The First Time They Met - Entry 5.0

The First Time They Met - Entry 5.0

Hello Friend?

Are you still there?

Are you reading this ?

Are you paying attention?

I hope you are.

Whats the first thought that comes into your mind seeing this picture.

Don’t worry, you needn’t be correct. You just need to read pay attention and find out what it is.

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Its a big mystery about an arrange marriage. When both of them meet for the first time and are told by their parents to go the adjoining room and talk. Their whole future depends on it. What happens in there? What do they talk about? What its like to be there, in a big pool of silence, awkwardness with a bit of chit chat.

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Knock Knock!!!

(Rahul knocked the door of the “Ladkiwala’s house sharp at 9:00 pm, being punctual as always.)

(Boys are like this, he is all like yeah I’ll meet and talk, no big deal. But when the day comes even they start panicking.)

(The Door Opens)

Imagine sitting on a sofa with your parents in front of a table filled with dishes of sweets and hot snacks. Just opposite to you are 3 other people, the parents of the girl you have come to meet accompanied by a young giggly sister of hers.

[ Rahul Thinking in sort of an inner monologue….

 What is the correct expression to keep on face when someone is clearly checking you out, Is my shirt tucked in proper, I hope there aren’t any dirty spots on my Pants. Have I dressed to formal for this meeting, or am I perfectly dressed. Is it all like shown in the movies.]

(These are the fears of any boy who is for the first time ever in his life, who has come to meet a  girl for an arrange marriage.)

(Riya quietly enters the room wearing an Anarkali Dress.)

[ Rahul again thinking in his inner monologue -

 Can I look at her properly or will it seem to awkward, can I at least check if she is looking at me, or even that seems improper. Turns out they both thinking the same thing while completely unaware that they were staring at each other for the whole time.]

(Imagine the confused violins going on as background score)

(The normal greet and meet happens, and suddenly there is a long awkward silence)

Riya’s Mom: I guess we should let them talk and know each other alone, while we families talk.

(The Boy’s parents with a small comforting smile agree and off they pop into the other room.)

In the Room..

(There is like a 1 minute silence where they both are just getting comfortable in their own chairs, and slowly watching and observing things in the room on the opposite sides just to avoid eye contact.)

(And just then the little sister walks in with another big tray full of snacks and sweets and says in a chirpy manner, please take haan ha Rahul, be comfortable. She leaves.)

( Rahul in his inner monologue, this girls seems to be quite a notorious fellow.)

And welcome again to the awkwardness of it all.

(After a moment, Rahul finally tries to take the initiative)

Rahul: Doesn't it feel too awkward and comfortable. Perhaps we could do it in a slightly casual way (in a slow tone)

Riya: Yes I Agree.

Rahul: Umm, Maybe we could go for a walk?

Riya: Yeah, we could.

(Luckily for them the the room they were in had a  backdoor. So no need to tell the grownups)

(They go to the garden and decide to walk around there)

(Again accompanied by silence)

Riya: So, do you have a list?

Rahul: I am sorry, what?

(Completely taken aback by the Question)

Riya: A list of questions to ask me, eh.

( In a very a casual tone)

Rahul: Oh I have been given so many of them. When I read them, I felt too absurd asking them to someone I just met for the first time. I mean, how could I ask something like that.

(Riya saying it in almost a nodding manner)

Riya: Right, exactly. It feels like a job interview and more of a deal of some-kind. Such rude or personal things to ask someone, and that too to someone you don’t even know.

(Finally the mood is set)

Lets do this. Ask each other  some random questions, not necessarily all the serious ones. Just ask things which pop in our  mind and maybe that way we would be able to know each other better in our own way.

Riya: You go first.

(Rahul with a bit of hesitation)

Rahul: Umm..I am which no. ? As how many people you have had to meet for this?

Riya: 4^th.. You?

Rahul: First.

(Riya giving a calm and understanding expression)

Riya: Whats your take on food? As in are you a foodie, what do you love as a midnight snack? Do you cook?

Rahul: Wow, that's a loaded, a cheese loaded question. (Trying to joke, and unsure about if the humour he tried was conveyed)

(Riya, giggles a bit.)

Rahul: I am what you call a foodie. Though it isn't much about favourite s. But if its midnight snack, than I would love to have a pizza or a sandwich. And about cooking, that requires a good free time, so I do cook but not very often.

Riya: Oh that's nice to hear. For me food is a great companion. I always love to have some noodles as a midnight snack. And as for cooking I have learn t after countless rantings from my mom. So it was tormenting to begin with, but now I love doing all sort of experiments in my normal everyday dishes.

(Rahul listening with all attention.)

(Both trying not to make too much eye contact rather watching the kids play in garden or the lush green grass. Though they both were having their own stolen glances.)

Rahul: What like a normal routine day for you?

Riya: Well as you would know that I have a masters in Graphic Designing. So I work at this marketing agency called “Bird Song” as a graphic designer. Sometimes we do have like impossible deadlines, but overall its a fun place where there is a lot of room for creativity. So its like wake up in the morning at 7 and get ready for work, then 9 to 6 at office. On the way back home sometimes I swing by a cool badminton court near my old school. Then after coming home its usually helping Maa in making dinner and  a long chatty dinner with the folks. Then, I am more to myself in my room on my phone or reading something or designing a piece to display on my cupboard or room wall.  As for sundays, I am a late riser with a good cup of coffee with dad in the gallery talking about news mostly. Then its like a movie, shopping or dinner at a cool place with my sister.

