Part 25 Scoop of Life--Names

Spice Route
Hotel Imperial
Janpath
Jan 22nd 2011
8:07 PM


Radz:We should discuss our plans each morning, that way we will know we must expect each other.......... Have we decided to follow each other the rest of our lives?
Raghav: It appears to be!
Radz: I am supposed to be celebrating two things, my brother is leaving tonite after summer break, he studies in Australia. My Dad got a new job, and he couldnt take us out to dinner so this is it. Getting all of us together under under one roof is such a challenge. It doesnt happen very often you know. I was as usual late getting here, oh I forgot to mention we are here for a third thing too, call it celebration or mourning..... ughhhhhhhhhhhhh
He has his hands tucked comfortably in his pockets he knows this one is for the long haul, he rocks on the balls of his heels as he listens.............
She talks about the traffic earlier in the day, the accident near Naraina and how once at nite her auto almost flipped in heavy rain.
People walking by assume they must be friends.
Little do they know these two havent exchanged first names, leave alone knowing each other well.
Radz: Rit tried to be as good as I am in academics but he is more of a visual learner I am more  physical and verbal, I prefer... (she goes on and on)
Raghav: Really? (laughing under his breath)
Physical reminds him of something way different than "learning styles". He wished he was checked into the hotel and he could just walk her into one of the elevators and take her up to his room........... as she continued to speak he registered the words vaguely, his eyes roved over her slowly.......
Radz finishes" To main jaoon apna kurta dhone?"
He is pulled out of his reverie " Oh!"
Radz waves her hands in front of him she is wearing silver or metallic bangles he is not sure, they dont match with her outfit or her scarf, he wonders why......
Radz: My Mom specifically instructed me not to publish my autobiography on the way, but looks like I did, atleast I know you, thankfully I didnt do it with a stranger, you know what I mean. I am known to do that as well..... When I got off the plane my Papa thought we went to school together or something I later told him I hadnt met the guy ever before (giggles) BTW Who are you here with? (nosy)

She pauses to breathe ..... OCCASIONALLY
Raghav: The tribe!
Raghav: Really? Wonderful, what are you guys celebrating? multiple things like us?
She turns around to look, he notices half her back is bare..... wonders about the rest of it............
Radz: Oh! THAT group....... cool, enjoy ur dinner, waise tum UP dobaara ja rahe ho kya? (suddenly morose) Even if you did, you wont see me. In UP, or in... (trails off)
Raghav: Shaayad!
(If she stopped talking for a minute I could find out what her lips are shaped like"........ he concludes)
Radz: I better go dude... My Ma can be very upset if we dont respect dinner time..... mujhe lagta hai sab Moms aise hoti hain....
She notices his eyes on her high cheekbones, her eyes fall on his soul patch, his lower lip is full, that causes a uncomfortable plop  in her chest for some reason.... in talking theyve moved closer to each other, barely a foot between em
She walks away...
Turns around " Waise mera naam Radhika hai, tumhara?" (yells across the marbled walkway..........grinning, GLORIOUSLY)
"Raghav" he says in response and watches her say it to herself inaudibly....like she wanted to memorize it!!!
They exchange one last look not knowing what to say next......