Aditya was nervous. "Hope everything goes as planned", he thought.
"Dont worry Sir. We have done this before", the manager of the hotel replied calmly.
"Oh Good. But there is this one thing I would like you to.......".
Aditya stopped seeing the door opening.
"Oh God, she is here!!!", Aditya rushed to his table.
"Positions...Take your positions", the manager ordered to the waiters.
Sakshi walked in. Aditya was awestruck. The breeze started blowing her hair. The waiters started playing violins. The hotel lights swtiched off, except one which was focussed on her. She was looking so lovely in the red evening gown she was wearing. Her eyes were searching for Aditya. Once they found him, the lips parted ways and that 'to-die-for' smile was full on display.
Aditya went "Haaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiii" in his mind.
"Hi!!" she said with the smile still on. Aditya gathered all his scattered senses and got up,"Hi". He went and pulled her chair back.
"Thanks for coming. Please sit down mudaaaaam ". She sat down giggling. Aditya signalled to the managers before taking his own seat. He looked up at her. She was looking even more lovely with the candle lights falling on her. Infact the candles were looking more lovely because of her. He was in his own thoughts.
"I love candle-light dinners", Sakshi said adjusting her gown.
"Yes, I know", Aditya gave a quick-blunt-silent reply ( almost a whisper ) looking in her eyes.
"Excuse me", she replied not able to hear what was being said.
"Uhhh...I mean, Oh is it?...Wow... me too. I mean even I luuuvvvee candle-light dinners too. Infact I love candle light breakfasts and lunches too", he replied in a fidgety manner.
"What?", she giggled again.
He blinked at her and joined in with a fake giggle, thinking, "Oh @#$%, kya bol raha he....control Aditya ...control...PJ mat maar."
"Good evening Sir. Good evening Madam. Here is our menu for tonight. I recommend you should try our Schezwan Cabbage Rolls.", the waiter said handing over the menu cards.
"Schezwan Cabbage Rolls...what the hell were that!!", Aditya wondered.
"Thank You Mark". Aditya replied.
"You know their names?", Sakshi enquired after the waiter left.
"Uhhgg...Yes..some of them. So how was your day today.", Aditya asked avoiding her further probing.
"Well...not too great. We had a ............." Sakshi went about telling the details of every little thing that happened with her. Aditya was only too happy to let her speak. This gave him a chance to stare at her non stop without her doubting. He cursed the waiter who butted in between to ask for the orders. But then again it was back to hearing her voice.
The food came, they ate. She kept on talking. He kept on listening. She was generally a very quiet person, but with people she knew, she could not stop exercising her mouth. Anyways, Aditya didnt mind. Time passed by in a jiffy.
Aditya looked at his watch. It was about time. He signalled the waiter who came up with a bottle of red wine. He had it poured in two glasses.
"Cheers", they said slowly sipping the drink.
After a few minutes, Aditya was looking at her, waiting for her to say something, waiting for her to react. But nothing was happening. Her drink was getting over. But she was not reacting. The waiter standing at a little distance was also surprised as to why she was not reacting.
"I guess I can have one more glass.", she said blinking at Aditya. Aditya was perplexed. He called the waiter who filled the glass again for her.
"Whatever happened to the ring", he thought. " Oh No!! Had she swallowed it?? ...NO she possibly cant. She would have realised. Had the waiters stolen it?..NO they couldnt, they were already paid for this. They could be trusted. Well then what happend to it. It cant just disappear in thin air or a hard drink."
"Excuse me Sakshi, will be right back", he said hurrying off to the loo, signalling the manager and waiter to join in.
"Where the #$%^ is the ring?", he thundered. " My whole plan is screwed up. A chance like this wont come again soon."
"Sir, we really dont know where it is. I had put it in the glass and poured the wine over it as u had ordered.", Mark said timidly.
"Sir, I dont suppose the lady would have swallowed the....", the manager said calmly."I hope not", said Aditya dejected. "Aaahhhgg....forget it now ...when she leaves....you guys are going to help me find the ring and if you dont find it, you will have to pay for it." Aditya was furious now.
