Sara's Trilemma

A Bad Date

**Hey guys, thank you for choosing this story as your next read! I am sure you will be entertained with Sara's quirkiness and her encounter with three guys, who will make her life complicated and a challenge!**

The chilly December wind fanned my face from the windows of the old cab. The destination was in sight. Through the twinkling golden street lights curve, I saw Chip n Tales restaurant. The cab slowed down, finally halting to stop. I paid the driver and ducked out of the cab, smoothening the creases of my newly bought purple dress and gave a bounce to my wavy hair.

A certain event of dating always lifted my spirits up. No complaints! I struggled with my stilettos as I made my way feeling upbeat and confident.

I remembered the first conversation I had with Siddharth Kashyap. It was a week ago, at a glamorous evening. The charity banquet was organized by Purple magazine. The soft music, the seductive luminous dance floor made the perfect background for him to ask me out. Finally, the night of the day arrived. I sighed remembering the lustrous suit, the groomed hair and that smile that attracted a lot of attention. The way he looked at me that evening brought warm feelings inside me. It was like he knew me from before.

He had made me nervous that day. But today, I had my confidence with me. And I was hoping to keep it through the whole date. This is going to magical, I told myself.

I breathed in and entered through the glass door. As soon as I saw the surrounding, the magic disappeared. The restaurant was buzzing with people. It was noisy and bright, so not what I had expected. I was imagining a classy restaurant with dim lights and soft music. I shrugged and scanned the crowd and spotted him, sitting on a table exactly at the middle. All the excitement which had left ceased away as I noticed him leaning back and drowned in his cell phone. So very casual!

"Hi," I began and waited for a couple of awkward seconds for him to pull a chair for me.

"Hey, you are late," he acknowledged finally, leaning more. He still was not standing up. Strike one! I breathed in and sat down on the chair opposite him. It's not all bad, is it?

"I couldn't find a cab on time," I mumbled looking at the neat table trying to compose myself, while he still fiddled with his phone. You should have come to pick me up.

"You don't drive. I forgot," he smiled and kept his phone down. I was sure that he was having a good laugh at my expense.

I studied his face. The groomed hair, the suit, and the breath taking smile was all gone. The man before me was wearing a white shirt with rolled up sleeves, casual jeans, and unruly hair. Oh my! He still looks good.

His intriguing grey eyes studied me with a sort of longing. Maybe I was doing the same thing.

"I ordered already. I hope you don't mind." His eyes were still probing.

While you are at it, you should have eaten it too.' I smiled, "No problem."

Finally, he sat upright and regarded me with a hint of a smile on his face. Maybe forming some judgment in his mind. I waited for him to say something. According to my past limited dating experience, the guy should have already passed a formal compliment. But here he was, staring at me without saying a thing.

Today you are not going to intimidate me. I can take the control. "You look good," I began, giving him one of my magic smiles tilting my head to one side and tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Likewise," he smiled wickedly lifting his chin up and giving me a peek at his Adam's apple. My gaze lingered there maybe a couple of seconds more than it should be. I breathed and looked away before making it too obvious.