To the girl sitting across from me.
From what I can tell you and I were made to be together. I base this conclusion predominantly on instinct. I make a sly attempt at eye contact with you, and chicken out when you look back by pretending to focus deeply on the wall behind you. I see your blurred face smile as your eyes take you back down to your book. The waiter brings you a tea, and I continue to pretend being absorbed by my work.
In a moment’s time, I will get up and walk over to you. I will smile and tell you what I’ve been thinking all along. You’ll smile and maybe try to brush me off as a crazy. I’ll make you laugh with an unexpectedly witty comment about a character in the book you’re reading, because clearly I’ve read it before and it’s awesome. You ask me to join you, and I happily oblige.
We leave together an stroll around the crowded market nearby, sharing stories together and laughing wildly. As we laugh we are both sort of taken aback, meeting new people shouldn’t be so easy. You tell me about how you gave up your parent’s dream of pursuing a career in academics for your own love: music. I’m impressed by your commitment to the violin and piano, you shrug it off as no big deal. I tell you about my travels, adventures, and meaningless ventures and shenanigans, you actually listen to me and even ask sincere and meaningful questions. You don’t seem to care much that I’m broke and have no actual career prospects to speak of, you say that you kind of like the free-spirited attitude rather than the rigid career driven one. I blush.
Time passes unnoticeably as the afternoon gives into the night, and a short walk turns into a stroll under the stars. At one point while walking my hand sort of accidently grazes yours as I sidestep to avoid some belligerently racing child, and you grab it and don’t let go. Thanks kid.
I walk you to a cab, and you make me promise to call you. ‘None of this 3 day waiting bullshit, I actually want you to call’ you say, and your honesty is a welcomed change from the useless games other girls play. A real one, I think to myself as I kiss you on the cheek and stare deeply into your eyes. You look out the cab as it drives away and wave one final goodbye, then call out ‘Nick, Wake Up!’
The waiter brings you your bill and you thank him. You leave a 100 note and pack your book into your bag, stand up, and walk by me. You smile at me as you pass by towards the exit. From the large widow next to which I sit I watch you walk away. I don’t have your number, not even your name. All I have is a ‘what if’ and a ‘should have but didn’t’, and I content myself with those, for now. Maybe you will return, maybe not. Maybe another ‘you’ will show up in my life, as another person whom I can create my silly little fantasies over. Maybe not. I curse myself quietly as I finish up this last sentence… another one lost to the realm of possibility.
what a delightful read.. ! reminds me of Before Sunset.. not the story essentially, but the feeling that film evokes… 🙂
oops.. I meant, Before Sunrise.. !
That’s a very good compliment, seeing as I am totally in love with Julie Delpy in that movie, and absolutely adored everything about it. I also really enjoyed Before Sunset, with it’s ’10 years later’ theme and the open ending… love is an open book, not fairytale endings, it’s what we make of it.
Thanks Svetlana 🙂
Btw, where are you from?
they’re two of my most favorite films.. romantic and yet not.. there are very few sequels that live up to the first one.. personally, I find myself drawn to Before Sunset more..
have you seen ‘2 days in Paris’..? that movie totally makes me fall in love Julie Delpy.. she’s a brilliant woman..! writes, directs, sings, composes music, edits.. wow..!!
Where I am from is a little complicated question to answer these days.. living in Bombay this moment, was in Delhi before that.. might stay here, might be back in Delhi.. may be some new city.. there’s no plan.. phew..! Besides that.. the name is kind of.. a misnomer.. Nope, not from Russia.. I’m from this town called Dehradun in India..
How about you?
I’m in Delhi now, for another month and a half or so… then will graduate from JNU and move on from there. Life is more or less open at this point – cheers to no plan!
I have seen 2 days in paris… it was very nice, very realistic, almost sadly so. The way the movie ends you just get the feeling that the worlds collide far too much, that the American, unable to speak French, cannot cope so well outside of the comfort zone that makes him powerful, and this leads to the problems with the parents, the jealousy, and the eventual fight.
If you’re ever in Delhi drop me a line 🙂
JNU..! ah, what memories from there…!! I was in the neighbouring IIMC about an year back 🙂
I was happily living with no-plan but life decided to throw one.. got some very interesting stuff to work on in Bombay.. so my bags remain stationed here for good time.. So, If you’re ever in Bombay, you drop me a line..! 🙂
Hehe right on, I’d love to come to Bombay, I’ve been twice already and it’s one of my favorite cities. If I do come by there I’ll let you know 🙂
as chance would have it.. here is me, dropping a line.. 🙂 heading northwards somewhere at the end of this month.. last weekend of May would be spent with Delhi heat..
Very cool! I’ll be in Delhi between June 1st and June 5th… if you’re here during those dates drop me another line!
haahaaha.. here’s another line then.. me there just for three days.. 27-28-29 May 🙂 on all other occasions, I am stationed in Mumbai.. and you know.. repeat, repeat.. 😀