Mahi's POV
"All good things begin from the worst of times..."
This quote is written on the wall on my right and leaves me wondering how can it be true.
"That which doesn't kills you, makes you stronger..."
This quote is written right next to the previous one and answers my question. Being stronger than yesterday is a good thing.
This place is charismatic, not in an elegant way but in a way that once you enter through those dark wooden doors, you want to stay inside. It's just that cool. One wall inside here is completely covered in graffiti and various quotes. Other walls are cream coloured with amazing posters of classic Bollywood movies hanging on one wall on the left of the entrance. We are sitting on the right corners and the main entrance is in my view and the night sky is my view from the window. The sky has been stormy since I noticed it tonight. I like to look at the sky. As a kid, Dad used to take me to the terrace and tell me that the only thing we humans have in common is nature. Nature must be admired, he used to say. We have one sky and the air we breathe keeps moving, the water we drink keeps flowing. They cannot be confined in small places. They need their own space. Sky gives shelter to the homeless without even asking. 'Be like nature, uncontrollable, unconfined, most beautiful by just being how it was created' he said to me. I've been trying to do the same. Dad just forgot what he asked me to do.
"If you want, I can order?" Chris asks softly, breaking my trance.
"Yeah sure."
He doesn't say anything, just smiles and calls the waiter. An Asian guy appears in front of our table and Chris orders for both of us and I'm surprised when he asks for 'Dal makhni and tandoori roti'. The part where I can't control my laughter is when he says 'Makkhan maarke laiyo' in that american accent, it's cute and funny at the same time.
"What?" He says chuckling, "I know I didn't say it wrong, ok. So don't try to fool me!"
He winks and I laugh louder. "You're adorable." I tell him.
"I know a lot about Indian food." He says proudly.
"Really, what's most popular dish of Punjab?" I ask him smirking.
"Makki Di roti and sarson da saag. I've eaten that a lot."
"Whoa! I'm impressed."
Chris nods smirking and asks if I want something else. I shake my head and continue to finish my plate. My appetite is negligent at the moment but I know my stomach needed food so I should eat a little.
"So, where are you from basically?" Chris asks taking a big bite of chapati. I almost laugh at him until I realise, I'm doing the same. I take big bites of food when I'm anxious and try to finish it as fast as possible.
"Chaniya, it's a village near Jalandhar. You wouldn't find it on Google maps." I tell him, "I did my schooling from Jalandhar. I wanted to become a doctor so I left my native place and went to Delhi for MBBS."
"You're quite the passionate one in your family, huh?" He asks.
"That quality runs in my genes. My daddy started his business from scratch. My grandparents were broke after the India-Pakistan partition. He built the foundation of Chopra travels. My brother has literally doubled the business in the last six years. My mother worked her ass of to get her three younger brothers and one younger sister settled. You see, I'm no different." Chris looks amazed as I tell him the story of my family.
"Now it's my turn to be impressed." He says and we both chuckle a laugh.
As I'm about to ask him something about himself, a lean and tall guy comes and stands beside our table. "Chris! Long time no see!" He says.
The guy is a Sikh, he's wearing a red turban and white kurta pajama. His best feature is the smile he wears, which screams that 'I'm the owner of this restaurant'. It's very welcoming.
"I was here last week Lucky paaji!" Chris tells him. Lucky paaji. My eyes aren't believing what they are seeing. First, Chris speaks much more Hindi or should I say Punjabi than I expected. Second, he looks amazing when he says something like that. Third, how did I find such a nice guy. I don't know where my thoughts are trying to wander but...
"You can't blame me. I had to come and introduce myself to the pretty lady here." Lucky says looking at me and I smile, putting aside my thoughts for awhile.
"Sat sri akal ji. I'm Mahi." I introduce myself.
"Sat sri akal ji, jee ayan nu!" He replies with a bright smile, possibly because of being greeted in Punjabi. "Where are you from in India?" He asks.
