’s not a date. We are just going out somewhere nice. He has not told me which place though. We are just going to spend some time together...alone. And that’s it. Not a date. Yeah!’ Reassuring myself, I took a deep breath. Yet a small voice in the back of my mind kept nagging, ‘That’s exactly the definition of date!’
A few minutes later, Mr Tall, Hot and Handsome aka Aariz Deewan arrived wearing a short-sleeved cream coloured shirt and brown jeans, looking just as nervous as I felt, and oh so delicious!
I could just stand there and stare at him...All freaking day. I seriously would have, if I wasn’t trying to appear all smart and ready to take the world by the storm, yet an elegant kind of women. Not a girl. Mind you! I was going for the mature thingy.
“Hey! I'm so sorry to keep you waiting.” Aariz moved a hand through his hair.
Is he nervous?
“Actually, the traffic was a complete disaster.” Aariz looked me over and gulped, “So I...um...Sorry?” He mumbled with such a cute smile, that it made me feel like I have just died and born again.
Well, dramatics aside, this cuteness really was doing something funny to my heart.
My classmates would never believe their Prof Aariz was mumbling!
What has happened to him today?
“No need for sorry. I came here just five minutes.” I smiled graciously, while thinking ‘I have been waiting since past half an hour watching the world move. This kind-of-date thingy better be good mister.’
In all honesty, I did not mind waiting in the slightest when Aariz was in question.
“Oh that’s good then.” Aariz smiled brightly in relief.
Then as if realizing it was too bright a smile, he faltered rubbing a hand on his face, mumbling again, “I mean, still I should have arrived first, since I had called you here...uh...Shall we go?”
I nodded, and Aariz led me towards his car.
“Believe me, I'm not usually late. Especially if there is a girl waiting. I would never make a lady wait.” Aariz explained earnestly.
Just as I opened my mouth to say, it is all right. Aariz hurriedly went on as if he owed me something,
“Not that I have any other lady in my life, waiting or already in. No one. It’s just you. I promise.”
“Ohkay...?”
Oh, Man! He is definitely nervous.
