Part 37 Scoop of Life-- 101

Feb 5th 2011
Boombox Cafe
Khan Market
9:00 PM
 Onwards.........
She wipes the frosting off her mug when seated, he seats himself across her.
He waits for her to respond to his "Some place quiet" but it doesnt come......
He breaks the brief silence "Do you come here often?"
She looks up at him " Usually once a month, one of my friend's cousin owns this place, he came for the inauguration and is hooked ever since. I love the beverage menu of all the things here" giggles as she raises a toast with her mug. His is over half full......
She continues............ he listens........
Rag: Waise what do your sisters do?
Rag: Ruchira is in Gargi College......
Radhika: Eeeeeeeeeeeee (shrieks)
He is startled
Rad: GARGI mein?
Rag: ya?
Rag: Ma Gargi mein padhaati hain...... what is she studying?
Raghav: English Hons.
Raghav: Rohini will start college in Fall.
Radhika: in "Fall" did you study in the US (mock upset)
Raghav: CMU.......
Rad: FALL, I mean.......... yahan to hum Fall nahi bolte.......
Radhika: Waise tumne CMU mein kya padha? (before he can answer) sounds impressive yaar. You look very studious (looks at his glasses, but his eyes hold hers captive).
A brief moment of wordlessness quickly slips in.......
Raghav: Computer Science Radhika........
There is a pause again...... forming a rythm of sorts......
Her "heart pounds for some strange reason each time he says her name like that.......... or even speaks" she concludes.....
"Yikes" slips off her mouth......... "You are a geek" ("A sexy one nevertheless" her heart prompts)
He smiles, his usual half smile
Radhika: Do you work in Gurgaon? Let me guess......... Apple? Google? Microsoft? Nothing but the best will do" (declares with her index finger raised) Gosh! an IT guy? MY first. I seem to attract the vagabond, social activist types usually u know, DU mein dekha hoga tumne" (giggles)
Her earrings bob and sparkle........ he watches "she doesnt pause for taking a breath, super woman" he thinks
Radhika: CMU matlab grad school nahi? Tumne undergrad kaha kiya? DU?
Raghav: CMU....
Radhika: UNDERGRAD BHI? It costs $200k (stops in shock, checks herself and continues politely) sorry, didnt mean to pry.......... none of my business (embarrassed)
Radhika: I cant believe you are in IT...... Ritwik will get a hoot out of this... (smiles to herself shaking her head) NOW I will tell him I am not so "odd". (giggles)
Radhika: Tumne bataya nahi where do you work? Was any of MY guesses correct? (eager)
He smiles twitches his lips " Actually No......"
Radhika: To phir kahan?
Raghav: I moonlight in my Dad's business........
She continues looking at him without batting an eyelid as if she were wondering how the words were forming on his lips......... he wonders if he fascinates her for some reason...........
They both wonder and cause yet another nonverbal event
He is done...... she waits and waits as if some more will be said soon.........
Raghav: Radhika? (nudging gently with his voice)
He finds her face glowing with a warm rush of color as she averts her eyes back to her mug
"My beer is almost all gone" (pretends to sip from an empty mug)
The waiter arrives with the food menus
The votive candle in the center flickers in the sudden movement/gush of air displaced by teh waiter.......
Waiter: Ready to order sir?
Raghav: I think so......
Radhika: I LOVE LOVE LOVE the lettuce wrap here........ (gushing) you must try it, they have 4 kinds
He reads patiently.......
Radhika: Vegetarian? (as usual extremely confident in jumping to conclusions)
Raghav Rarely....  (meets her eyes........ and smiles as an afterthought)........Radhika!!
Her insides hurtle  and plunge yet again............