Dil, Dosti, Dreams – A Perfect Date !

A Date !!  I never been on date before. Neha mused.

She had watched her friends getting excited to go on a date -  parlour visits, silky smooth hair, dash of makeup, shopping for the best attire -  is this some kind of a life changing event ?

Neha always used to think :)  Now when she had an invite, she seemed lost -  never been a “lots-a-makeup person “, never tried to smoothen her unruly curls, loved to wear her jean n tee - What do I do now? Neha was brooding.

"Look your best beautiful, it’s your first date with Adi .  Be ready to get pampered with roses, chocolates and gifts, dinner by the lake “ . Mira gave her two bit gyan on the looks and the dress to wear before she left .

"Hey Neha, I need to go for the jamming rehearsals, will have you picked you up from your place once I am thru .  Adi’s message .

"That’s fine Adi . Will wait for you " Neha replied.

Neha stood before her wardrobe to choose a perfect dress for the occasion as she wondered that in all these meets with Adi she never thought so much about her appearance. She chose a wide necked black dress and teamed it with matching shoes. She let her hair curls be, no time to set it now.

Finally, when she got dressed one last look at the mirror  -  not bad, she thought ! As she waited for Adi to arrive it was a feeling of anxiety, happiness, nervousness  !

Relationship with Adi is blossoming into a fascinating level and it takes  mutual efforts  to make something flourish - these thoughts flashed through her mind. Text from Adi said that he’s on his way and sorry that he kept her waiting . Neha was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn’t realize the time has zoomed by.

She answered the doorbell  after a while, Adi walked in saying “ So sorry to keep you waiting, got late at the rehearsals “. He gave her a hug  and  kept his guitar and his backpack on the couch.

Why does he have to look so attractive ?  His perfume smelled good too.  Neha’s  mind went  blank, she was nervous and it showed on her face .

Adi was looking at her lovingly. Standing with  me is  the most beautiful girl, She looked different from the usual  Jean- tee attire.  Her simple black dress with a gold belt, her hair  was being blown by the wind as she was trying to keep it off her face. Thru the curls that brushed her face, he saw her sparkling  brown eyes  that could light up the world and soft red lips which he had an instant urge to kiss. My Princess !

Time stood still for a while and then they realized that they were staring at each other and felt silly .

Let me get some coffee for you, Neha said.  

That will be great, Adi followed her to the dining room as he continued speaking “Neha, it’s too late to move out  now, can we have our dinner here itself ? I ordered some food to be delivered  here. Am sorry again for being late .

If Neha felt dejected, she didn’t let that show.  She said “  Adi, don’t be sorry, tell me how did the rehearsals go ?

“It was good, it’s a concert of the Top 5 performers,  2 weeks from now, my dream concert “ Adi sounded positive and relaxed . He was anxious as to how Neha would react on his being late and not going out for dinner. But Neha put him at ease and he loved her for that.

As the food arrived, Adi said “ Hey let us set up a candle light dinner table here. Just get me some candles as he got the small round table and the chairs set. Neha got him candles. As they lit them, Adi looked at Neha as whispered  “ You look gorgeous, Neha . There’s just one thing that’s missing !”

Missing !!! It took me an hour to dress up, Neha wanted to tell him but didn’t. She just looked at Adi wondering how to react to his comment.

Adi continued to speak as he stood beside her, his face close to hers and said …”Your Smile , its missing “

Neha’s  couldn’t take her eyes off him. He looked awesome in a Jean and the Blue tee. She realized that her DATE anxiety must have masked her smile, yet she looked into eyes, poked his face with her finger and said “ So, you are a magician right, just get my Smile back “

“I would do whatever it takes to see you smile, my princess !  “ Adi said .

“Oh really, Why?” Neha asked him teasingly .                                                                               

Adi held her close and said, “Because you look even more beautiful when you smile.”                 

Let me try some magic, Adi said as they sat on the couch sipping the coffee.  He picked his guitar, as he strummed and sang …

No one else for me, its only you for me

With you, my life found meaning and glee

Love u for sharing each day of ours

My nites are filled with your thoughts

I wake up in the mornings seeing u smile

Thank you for walking along in the journey of life

You are the source of light on my sunset days

My depressing moments melts in your eyes maze

I don’t wanna imagine my life without you

Its been a long and happy journey with u

And I want to tell you my beautiful girl

No one else for me , its only you ….

Neha had this huge urge to hug him and say you make me feel so so  special … all she managed was “ you play & sing awesome , Adi “

Adi pulled her close and spoke softly  “ The Smile … its back  “   Do you recollect ,when we first met at CCD  it’s the smile that connected us !

His lips pressed lightly against hers, his hands caressed her neck, slowing sliding up to her flushed cheek. She could feel the intense warmth radiating off her. As she kissed him, it seemed like a kiss of affection, deep passion, from both their hearts, lingering as if this  moment  didn’t  want to end.

Rest of the evening was blissful togetherness as they talked, laughed, shared food, more music and lots of loving moments. It was the best time of their lives, felt nostalgic too as they looked back at the journey that was started a few months ago .

Come let me take you for a ride, Adi said .  Neha had no clue where he was taking her, she was just happy that she was with him. She held him close as he zoomed the bike. Stopped at Marine Drive, walked along the Queens Necklace holding hands watching the waves. Yeah, what a night !! Loved each atom of the experience !!

Adi stopped in front of  the NCPA (national centre for the performing arts)  and took her inside the auditorium. The place beautiful, vast and empty,  effortlessly combined the intimate ambience of a small-scale venue with the splendour of a full-scale arena. A revolving stage, brilliant acoustics and a foyer with a scenic view of the sea, Mumbai's preferred venue for concerts.

Adi took Neha to the centre of the stage and said  “2 weeks from now I would have my performance here. It’s a make or break situation for me . My parents  have been too patient and kind enough to let me explore my musical journey  and I can’t afford to fail at this point. Like all other parents, they would have loved their son to have a steady job and income yet they let me  take  the risk.

You breezed into my life  gave me that impetus to go on and make my dream possible. When I perform here, I know this place will have thousands of people but my eyes will be focused on just one person for whom I will sing and that’s you. I may win or I may lose – but today as we speak and I am almost on the brink of success – I wanted to share my feelings with you. I asked you for a date which I know is not a “ romantic date “ as most people would have, but  to share with you my dreams & fears and to tell you that I love you for  being with me in this journey .

All I have today is my music and my love for you . When all my dreams cum true, the one I want next to me is you … Yes you  !

Neha was amazed at Adi’s straightforwardness yet the way he made it sound so endearing. She held his hands and said “  We will make it happen “. The sea, the stars were silent witness to their sense of belonging .

Mira was pacing up the room seeing the changed ambience and waited for Neha ‘s return to hear the DATE story. Neha walked in with a huge grin and hugged Mira . “Hey Neha, how was your dream date, where did you all go and where are the roses & chocolates ?  “  

“Look at me Mira, how could you miss this huge smile on my face. It’s not always about the place, roses and chocolates  – its the time that you spent with the person that matters, how you make each other feel matters “  said Neha and she shared the events  that happened . “Yes, Neha ..It doesn’t matter where you are going , its who you have beside you counts “  Mira sighed happily .

Intimacy is who you speak about your dreams & fears. It is also about giving someone attention when many other people are asking for it. It is the person always in the back of your mind, no matter how distracted you are!

Adi was in heaven in Neha’s care and friendship.  All he wanted now was give his best performance and make it a  success ….

Will he make it or ?.......