Relationship Status - It's complicated

Chapter 3 - The first meet

Anjali

I got up with my purse hung on my shoulder and walked up to the opposite table. He had a surprised look as he started at me.

Regaining my confidence, I managed to say , "Mr. Shiv Raheja?"

His eyes widened but then the next instant they also narrowed as if trying to recollect me or my appearance while a small smile played his lips. "Yes, I am sorry but I don't recognize you" He said in the same throaty voice. 

"That's because we haven't met. I am Anjali." His expressions now narrowed further. He had chocolate brown eyes, a perfectly clean shaven face and an almost wheatish complexion, the kind that attracts women from what I had read in the many blogs. 

Feeling the obvious need to explain myself I said "I actually have your pen from the other day at court. Here! "I handed it out to him, he seemed to be confused and unconvinced. 

"Umm, I was in need of a pen and my lawyer asked you for it. I just sort of recognized you from across the table. Thank you so much ! This was indeed of great help." I spoke looking at the pen. 

He finally grabbed the pen and looked at me and then sighed with an "Aah, now I remember. I am sorry but your lawyer was a funny man." He smirked. And Yes, his smirk was contagious too.

I nodded my head in a yes "Yes, he is a funny man. So glad he could make it on time that day. He had almost pushed my hearing that day by stepping in at the last minute" He raised his eyebrows. He had a round face.

"Difficult day it was. So it's been a month now and you still have my pen ?" He spoke with a tinge of sadness in his voice. I was standing right beside him and it suddenly occurred to me that it must almost look like I am a decently dressed waitress asking for his order.  

I looked at my surroundings and then responded "Umm Yes, It was sort of buried in my purse." 

"Sit down, Anjali , did you say was your name?". Did he guess I was suddenly uncomfortable? 

"No, I am waiting for a friend actually and You seem to be waiting for someone too." I tried to be as polite as possible. 

"Ahh, yes but I don't think my friend is coming" He replied pointing towards the window. 

My gaze moved to where his fingers were pointing. What the heck !? How did it start raining this bad ? Next instant, I sat down on the chair opposite to him (same table) and sighed "Oh My God!"

"Yeah, Mumbai rains! They can literally flood the city in straight 25 minutes!" He said smilingly. 

There was such a loud thunderstorm that the restaurant had a pin drop silence for a couple of seconds before all the buzzing began again. 

Pooja and her family would be stuck somewhere on the road. "Oh No, thats not good. My friend is out there with her family including 2 kids!" 

"Hmm, let me also check on my friend!" He said 

After a couple minutes, we both couldn't get through the network as it was jammed and busy with such torrential rains. 

"No network, right ? ", I asked  

"Nope, I am ordering a cup of tea, do you want one as well?" He raised his eyebrows and asked. 

Tea sounds fun, who can refuse a hot cup of chai in this weather but its awkward to be drinking with a stranger seated opposite to you. However, this is Mumbai, people stand so close to each other sometimes in local trains or buses as though they shared an intimate relation. I was although privileged to be using the company provided cab transport service to commute to work.  So may be I can drink tea.