V-Day Blues

I heard the constant clatter of vessels, as I drifted out of my dreams. I could hear mom murmuring, irritated at all of us sleeping till eternity. All of us included my dad and sister. My eyelids opened up, adjusting to the light of another day. I looked at the ceiling and 'Yawn'. My hand automatically moved, drifted under the pillow and emerged with the Nokia 5300. This has been a routine for the past 4 years. I pressed the disconnect button and watched the LCD glow to tell me it was 11:23AM. Right below it, was written 14-02-2009. I put down the mobile phone and rolled around towards the window and gently eased it open. I glanced outside to see, the neighbor aunt walk out the back door with a bucket full of clothes. Her son followed her out with a red baloon in hand. Thats when something bothered me. I jumped up and picked up my mobile to look at the date once again. Valentines day! Priya! SouthIndese! Muthalik! Red Roses! Baloons! Ram Sena! 11 o'clock! Lunch! Hold my hand and walk! Pink Chaddis! Will you be my Valentine!! A host of thoughts ran across my mind. I looked at my mobile once again and noticed something that had not caught my attention till then. '9 Missed Calls' it screamed. I pressed 'Show' and it did show me 9 rows with Priya's name all over. Oh oww.. I pressed Call and waited impatiently listening to Brian Adams tellin me 'Everything I do I do it for you'.
No Answer. I tried a couple more times and then jumped off the bed. Shot off to the bathroom and was ready in 10minutes.
My mom walked into the room just as I pocketed my wallet.
'Where you going?'
'Hmmm.. errr.. Office...' and I put my head into my cupboard to emerge out with my ID Card.
She stared at me and said 'Go have breakfast'
No! I had no time to argue. I jumped onto the dining table and gulped down the tea and had one dosa. My dog came down to me and started licking my feet. I pushed him away slowly and went out of the house. Literally ran to the bus stop and waited there for what seemed like eternity. 'You dont have a bike, Dont fall in love' I realized.
I got into the bus and purchased a ticket to Shivajinagar. I picked up my mobile phone and called her once again. Nope! No replies.
Yesterday she'd mocked me saying, 'I'll wait for you! For ever!' . She must be dead angry with me and waiting at SouthIndese. She wouldnt be angry with me after Chettinad Chicken and Duck Vinadloo and finally Tropical Iceberg. Girls have a weird sense of taste.
After what was 'unusually' high Saturday Traffic, I reached Shivajinagar. Popped into an Auto and asked for '100ft rd, Indira Nagar'. I got out of the Auto paid the guy, picked up my mobile and confirmed it was 12:16PM. I slowly walked into the Restaurant. The guy at the entrance asked me 'Do you have a booking, sir?'
Uhh I did not know what should have been my reply. 'Yes.. Just came to have a look'
He looked back at me wondering 'Is this a museum'. He opened the door either way. I walked in slowly, not knowing what had to be done.
'Beep Beep' My mobile announced that some one had sent me a message, helping me easy out of the 'I'm an Idiot look'. I picked up the mobile, flipped it open at the same time looking around. 'Incomming Message Priya'. I stood there and read the message 'Come out'.
I smiled, pocketed the mobile and walked out with the door-keeper giving me that look again. I could not see her outside the restaurant. Must be hiding somewhere 'Weird Games, these girls play'.
I stood there looking around with that dumb look again. Someone tapped my shoulder, just then. Must be her I thought and did not turn around. Taps again and then a male voice 'Adiii'.
Now what! I turned around and met his eyes. Krishna. Beside him the ever so beautiful Priya stood there. He had his hands around her hip. She looked at me and the bitterness showed. Well could I really blame her? She did have a soft corner for him.
It seemed a long time before Krishna broke the silence 'We came out for lunch dude. What about you?'. Thats when I noticed the single red rose she was holding.
'Aah Was just passing by. Came to meet a friend'
She may not have told him, I was supposed to be there.
'Ok chal see you guys, have a nice time' I shook his hand and walked away.
I had barely walked a few feet, when I saw a Sumo whizz past and come to a screeching halt. And out stepped 7 guys holding saffron flags. The self proclaimed 'Protectors of Indian Ethos'. For once I liked them. Krishna and Priya were surrounded. I froze. Dont hurt her I prayed to the 'real' Krishna. And the big 175 pound guy picked out a Rakhi from his pocket. And the rest as you can see is the 70mm Smile on my face.