(Rahul silently admiring the additions of Sunday routine details)

Rahul: Seems like you have a good enough satisfying routine for yourself. As for me I am a chartered accountant. So my daily routine varies from being 9 to 6 on usual days to 9 to 12 at midnight on every month closing. We work on some sundays as well. So its more of wake up at 7 or 7:30, go to office. Once in a week while going home, me and my friends do try to meet at least someplace outside just to hangout or play something together. Then its me at home, just in time for dinner. After dinner we all kind of have a ritual of at least sitting together for half an hour having some family time. Afterwards, I am usually glued to my phone watching some series or reading a good non fiction. Sundays are fun days for me. I tend to sleep less and enjoy more of my sundays with my gang or a good series marathon.

(Riya clearly understanding his love for movies and series)

Riya: What about Music & Travel?

(At this point in the conversation they both became somewhat confident and comfortable to see each other more and ignore the background noise made by crickets)

Rahul: I would love to, though there isn't many place I have been. Its usually like 2 trips a year to someplace in India only. Never been out of India. And about music, it means the life to me. Music has a certain power over us to make us feel all the moods & emotions. I hear a lot of songs, but mostly I am into background scores of movies.

Riya: Oh, that's good. Gang trips are fun. I really love to travel. I try and always go to at least 2 great destinations, usually in India where I haven't been before. I have been abroad a few times, mostly for work. Music is somewhat of a best friend for me. Its always there and it always makes my mood. You are right about emotions. I also hear to both lyrical and non lyricals. I guess some days you need the music and some days you need the lyrics.  

Riya: Let me ask a real absurd one..umm.. do you abide by rules or are you a rule breaker?

( Rahul almost laughs away on the question)

Rahul: That's a real good one. I don’t think I have ever been asked that. Well I always abide by rules may it be sports or just in normal routine life. Earlier I used to get pissed of about others breaking them and getting undue benefits, but I guess now I don’t let that bother myself and continue to be the way I am.

Riya: That's quite mature of you. I know its just a small random thing, but these little things, these details makes us who we are. As for me, the only rules I break are bunking office sometimes to go to a nice long lunch.

(Rahul giving a smiling nod)

Rahul: umm..let me ask something out of the box too..

Do you like good conversations?

Riya: Oh I do love them. They may be on the smallest of the topics or be an world problem the conversation or discussion is going on. Though I must say I strongly believe that face to face comes first, calls the second and chats come last in my feasibility of conversations. I need the conversation to be real and attentive enough (That's what I like) , otherwise I lose interest. Though I tried doing it by handwritten letters once, and I kind of did enjoy it.

About something I dislike in them is people followup a less to often. If there is something we promised to do or followup in a conversation, I prefer to do that thing or it to happen. Otherwise whats the point of that one offs giving me a feel of discontinuity.

(They were at that point in the conversation, where you just need to drop a word and automatically the other one pours out all the little and big things)

Riya: You Say…what about you?

(Rahul still acting a bit amazed or blown away by Riya’s answer)

Rahul: I think you  almost said everything I wished to say. Especially where you said the hierarchy of your priorities. Though there is one thing I like a lot. Its rather like an involuntary expression or a sound which people make (Everyone has their own unique ones), which tells us a lot about if they are saying it in a angry or a sarcastic tone, or are trying to convey something indirectly. We all have that tell. Some laugh, some smile, some say “Arrgghh”…that's a good little idiosyncrasy to notice about someone for me. That's it..

(Riya was quite surprised by this little addition and then she realized what a solid observation/ point he made.)

Riya: Ohhh, look at the time, we have been gone for like almost half an hour. We need to go back by now or Maa will come and check in the room and I don’t want her to know that we left without telling her.

(Rahul giving out a understanding look)

Riya: So lets hop off..and let me ask one last question while reaching home.

Was there some other reason than awkwardness for you to ask not to sit in the room and rather go on a walk ? Because no ever has ever asked me this before and somehow we just met for the first time, there was always gonna be some kind of awkwardness there. Though I would say, this Idea of yours was a really good one.

(They started going towards her building)

Rahul: And here I thought, you wont be able to figure it out. There is a reason. Not that like this was my plan altogether, I just said it in the moment. But there is a thought behind it. I imagined if we sat in your room and talked, we would rather spend most of our attention to seeing and staring each other. Somehow it would result into less focus into the conversation and more judging each other on our clothes or hair or physique. And I didn’t want that. Because somehow we both are here for finding a Life partner and that is a big deal. If I was to waste my time in looking at your faces, clothes and physique first, I would be doing a stupid thing. Because the test of souls is rather more important than of bodies. It is way more important to have a good conversation with you, to know if we do or do not have a chance to build connect on a personal level, to talk freely about what we feel, I felt having a walk was the best thing. Because while walking with someone, you don’t have to keep staring them. You are in a shared space but while talking you are also able to freely express yourself somehow without the fear of being judged. Things just happen in smooth free flow. That's it.

Riya: Believe me when I say this, I completely understood and felt the gravity of what you just said.

( I hope you got her emotion behind this statement)

(They both enter the elevator and Riya presses the 7^th floor button).

(And there comes a complete radio silence, both of them lost in their own thoughts not looking at each other and yet somehow thinking a teensy bit about the other person.)

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Was it a Yes or a No?

What was their answer?

Well sorry to disappoint, but I don’t know that.

But I always love a good conversation. Conversations and Walks are so underrated. It feels like the world is slowly depriving themselves of the real tangible walks and conversations. Believe me, Its nothing to do with this petty lockdown. Its us, the world that is diminishing the value of walks and conversations.

So the next time you have a good walk and conversation, appreciate it, savour it and do with all of your heart.

This time, I have a task for you. I need an answer of 2 questions from you.

1. What was good and bad in this above story?

2. Would you like to know the next part of the story?

Answer in DM or comments, wherever you like.