My Birthday Promise (Editing)

Thank God it's Friday

Aman

I picked up Alisha sharp at 6:00 pm from outside her office in DLF city phase-3, Gurgaon. She was formally dressed which wasn't boring or conservative. In fact she looked chic in the grey skirt suit which projected her feminine appeal along with a powerful look. Her long hair was styled into a side braid. To avoid the hair on top section look flat and lifeless, it was teased up for volume. The hair was mostly combed to one side and styled into a braid. Her brown healed shoe completed her formal look.

On the other hand I was dressed in khakis and a half-sleeved navy sweater vest. I had my She checked me out as I opened the door for her. "You look good even in your office dress."

"Thanks. You too look great," I said, absorbing her complimenting words.

"I know." Alisha said and smiled. "I already saw it in your eyes."

I coyly smiled, fired the engine, and drove out of the parking. My eyes were fixed on the traffic ahead when she asked, "Could you please tell me now where we are going?"

"Where every day is Friday," I replied grinning from ear to ear.

Alisha looked confused. "Today is Tuesday," she replied with a gentle chuckle. "Anyway where is that?"

"TGI Friday's." I replied to put a rest to her query. "It's a ten minutes drive from here."

******

We reached Thank God its Friday's and what to say the place was bustling; all the tables, it seems were taken. The kids dressed in the red apron, white shirt, and white and red striped bonnet were quick to attend the two lost souls. "I am afraid there are no tables free at the moment, sir, but if you care to sit at the bar..."

I looked to Alisha for her opinion, and she smiled in agreement. The high cushioned red coved stools at the bar were comfortable and even though we hadn't been in our feet for long it felt good just to relax.

"The menus, Sir." The young kid placed the large menus on the bar top. 

"Drink for you and the lady, sir?"

"Two pints of Hoegaarden." I turned to Alisha. "I got that right, didn't I?"

"You sure did, dude." Alisha was relaxing. There was cheery smile of unconcern upon her lips.

"Coming up."

The barman held each pint pots up to the lights to make sure they were pristine clean before placing them in front of us. The long awaited golden liquid was there.

"Cheers." We touched glasses and consumed the first mouthful.

They say the first cut is the deepest, and it couldn't be more true as Alisha and I gave a satisfied wow.

"Now isn't that good?" Alisha wiped the forth from her lips with her paper napkin.

"You can say that again," I replied watching her mug which now had a red mark of her lipstick. "But now the serious stuff...the food."

I opened the menu and looked at her.

"You do the ordering I am enjoying my beer."

"Let's try Mexican. The menu looks good." I asked.

"Why not?" She replied, frowning.

"Waiter." I raised my arm to catch his attention.

"With you in a minute, sir," he replied.

I was quite impressed with the Mexican section at TGIF. In addition to some of my usual American favorites it had many Mexican food options. Unfortunately there were not too many stand-alone Mexican restaurants in Gurgaon which served great Mexican food and most of those restaurants have very chicken heavy menu. For lamb, pork and beef lovers, TGIF was a welcome relief.