#CelebrateBlogging Chapter 13 - Tick-Tock
Read Chapter 12 - Legally speaking
Soul of a Star
Chapter 13- Tick Tock
Two days before
things start going terribly wrong...
Jennifer
stood outside Costa Coffee in Lokhandwala waiting for Tara. She looked around
and couldn’t help wondering how come all good looking people live in Mumbai? Kochi
was a very dull place for a single girl. And as she continued to wait, a man fidgeting
with his laptop caught her attention- beautiful hands, beautiful face, crisp
white shirt; he looked at her and they exchanged smiles.
All of
a sudden Jenny felt a tap on her shoulder.
“If you are done flirting, can we please go
inside the coffee shop...Jeez.”Tara
said.
“I wasn’t flirting.” She smirked. “I
was just trying to check if the ol’ charm hasn’t started to rust. I am relieved
I am still as good as new...in my case young.”Jenny had the naughtiest smile...which
made her look like a teenager.
“There is a part of me, who always wanted to
be like you..the crazy, out-of-mind ‘YOU’.. Can you believe that?” Tara giggled.
“Too late sweetheart, you can never be me.
You are married now. But you had your chance though.”Jennifer said matter-of-factly.
“Talking about marriage.. When are you
planning to get married? Remember the clock is ticking.”Tara said it lightly, but she was genuinely concerned
about Jenny.
“Congratulations, you are the 1000th
person to tell me that. You just won yourself a nice kick on your butt.” Jennifer blurted. She
continued, “If you are so concerned why don’t you find someone for me?”
“Sure, would gladly do so. Tell me what kind
of men do you like?” Tara looked determined.
“...ummm”
Jennifer looked around and her eyes fell on a business magazine “Something like him. Mr. Aryan Ahuja, the M.D.
of AhujaEnterprise.”
“You want a man like him?” Tara confirmed.
“Yeah, he is not only good looking and with
an awesome personality. He’s among the few who has become successful at such a
young age. Which means he has his priorities all straightened out.” Jennifer for the first time sounded serious.
Tara
smiled “Well your crush happens to be my
next door neighbour. He just shifted a couple of months back. He is a great
friend of Shekhar and is very fond of Roohi too. He often gets chocolates for
her.” As she continued Jennifer looked at her stunned “...if you want I can fix you a date with him.”
Jennifer
kept looking at Tara. After few minutes she finally screamed "I know he is your next door neighbour. I am just amazed it too you so long to think that.”
“Please could you shut the drama queen act
and just say yes or no?”Tara tried to stifle
her laughter.
“Of course it’s a bloody big block letter ‘YES’.
How can you even come up with such a stupid question?”Jennifer replied.
Tara
did not reply as she could not stop giggling. It would be simply awesome if
Jennifer gets married to Aryan. It would be one big happy family.
Tara
looked at her watch and screeched “Oh! sh*t
it’s already 4 P.M. I am sorry Jenny I have to run now. I have a very urgent
matter to attend. I will call you up in the evening to fix your date’s time and
day.” With that she winked at Jennifer and left.
As Tara
and Jennifer walked their separate paths they both thought the same thing that
talking to each other most of the times was all the therapy they needed in
their stressful lives.
***
As
Jennifer reached her hotel, she got a message from Cyrus that he had to leave
for Delhi, to attend some urgent business. “Everyone
has some or the other urgent business to attend. I am the only vella one”
she muttered ruefully.
She
decided to take her bath and freshen up. It was her last day in Mumbai, back to
same ol’ life same ol’ story from tomorrow. As she came out of her bath, she
saw her phone blinking. There were 3 missed calls and a message from Tara.
She
opened her message box as she read her eyes grew wider and wider.
I wish someday you learn to keep your phone’s
ringer on. Well I just called to say rather remind you that I am a genius. I
have fixed a date for you with Mr.Ahuja at my place. Dinner time today. Please
do not be late. Hugs.
Jennifer
was under the impression that Tara was joking about the date. “Shit, I have nothing to wear.” Jennifer
checked the watch it was already 6.15 PM. She decided to do some last minute
shopping.
***
7:30 P.M.
Jennifer
stood outside the door, she straightened her dress, retouched her lipstick took
a deep breath and rang the bell. She really hoped Mr.Ahuja was late. She was
still not ready to meet him. After few seconds she heard Tara’s excited voice
and with that she opened the door. Tara looked at Jenny with sheer pride and
admiration.
“You cleaned up pretty nice, dear darling
friend!” she exclaimed.
“Thanks!”
Jennifer smiled as her eyes nervouslyscanned the room.
“He’s not here; Shekhar and Aryan are at the
patio, waiting for you.” Tara winked.
Tara
escorted Jennifer to the patio where the men were having their drinks. Aryan
Ahuja was everything Jennifer had wanted in a man - tall, chiselled features
and gentlemanly qualities. Tara noticed Jennifer was nervous and that was so
unlike her. Tara and Shekhar excused themselves on the pretext of attending to
Roohi.
Tara
started soft instrumental music by Kenny G. Hoping for the sparks to start
flying. But this music made Jennifer and Aryan acutely conscious.
Jennifer
finally broke the silence, “I hate
instrumentals. They are like lullabies.”
Aryan
said nodding his head, “I couldn’t agree
more. It never breaks the ice, it just make things even more awkward.”
Jennifer
was relieved to know that he looked every bit nervous. “So what kind of music do you prefer?” She asked.
Aryan
thought for a second “I am more into
metal and soft rock.” after a small pause “..I like R&B too.”
Jennifer
smiled and she said excitedly “Wow, same
here. My favourites are Guns and Roses, Pink Floyd, Queens and the list goes on..”
Tara
watched them from the window. Both were laughing animatedly.Soon minutes turned
into hours. Finally Tara had to act as party pooper.
“Hey, sorry to disturb but dinner is getting cold
and I have no intentions of reheating it.”
Tara felt guilty of breaking up things but she was feeling left out.
As they
enjoyed their dinner, Shekhar asked Jennifer about Cyrus. “I don’t know he had to leave all of a sudden. We didn’t even meet. He
just left me a note. I tell you..kids these days...” with that Jennifer
realized she sounded like an old nagging aunt.She
turned to Aryan and said “Did I tell you
I am just 32?”With
that all started laughing. Soon the party came to an end. Jennifer and Aryan
promised to keep in touch. Jennifer had an early morning flight to catch so she
hugged Tara &Shekhar and bid them farewell.
***
As she
sat waiting for the flight to take off, she couldn’t help thinking that she had only two things in her life, she wanted to thank God for; one was Cyrus and
the other was Tara, her soul sister.
Read chapter 14 : The first key
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