Part 86 Scoop of Life--Decisions

March 13th
8:04 PM
The Reef
Jorbagh

She paused mid conversation to sip her wine and catch her breath, he watched her lips cup the glass.......... her nose ring glittered... and reflected off the glass.... she wore a red string around her wrist....
Her white kurta marroon salwar ensemble looked very "artsy" she wore a long arrow like bindi from "kohl?' he wondered.........
"You know Aurin, there always has to be TWO ways to do things for him. We heard from the Kanpur Commissioner last week, they might actually be approving clean of the two streams around those plants....... I dont want to guess how long thats going to take"
If he was paying complete attention he was not showing it......
"I wont say this has been the toughest assignment but the longest one, one of the longest, our Dutch water partners are expected to be here in May for another project, waise main tumhe clean water ke photos dikhaaoon? she sifts through her bag, then checks her phone, and back to her back, pulls out her folder as she continues to talk........
"They look good enough to go on the Natl Geographic, if I may say so myself" giggles
He grabs her hand and the pictures........
"Dont you love my bangles?" she asks shaking her wrist under her grip.... he carresses gently
But doesnt respond
" I got these from Kanpur last time, the carvings are actualy serpents, ek famous si gali hai wahan khareedi, u can hear them hiss almost" he bends and places his ear on the bangles she feels his sideburn and coarse stubble... withdraws in complete shock
"I can only hear the drumming of your pulse" he says softly
That statement scorches her skin......
"Hamey chalna chahiye" she pleads
"Radhika..." he insists
They gaze at each other
"I left two voicemails for you and 4 texts (she signals with her gripped hand), Ma sahi kehti hai tum apni girlfriends ke saath busy ho shaayad" (hiding her hurt)
"Abhi to hoon" he smiles gloriously
"Not funny"
"I went to Dad's office"
The waiter arrives with their hors d'oeuvres.....
"How can we remain friends?" she is direct and to the point
Sorry? (busy serving her, so is startled to hear that)
"I am told we must remain friends" "I have 1500 on FB and 88 on Twitter I have enough" she rambled on about how she didnt need him as a friend "I talk with you 4 times a day, I guess that is a friend"
He chews and nibbles listening to her.......
"Is that fish?" she asks knowingly
"Hmm" he smiles
He points to her food with his eyes........."I ate a BIG lunch, we made Aurin blow 14k in House of Ming today, not a good Birthday I tell you. Only 7 from work could go for mine, so I got off easy. Poor Aurin, but it was a blast......."
When is yours?" he looked at her face like it were some art sculpture
"April 18th" she taps on the table happily like clapping............. "older and wiser and more drunk than before"
"Should we get married on that day?" he asked, and watched her clutch the table's edge, he could feel her other hand tremble under his grip.... as she breathed audibly..