LIFE.... AS IT COMES (CHAPTER 11)

“So, Danny how’s your work going?”

“Ryan, you won’t believe it! Danny has just bought himself a car!”

“I presume I asked Danny and not you Tam. And anyway didn’t you already have a car before, Danny?”

“Yeah but that was an alto. This is a Honda City! Isn’t it great?”

“TAM! Am talking to Danny! Not you. So please shut up and let this poor man speak for god’s sake!” shouted Ryan.

Seeing Tam’s downcast face, Danny began laughing and patted her back soothingly.

“It’s ok Tammy! You can speak all you want! I know you get a trifle excited when am around and I really don’t mind. But let me answer the questions ok?” he said while Tam cheered up considerably.

“Yeah Ryan work is great actually. The restaurant is shaping up pretty well, you know. It’s amazing you see. I just invested in this shack and hired some professional cook and few staff. And right now you are looking at the owner of the biggest restaurant in Chandigarh! We have planned to open up branches. Actually even as we speak the new branch in Kolkata is being set up. Work is nearly done and I have been summoned to finalize the deal and spend some quality time with my pixie out here!” said Danny as he touched Tam’s nose lovingly.

Ryan looked at them and then very deliberately motioned towards them with his head while smirking at Sheila and Kunal. Though Kunal immediately made a face and turned away, Sheila did narrow her eyes in suspicion.

“Speaking of the restaurant, I have an offer to make.” Danny announced.

“Oh! This is so exciting!” gushed Tam.

“Sssshhhh..... Tam you mustn’t let the cat out of the bag. Okay Sheila how would you like to be the head chef in my new restaurant?” asked Danny, as Sheila looked on awed.

“Oh! Wow!” was all she could say.

“Ummm something more explicit?” urged Ryan

“Yeah yeah thanks so much Danny. Of course I accept! Oh my god! This is great! What do I have to do?” she asked.

“Yeah well there is an interview tomorrow be at my office, Tam will take you, at 11 sharp. That’s all!” Danny said.

After sometime when Danny was in Tam’s room Ryan plopped himself between Sheila and Kunal.

“Now, say what do you think?”

“Hmmmmm” chorused Sheila and Kunal.

“Don’t you think something is surely up?” Ryan asked eagerly.

“Sure do. Very weird though. They never behave like this. What happened?” Kunal wondered.

“I think they just discovered the joy of having casual sex in a platonic relationship.” Ryan concluded.

“Ryan! No! Yuck! Please! I think they just realized that they love each other!” Sheila said.

“Know what guys?” Ryan asked a naughty tinge to his voice.

“What?” came in chorus.

“Let’s eavesdrop!”

There was a scramble as the three of them fought as to who would reach the door before. Eventually Sheila won the keyhole, Ryan to listen at the door and Kunal got the gap under the door.

They strained all their senses to listen but after few seconds of murmuring all they heard was silence.

“Hey! I can’t hear anything!” whispered Ryan.

“I can’t see anything.” Sheila wailed.

“Maybe they are kissing?” wondered Kunal.

All of them started eavesdropping with doubled vigor when the door was suddenly yanked open.

“What in the name of god are you guys doing here?” Tam asked of them.

“Oh! Hey hi Tam! Just wanted to knock. All of us. To call you. And Danny. You know. To dinner. Sorry. I mean lunch. Stupid of me.” Fumbled Ryan.

“All of you were about to knock? Then why is Sheila on her knees?” asked Tam more suspiciously.

“Oh! I fell over Kunal!” Sheila exclaimed.

“And what is Kunal doing on the floor may I know?” Tam’ voice rose.

“I lost my keys. So. Was searching here.” Kunal declared.

“You lost your keys outside my door?” Tam asked.

“No. But I thought it would be good if I searched here.” Said Kunal.

“And why is THAT?” Tam asked bewildered.

“Because everybody else was here already.”