LIFE.... AS IT COMES (CHAPTER 6)

“Yeah so this girl comes up to me and says that she would really like my phone number. And I get all excited. My only interaction with her was that she had come to open up an account in the morning. It was nearly closing time. So to be gallant I said that we could discuss the matter of my phone number over a cup of coffee. Or maybe dinner, if she wants. You see I gave her options. So she kind of blushed and smiled at me and said that it was really an exciting offer but actually her husband is in the car and they are going on their honeymoon so it would be really nice if I could give them the number right now then they could be in touch with me over phone.”

As Kunal ended his story, the others were already rolling on the floor with laughter. In the morning all of them had received a frantic call from Kunal saying that a really hot ‘babe’ was giving him the bait and should he bite it. Knowing the result, everybody said yes, expecting Kunal to lose out. And so it happened.

“Man! Kunal you are such a bad womanizer!” laughed Tam.

“Really? Am bad? Why?” he questioned in an innocent voice.

“Well, lets put it this way that you are too innocent and generally tend to miss out on the subtle hints that these sexy sirens generally give.” Explained Ryan.

“Oh! That’s good or bad?” questioned Kunal.

“I love it. Stay the way you are. Your dream girl should love you the way you are!” chirped Sheila happily.

Kunal stole a sly glance at Ryan and Ryan winked at him. The four friends were chilling out after a hard day’s work over beer. A crate was opened at their feet and the cans were fast disappearing.

The radio was playing in the background, and soon George Michael began crooning ‘Careless Whisper’.

“So, Shell you want to dance with me?” said Ryan as he extended his hand towards Sheila.

She colored up but accepted it nevertheless. As Ryan swooped her into his arms, she felt that her dream was coming true. Maybe, just maybe, Ryan liked her. Or else why did he choose her? Even Tam was there, right?

She had expected to drown in the depth of his eyes but hardly the intimate eye contact took place. The dance was graceful but more comfortable. Maybe, she thought, the others were there, and anything out of ordinary would catch their eye. She was planning to nestle close to his chest but then the song ended as suddenly as it had started.

Darn, she thought, as Ryan led her back to where the others were sitting. None of them as much raised an eyebrow. And no comment was passed. Sheila sent a silent prayer upward for saving her from the obvious glares that Suzie gave her at work.

Tam had just opened her mouth to say something to Kunal when her cell began ringing shrilly.

“Cut out that sound! God! It makes me deaf!” shouted Ryan over the din.

“Oh it’s Danny! Be back guys!” said Tam as she jumped up with her cell and rushed into her room to receive the call, locking the door behind her.

“Refresh my memory. Who is this Danny? The last guy who gave her no action?” mused Kunal of the others.

“No. It’s her chuddy buddy Dinesh. Remember? The gut with a goatee who came over to visit her?” explained Sheila.

“Oh! That guy!” Kunal remarked.

Dinesh was Tam’s oldest friend. They had been friends ever since they remembered. They went to the same school and college and lived nearby. But for job Danny went to Punjab whereas Tam stayed back in Kolkata. Tam had no family and Danny’s family was the only family she got.

“Hey! Do you think there could be a scene between these two?” mused Ryan trying to picture Tam as the demure girlfriend worthy of Danny.

“DANNY AND TAM????? Are you nuts? Don’t tell her! She will bust your ass!” Sheila exploded.

“Yeah man! I think if all the women and men in the world died out and only these two were left, still they wouldn’t choose each other.” Commented Kunal shaking his head at the ghastly image in his head.

“Yeah. Not even out of sheer desperation will they ever choose each other. Ryan, for once let a girl and a guy be friends!” said Sheila.

“Guys! The fundamental rule applicable from the time of ADAM and EVE............... ‘A GUY AND A GIRL CAN NEVER BE FRIENDS’!” announced Ryan into the night.