He had waited so long for this moment. He knew that Sakshi too loved him. It was just the proposal to be made and then it was going to be Happiees Endingss for them. But now a chance like this was never going to come again and if it did, it would not have the same effect, the same punch.
"Bring the bill in 5min after I sit down.", Aditya said leaving.
"Are you OK Adi? You look tensed", Sakshi asked as he settled down.
"No No, everything is juuuusst fine", Aditya said sipping his wine in one gulp.Sakshi was still looking at him.
Aditya was puzzled. There was something in his mouth. It was hard. It had come along with what he had just drank.
"Oh NO!!, the ring!!....The damned waiter exchanged the glasses. And now its in my mouth. Holy Cow....", he thought.
"Guess its getting late, we better leave", Sakshi said picking her purse.
"YESSHHHH...AAI SSSHINK VEE SSSHHHUUUD", Aditya replied.
Sakshi looked back at him, with amazement.
"Should I remove it now. NO ..i better not in front of her. Mann it would look cheap...", Aditya thought.
"By the way Adi, did i tell you that you are looking very handsome today with the tuxedo on", Sakshi commented.
"Hmmm.." he replied. " ZZZAAANK UUUU".
"Now why are you putting up a french accent Adi? But you know what U look cute when you speak like that".
"Ya right", Aditya thought."Try speaking with the ring in your mouth for the entire life. But for you my love, I wouldnt mind it."
"Hmmm..", he replied again adjusting the ring inside his mouth.
As she turned around to leave, he quickly removed the ring and put it in his pocket.
Outside the hotel, he wondered, "should he propose to her now?...Yes...the timing is superb....No...it wouldnt be that romantic. Maybe he should just go down on his knees, and ask for her hand..that would be super-romantic.....but on the footpath!!...NO that would not be a good place....Sheeeesh...Plan screwed up. Dont know when will i get a chance like this again. Damn the waiters, damn the hotel, damn the manager, damn the wine glass, damn my luck...".
"What are you thinking so much Adi?" , she enquired.
"Me..no nothing. uhh...Should I drop you home?", he asked.
"NO yaar, its ok. I can manage.", she replied.
She sat in the cab.
"Chalo bye. Thanks for the everything. It was a lovely evening. I had a nice time. Give me a ring later. Good night.", she said.
Aditya looked up. "Did she know?...No.. No..No Adi...She meant a phone call".
"Yes sure, Will give you a ring later.", he reiterated the statement stressing on the word 'ring', thinking, " Hope that "later" comes "sooner"!!"
The cab left.
Aditya rushed back to the hotel. "Where is Mark?", he thundered. Mark was taken aback.
"Dude....you put the wrong glass in front of her!!". Then he turned towards the manager and said," You were right about the swallowing part. Except it would have been me who would have swallowed it.", he said removing the ring from the pocket.
"This ring meant so much to me", he said lifting it in front of the managers face." And you have screwed everything BIG TIME. Now since my plans has been spoilt, I need my refund for the....". He stopped.
He looked at the thing he was holding in his hand. It was a ring for sure. But it was not his. It was not the one he had bought for her.
His cell rang. "Sakshi calling..."
"Hello", he picked up.
"Give me a ring later", she said giggling. The waiters too were smiling now.
Slowly Aditya realised what had happened.
"I love you Adi. Would you like to...." , Sakshi asked.
Aditya was short of words. He didnt know what to say."Yes" ...he interupted smiling. Sakshi was smiling at the other end of the line too.
"Well, where is a ring for me then", Sakshi said. Her voice was so clear as if it came from somewhere nearby. He turned and found her standing right behind him.
He was too shocked to say anything. Do anything. Think anything.
Mark came up to him, removed a ring from his pocket and said,"Sir, here is your ring. We are sorry sir, but madaaaam paid us more to do this.", he said smiling.
They slipped the rings into each others fingers and the kiss came without a second thought.
The breeze was blowing, the violins were playing, all the lights were off, except a light blue one focussed on them.
Happieesss Endingss.....
