19 Dates

Chapter 8

Dev reached right on time, Shalini was calling him but he did not take the call or answered her messages. He was waiting for Parvati at the cafe. It was 8:20, she was late & was not answering Dev's call, so he thought may be she was not coming. He walked out of the cafe when she returned the call.

Parvati, "hey Dev, I am sorry I got late because of rain & traffic."

Dev, "oh good that you called. I was about to leave."

Parvati, "no hold on, I am almost there."

Dev, "cool, when you reach just walk in to the restaurant, I will see if I can manage getting us a table again."

He got a table for them & there she walked into the cafe too. She was looking absolutely beautiful, Dev was impressed & awestruck looking at her but did not show, in fact he was very modest in complimenting her. 

Dev, "hey Parvati, you made it."

Parvati, "hey Dev, finally we meet. So sorry about getting late man, the rains & the traffic, it is all just crazy out there. How did you manage to make it on time?"

Dev, "well it's quite simple, I left early estimating all these problems & of course you said you hate late so put in my best efforts to be on time."

Parvati, "gosh, now I am feeling so guilty. (smiling)"

Dev, "chill I did not mean to make you feel that way."

Parvati, "I know, I know, I am kidding anyways. I am not the emotional kind."

Dev, "oh really! Well this is the best thing a person can do for him/herself."

Parvati, "exactly."

Dev, "well Parvati, let me tell you that you are looking good."

Parvati, "thank you for the compliment Dev (smiling)"

So the conversation between the two was going on really good, they spoke of each others profession, lifestyle (btw Parvati was quite impressed with his straight edge lifestyle choice), travel and a lot more. Parvati was a singer by profession & was working with a band currently struggling to get fame with their rock music. She was a local from south Mumbai."

Parvati, "so a guy who dose not drink, smoke or gets indulged in any sort of intoxication & has never been in a relationship, how dose life never get boring? Well such kind of people either live in Himalayas or are quite old to have any strength to do such things. (laughing)"

Dev, "life never gets boring because I have constructed my life in a way that I never hold on to people or things. It is very simple, no attachments, no desires, no desires, no disappointments, no disappointments, no pain, no pain, no need for medicines, in this case relief through seeking pleasure from people or things." 

Parvati, "impressive! are you like really Dev? I mean some Devta? (laughing)

Dev, "not at all, I am sure Devtas don't hate & there is someone in my life whom I cannot or I am not able to love & of course I have my own flaws to deal with eachday. So enough of me, tell me more about you. Have you been in a relationship before?"

Parvati, "Dev, please rephrase this  question (laughing)"

Dev (confused), "what do you mean?" 

Parvati, "ask me how many relationships I have been in?"

Dev, "OK, so how many?"

Parvati, "I can't remember (laughing), see I date a lot of guys, being with one guy for a long term thing is too boring. I can't do that man, guys are only interesting & good when everything is new. After few days the goodness fades away & I hate that part, so I walk off."

Dev, "so you just walk off with out caring about some ones emotions ha? (his expressions changed)

Parvati, "see Dev, I am very blunt & open about what I think, so if someone cannot accept that, that is their problem not mine, I don't lie to anyone about how I am when I get involved with someone."

Dev (his expressions changed), "I guess I want to leave."

Parvati, "what happened? You said you were not emotional right?"

Dev, "yes I am not but I don't build my happiness on others emotional graves."

Parvati (sternly), "dude, are you judging me?"

Dev, "I don't know but it was really nice meeting you, I just want to leave."

Dev got up from the seat, leaving her stunned, walked to the counter, paid the bill & walked off from the cafe.