The Day Date:

A day date? An entire day spent as the first date. Something none of us might get the chance to do in this lifetime. But I got to do it and I consider myself very lucky!

Started with an alarming ring tone on my phone, “Wake up you lazy bones, I am here waiting for you!”. I woke up and rushed into the bathroom, doing something some people might not completely call a bath. I stood under the shower as I brushed my teeth and shampooed my hair. I was excited…very excited. This was the guy I liked all my life(from times I don’t quite remember) and he was here, willing to spend an entire day with me.

I wore the most comfortable pair of jeans and the first tee shirt I pulled out of my wardrobe. I didn’t have time to dress for the day-date nor did I care about what I wore. The typical me would have tried a dozen clothes before slipping into the final one. But this was too special to lose out on. I caught the first rickshaw that I saw, suppressing the haggler in me I continued to direct the driver to take me to the bus stand. The place where we had spent school days waiting for buses. I couldn’t wait to hug him but just gave a light chuckle to tease each other of our weights. The headed to the south Indian breakfast joint-Saravana Bhavan. Ordered my favourite aapam and coconut milk. I took out the school photos and we had a nice laugh about it.

We spent one hour eating and talking about our current lives. Though it had changed immensely, it was always open to each other. I had a master plan chalked out in my head but there was no time to implement it. Too short a notice. I wanted to cook for him and go on a picnic but ended up just shopping at Spencer’s Daily. A loaf of brown bread, a packet of cheese slices and a huge chips packet. We had this and an entire day.

We took the bus to a sea side point from where the sea, the forest and some sand are visible. The journey was 2 hours and we spoke about so many things, constantly hinting to how much we miss each other. We were kids back then and there was no one to talk about right and wrong. Now we were older but life had taken away our chances. We spoke about life, the past, his friends, my friends, my work, his work and our ambitions in life. As we spoke, we realised why we had not ever got a chance to be together. We reached the scenic spot and I spread my bed sheet. We sat down and spoke more about our lives. How politics on his end worked and what hobbies he had. I spoke nothing. I was amazed at how much he could talk. I didn’t know this side to him all these years.

I was facing the sea and he was facing me. After a couple of hours of non stop talking, we decided we needed a break and so I made the sandwiches. He liked the cheese at the corner of the sandwich , so he can eat the best part last. Well…I was praying god would keep the best of the day to the end. I guess my prayer was answered! I was sure he was in love with me still because I could see it in his eyes. Many years back he told me that he cannot accept love into his life because he was on earth for a reason. I wondered what kind of mission it was. I was 15 and I knew no end to imagination. I thought he was a secret agent, but wondered why he couldn’t have me as family.

After 6 hours of sweet nothings, we decided to hit the road and head back to the city. I am bad at crossing roads but not as bad as a child that needs to hold an adult. I gripped on to his hand as we made it to the other side. I wished life was so simple. I prayed I could have him through thick and thin to hold me and help me cross all my lifes paths. We reached the city and went to the restaurant where I had made dinner reservations. Crimson Chakra. I entered the place and folded my jeans. We both had a table in the middle of a beautiful pool. What could be better? He was right in front of me and there was water all around. An artificial cascade in the background as well.

I felt like I was pulled out of a romantic movie. We ordered food just to give us an excuse to be there. We were playing in the water and there was no feeling in my 23yrs that could beat that. After 2 hours of playing and eating, he pulled my notepad and scribbled in something that made life different. “I love you forever. Thank you for this beautiful day”. We paid and left. We took an auto and he asked me if he could hold my hand. It was beautiful. A kiss on my palm had never felt better. We reached my stop holding together our hands. I got off and decided I might never see him again, so climbed over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. There ended my date with the boy from my past....who had not much in my future. We parted ways and hardly met...but that day was THE BEST!