Poetic Sensibility

28- Surprises And Projects

Sarah stared at Kabir for a full 2 minutes. She could see Kabir squirm under her stare and she rather enjoyed it. When she knew he couldn't bear it any longer, she finally spoke.

"This stanza is quite unlike you."

She was holding his notebook open at the page where he had written the alternate last stanza as suggested by Romi. He had written about giving up, something that he had never done. Well, to be honest, nor had Hitler until the very last day of his life, which was when he killed himself, but hey, he wasn't one to succumb. Nor was Kabir. God, she was horrible at comparisons. And she was supposed to be an amateur poet. Way to go Sarah!

They were waiting at a cafe for the rest of the group. Apparently, Romi had something "super important" to announce to them. It had more than just piqued her curiosity and she had immediately texted Samay about it. His reply was more curious than Romi's text.

Oh, I know. It's super important and super exciting. Wait till you hear it!

The next general in Sarah's army of covert officials who had to satisfy her curiosity was Kabir. Kabir, like her, knew nothing about it. He did say that when he informed Rishi about it, his reply had been as odd as Samay's. Oh how she hated not knowing! Especially when Samay knew something. In a best-friend-relationship, there are 3 parties. The first individual, the second individual and Captain NO-OMISSION. In this case, the Captain was definitely missing. It was very unlike Samay to keep something from her. However, she didn't have to wait long for she saw him enter the cafe. He spotted them and approached their table. Before he had managed to sit down, Sarah fired all sorts of questions at him.

"What is this 'super important' news? Why aren't you telling me what it is? Did you do something? Did Rishi do something? Did you tell her you fancy her?"

It irritated the hell out of Sarah that Samay was so calm. Yes, being her best friend, he had anticipated this outburst but there was no need for him to look so zen! THAT WAS HER JOB! And zen was the furthest from her mind now. Kabir, however, wasn't quite so collected.

"Who fancies whom?!" He turned to look at Samay and then back to Sarah. God, he was so cute when confused. No, wait. She can't think about that right now. Focus, Sarah, she told herself.

"No one fancies anyone," Samay replied calmly. Ha! He denied it! He *SO* fancied her!

"Okay," Kabir said slowly. "Who does Sarah think you fancy then?"

Sarah was annoyed because Samay interrupted her before she had even begun to speak. "Sarah believes I fancy Romi."

Kabir looked speechless. "Is that true?" he finally asked after recovering.

"No!" Samay exclaimed.

Liar! It was *SO* true. Or maybe she just really wanted it to be true. When was the last time Samay had fancied anyone? He always teased her about her crush on Kabir. It would be wonderful to return the favour. Wait, why was she pissed at him in the first place? Sarah didn't have much time to dwell on that as soon they were joined by Rishi, Kiara, Romi and *surprise surprise* Keshav too. Sarah, however, was pleased to note that despite Keshav's rugged good looks, he couldn't quite manage to unleash some really powerful butterflies in her stomach the way Kabir did. She did notice that Kiara paid attention to every action and word of his. Even now, she was staring at him wide-eyed, as if she couldn't quite understand how he came to be.

"So what's this important stuff you have to tell us?" Sarah asked Romi. Curiosity really made her cranky. Kabir had more than once called her "cranky pants" when he was trying to hide something from her. Which, by the way, he was absolutely miserable at.

"Well, I'll let Keshav explain," Romi replied.

Sarah turned all her attention to Keshav. He probably knew she was going to chop him to pieces if he didn't start talking fast and to the point which is why he probably cleared his throat and placed his hands on the table, as if trying to placate her.

"So," he began. "You guys probably know that Romi and I and a cousin or a friend end up taking a summer trip together."

"I did not know that," Kabir replied. He turned to look at Sarah who flushed guiltily. She had meant to tell him but her Kabirisms always got in the way. How could she remember all the important stuff when he was just sitting there looking so good?

"Yes. I've read Romi's blog. They're so fun! It always manages to wake the green eyed monster in me," Sarah replied. And it was true. The things they did on those trips always made her feel envious.

"You read all that? I never thought anyone did," Romi replied, clearly surprised.

"I didn't know you had a blog," Kabir stated. Sarah was pretty sure he was disappointed in her for not telling him this. And the excuse of him-sitting-there-looking-so-cute wasn't going to work.

"So what about these trips?" Sarah asked Keshav. Anything to divert Kabir's attention was a godsend.

"Well, this summer, we were wondering if you guys would like to accompany us... to Paris," he finished with that tone as if he was narrating a suspense story.

Sarah's heart soared at the thought of going to Paris with her friends and then it rapidly descended. There was no way she could go. Following Kabir's suggestion, she had organized meetings for the next two months with various hospitality management companies and caterers for kick starting their soup kitchen project. She couldn't put it on the back burner right now. She could probably ask Samay to take care of it but this was something she wanted to actively lead and not just participate in. It was close to Kabir's heart and therefore close to her own.

"I can't come," she announced in the most deflated tone ever.

"Why not?" Samay asked.

"Well because of the soup kitchen project! You have seen the portfolio. There a number of meetings lined up and additionally all the licenses I have applied for will either be approved or denied in 3-4 months which is bang in the middle of summer. I need to take care of all those things."

"Oh yeah. That means I can't come either," Samay said. God, he looked as upset as her.

"Of course you can," Kabir replied, turning to Samay. As did Sarah. What was Kabir saying?

"How do you mean?" Samay asked.

"Well, I was going to ask you guys later anyway, but now is as good a time as ever. I want to be involved in this project. It was my vision and I just want to participate. So the meetings and presentations and the leg-work can be handled by Sarah and myself. You should go," Kabir explained.

Sarah was floored. She'd love to work on something that Kabir was involved in. And Kabir was taking the initiative! This was Christmas, Holi and Diwali combined in one really hot, 6 feet tall package. And if anyone deserved a vacation, it was Samay. He was always working; always trying to prove himself to his father.

"He's right," Sarah said. "I can hold the fort here."

Samay thought about it for a moment and then said, "We'll see." Sarah wasn't surprised by this answer. However, she, and everybody else were in for a major stunner when Kiara spoke.

"I'm in," she said.