Poetic Sensibility

18- Exclamations And Zen

        Sarah was pretty sure that a full body blush had taken over just like it did every time Kabir called her. Honestly, she tried telling all the chemicals running inside her, it's been 7 years! Her insides needed to stop wrecking havoc. She had long ago accepted that what she felt for Kabir couldn't be called a 'crush'. Not anymore. And there was obviously this tiny, minuscule part of her that said she had better give up. But then she was always the devil's advocate. She turned the phone to her ear.

"What's up?" she asked.

"So... I was talking to Samay," Kabir said cryptically. Sarah bit back a curse. If Samay had said anything about how she felt towards Kabir, he was going to die a slow and painful death. With lots of blood and skin peeling. Very Inglorious Bastards type. Hail Sarah!

"And...?" she asked him, thankful that her voice was steady. She already pictured gouging Samay's eyes out while he cried in pain and asked her for mercy as they were best friends. He would be lucky if he emerged alive with all his limbs intact.

"And he told me you guys were working on some project under his brother's company's banner," Kabir replied.

        Oh. Phew! Well, now she was disappointed. She would have loved to know how he felt about her. She was every bit that girl who couldn't make up her mind. Her clothes, shoes, perfumes and all other accessories had witnessed that.

"Right," she replied, her voice laced with disappointment.

"Are you alright?" he asked. Kabir was such a sweetheart. Always so concerned about her.

"Yeah... umm... fine." What was wrong with her?!

"So tell me about this project," Kabir began.

"Too lengthy to discuss on the phone," Sarah replied.

"Okay, well I want to know. What are you up to in..." he paused and she could picture him checking his watch all too easily. Another one of her Kabirisims, she guessed. "...30 minutes?" Kabir was back.

Huh. Cooking dinner, she told herself. But then Kabir was going to ask to see her. Was their any competition? Dinner was overrated anyway. "Not much," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant and failing miserably. She had to try harder. Nonchalant was going to be her new best friend now. Nonchalant. Yep. Totally.

"Right then. Woodside Inn. 30 minutes," Kabir said.

"It's a date!" Sarah exclaimed and hung up.

        Upon realizing what she had said almost immediately, she hung up. Okay. There was no need to freak out, she told herself. She was only going to walk to her room, put on her best distressed jeans and go to Woodside Inn. Or should she wear shorts? Wasn't it a bit nippy for shorts? Yeah, she was freaking out. She was going on a date with Kabir!!!! A giant exclamation mark rang in her head. Okay, granted she had not given him a chance to accept or decline, but that wasn't going to deter her. OMG. She had only 29 minutes left now. Stupid exclamation marks!!

        Sarah was positive she had broken one of those world records by being ready in about 20 minutes. Thankfully, Woodside inn was a hop, skip and a jump away so she was seated at a table for 2 with five minutes to spare. Actually, make that ten minutes. Kabir was always five minutes late. Always. She used that time to reacquaint herself with nonchalance, her new best friend. He just wants to know about the project, she told herself. You need to calm your pants. And remember to breathe. Breathing is good. Her zen was rudely interrupted when her phone started ringing. She fervently prayed it was not Kabir cancelling and her breath came out with a whoosh when she saw it was Samay.

"Something has happened to you," he said. "You haven't called once to rant today."

"Oh ha ha. Go away," she said, rather loudly.

"Oh looks like someone forgot to wash their mouth today. Now tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong!" Sarah exclaimed. The only way she could get him to hang up was by telling him the truth. If she stoked his curiosity any further, she'd be stuck on the phone with him for about a century. Or twelve. 

"Then why haven't you called to complain about the laundry or a broken nail?"

"I never complain about a broken nail. Quit exaggerating. And the laundry thing... I complained ONCE. You boys make a big deal out of nothing. And I'm at Woodside, waiting for Kabir. Apparently you told him about our project and he's mad curious about it and wants to know everything," Sarah replied.

"Oh. Yes. You're welcome for that, by the way. So you're meeting him now?"

"Yes. And I'm terrified," she replied. Her zen had flown right out of the window and taken her peace of mind along with it.

"It's only Kabir. What are you scared of?" Samay inquired.

"Weeeeell..." Sarah launched into this tirade about her 'it's a date' squeal and she didn't know how Kabir had taken it. Hell, she was probably going to be stood up.

"Ha! As if!" Samay mocked. "And I'm glad you said that! Finally some progress! Rishi and I had a wager about who was going to make the first move."

"That's mildly insulting and what exactly do you mean by 'who'?" Sarah asked suspiciously. He probably meant they had a wager on when she would be making the first move.

"Nothing of any consequence," Samay replied calmly. "Have fun on your date. And I'd completely understand if you'll call me later to tell me that you're sparing me all the details and just skip to the conclusion."

"Oh shut up. You secretly love all the gossip and angst and drama that I add to your life. It's like Desperate Housewives meets glee for you. Okay I got to go now. He's here. Bye!" Sarah hung up.

        She saw Kabir's tall frame approaching her.He had that crooked smile playing at his lips which made her insides melt. Right. Where was nonchalance when she needed it? Had it flown out along with the zen and the peace of mind? Kabir took his seat. As far as she knew him, and she did know him, he would cut straight to the point of discussion. He was very no-nonsense when he was looking for something or digging up some information.

"So," Kabir began, "tell me about this project."