"Can't we just stop for a while? Seriously, my legs are threatening to walk away if I run anymore", I said, panting. But Mr. I HaveTheStaminaOfAHorse, Samir, pretended to ignore me. He's getting really good at that, by the way. I stop anyway. I'd only started jogging a week ago. Samir has been running his whole life. He seems to forget that not everyone can run for 5 kms at a stretch. Me, I can't do even 1.
He saw me stop, and gave me the best look of disdain he could manage. But he came and sat beside me, still giving me the look.
"I don't understand what made you realise the importance of remaining in top shape physically. I mean, I tried like hell to convince you and Vikram to come jog with me, but you always had 'better' things to do, like lounging on the couch. Good thing at least you admitted that being fit is important!", Samir preached.
"Being fit my foot. The only reason I started running with you is because I want to know if you like that Saisha chick. Otherwise I don't care two hoots about fitness. I mean, I'm in shape. Unfortunately, that shape is that of a potato. But hey, it's a shape nonetheless!", is what I wanted to say. However, what I ended up saying was," Yeah man! Jogging rules!"
I was starting to feel like this was a futile endeavour. I have no experience in the field of pimping. I mean, how am I supposed to ask him if he's in love with some random chick? Samir was very shy when it came to girls. He knew that he was the object of drooling for any girl older than 15 in our school, but he preferred to remain single. Wouldn't even talk to girls. If I had his face and body, I'd be known as the Indian Casanova by now. But not him. He had never taken undue advantage of his looks. I know what you're all thinking: What a dumb person he is! Yeah, I think the same way. But what can I say?
"Hey Samir! Any girl you find hot?", I asked him, in an attempt to be smooth. He stared at me as if I was a pervert or a pedophile. "Come on man. I know you like to think of yourself as a saint or something. But hey! You know what? Hormones, dude. You're 17. There's no way in hell you don't like any girl."
Samir gave a sly smile. "Well, kinda yeah. I do think that Katrina Kaif is hot. I also like PC."
It was my turn to give him the look. " You know very well I'm talking of someone we know, or have seen in real life. Come on, it's only me! You won't tell me? And here I was, thinking how lucky I was to have you as my friend. Just yesterday I was proudly telling Vikram that I was your confidant. But you just washed that sandcastle away, didn't you? You just destroyed the dreams of someone who considered you his friend, his comrade, his best mate. You just.."
"Okay now, Kabir. Cut the crap. I'll tell you alright. But I'm telling you, all this talent is going to be wasted as an engineer. You should be an actor or a lawyer or something."
That part was true though. I didn't really know why I wanted to do engineering. I had absolutely no interest in it, and I sucked at physics. I enjoyed math but not so much that I'd do it my entire life. What I loved the most was this: creating stories, telling lies and being sarcastic. And God knows I'm pretty good at it.
"Umm I kinda like Bipasha. She's got kind of a silent and subtle personality."
Silent and subtle? Bipasha? Yeah. So are Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj. But I didn't wanna tell Samir what I thought. He had never talked about girls before. So I just nodded and asked him to carry on telling me about her.
"I mean I know she's a year younger. And that she has dated a lot of people." That's right, I think. A LOT. "But I think she likes me too. Maybe she's the one for me." This was when I couldn't hold it in any longer. "The one? You seriously think like that? Listen to me, man. It's okay to like a girl, date her, have a good time and then move on. Stuff like this, stuff about her being the 'one' isn't what anyone believes in anymore. You have your fun till you're about 27-28. Then all your relatives start asking questions about marriage. That's the thing about Indian relatives. According to them, if you're not married by the age of 25, you're either impotent or gay. Or maybe a drug addict. So listen to me, man. Date her for a littke while if you want to. But forget about this sentimental crap."
He looked livid. I was actually afraid that he'd kill me, then and there. But all he said was," I don't think we agree on this one, mate. I prefer the old way of dating. Not just randomly going out with girls who are just looking for fun. I want a serious relationship. I'm not interested in casual flings. And you know what? I'll prove you wrong. I'll propose to Bipasha first thing tomorrow, and I'm gonna make it last. Forever." Saying that, he got up and started running again.
"Forever? Ha! What do you know? You're just 17", I called out, still sitting. "So are you, dumbass", came the reply. Kabir Malhotra chose to ignore that.