"Chaniya, near Jalandhar." I reply.
"Ohhoo... I'm from Jalandhar too. That's where I met Chris for the first time, when he first visited India. He's been a fan of my cooking since. When did you come here?" He continues. I knew I didn't have to ask him about himself. That's a trait all Punjabi's inherit. We don't need anyone to begin a conversation. We can start a conversation, continue it by ourselves and end it by ourselves too.
"A month ago. I'm a psychiatrist." I tell him.
"Oh paagalon ke doctor ho... Very good!" Lucky exclaims and turns to look at Chris before I can respond to him.
"This was your business in India. Now I get it. How long have you two been together?" Lucky asks both of us but I don't get it. What is he referring to?
"It's nothing like that. I have a job which needs travelling and you know it and Mahi is just a friend. Ask her." Chris tells Lucky and both men look at me, waiting for an answer and I stare at them.
"What are you guys talking about?" I reply confused.
"Lucky thinks you're my girlfriend and you are the reason why I travel so much to India. Whenever I go there, he gives me some presents for his family which I give them. So he knows I travel a lot." Chris explains.
"Oh... Oh my god... It's nothing like that. We just met today." I try to clear the confusion.
"I don't believe you by the way. But I've got work to do. So I'll see you later." Lucky says and begins to leave when Chris stops him and takes out his wallet, to pay the bill I guess. But lucky pushes his hand back and takes the bill which the waiter placed here moments ago and leaves.
"He didn't let you pay the bill?" I say to myself more than Chris.
"He does that sometimes. Today it was because of you. But I save his courier money now and then, so it's fine." Chris tells me stifles a laugh.
We leave the restaurant and I feel like I'm leaving home again. But a smile is plastered on my face which is going to stay there. I know a wonderful Punjabi restaurant here now.
"You liked the dinner?" Chris asks me as we get up and walk outside, towards his car.
"It was the best dinner I had in the last month." I exclaim happily and he looks relieved.
"I have some clothes of my sister at my place. They should fit you. She keeps them at my place so whenever she fights with her boyfriend she just have to leave without packing."
"You too are very close?"
"Yeah. I have two sisters actually. Kate, eldest one, is married and Chelsea, youngest one, isn't. We are all very close."
"That's good." I smile, missing my own brother now. I wonder how he'll react when he'll find out about my situation.
"It will take 20 minutes till we reach my place. Would you like to listen to some music?"
"I don't mind." I say as he plays the song.
I recognize the song, thinking out loud, by Ed sheeran. I lean forward to turn the volume up, so does Chris, which I didn't notice until his hand touches mine and in fractions of second, our eyes meet. His gaze fixed on mine, blue orbs piercing my black ones. It feels as if he's tied me with a string, a force is present which won't let me stir. Suddenly Ed Sheeran's voice flows in the car. I'm unaware who turned the volume up...
And, darling, I will be loving you 'til we're 70
And, baby, my heart could still fall as hard at 23
And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just the touch of a hand
Well, me - I fall in love with you every single day
And I just wanna tell you I am...
The RJ speaks in between, "This song was only to send a message to the love birds out there. Hopefully they caught on to it." I look down and then back into his eyes. Chris doesn't look away so I leave his gaze first and look out the window and rest my head on the door, wind blowing my hair, soothing my mind and I close my eyes, for the first time, letting destiny takeover...
So honey now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are
When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades
And the crowds don't remember my name
When my hands don't play the strings the same way (mmm...)
I know you will still love me the same
'Cause honey your soul could never grow old, it's evergreen
And, baby, your smile's forever in my mind and memory
I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe it's all part of a plan
Well, I'll just keep on making the same mistakes
Hoping that you'll understand...
******
[Thanks for reading guys. It means a lot to me. Continue reading. I'm always open to suggestions. Share, vote, comment. :):) Next update will be Tuesday most probably. ]