Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Sneha looking at Raj "Isn't there a Car older than this."

Raj giggles.

Sneha replies, "I'm serious. I won't take responsibility."

"I won't let you ride also!"

"What, how am I supposed to learn then?"

"Hey pigeon, stop hopping on my car. Fly away. I am going on a ride with my Sneha..."

"You are not going on a ride with me. You are going to teach me to ride."

"Yes, ok fine! Let's find a ground first. Today you will only observe and listen to what I teach."

The car is parked near the entrance of the open ground. As we look at the inside of the car through the window, we see Raj explaining the car riding stuff to Sneha.Sneha is recalling the lessons, "Ok, so this is gear. And how to pull it?"

Raj tries to interrupt her, "Sneha..."

Sneha responds, "Yes, tell. How to pull, when to pull?"

"Sneha, don't you feel, like a little at least, weird to call me with my name. Like the shy thing."

"What? What's wrong with your name..."

Raj is shy, "Like Indian wives feel shy to..."

Sneha gets Irritated, "What wife? Who wife? "

Raj tries to calm her down! "Ok ok, sorry, deviate from the topic. (Looking out the car window). Bhayya, do you have coffee?"

Raj loudly honking the car, he does not want to listen to her scolding.

In a louder and aggressive tone, Sneha says, "You have all such native expectations from me? What do you take these days girls for? And for god's sake, stop that honking, before I get a headache or before everyone hits you."

Raj stops honking, "Ok wait, what did you just say. My expectations from you. Ok, so you are ok with me having expectations from you. Wow! You indirectly said yes. And, you won't be hesitant to call out my name, even as my wife right. Yup, absolutely no issues."

Getting down the car, really happy he adds, "Bhayya, I am treating with Coffee, everyone here. I'm so happy."

Sneha responds, "Hey, I didn't mean that. Wait. I didn't come for Coffee, teach me."Raj walks towards the tea stall, "Habit dear, let me have one cup of coffee! Raj is getting his cup of Coffee and sits beside Sneha on a wooden bench. Sneha just gives a small jerk and gets herself comfortable."

Sneha is upset, "Nothing for me?"

Raj smiles, "I know you don't have the habit of coffee or tea."

Sneha asks, "Bhayya, do you have a Chocolate."

Raj pulls out a bar of chocolate from his pocket, "I have. Hey, every time I drink coffee, you can't have this big bar of chocolate. Ok!"

Sneha responds, "Nothing ever has given me the happiness a bar of chocolate could give. If I find anything soon, I will ditch chocolate. Have I found one?"

Raj again smiles, "Yes, you have. You will break up with chocolate soon. I have no worries about your health now."

Sneha enquires, "Will you break up with Coffee?"

Raj upsets her, "Nope. Coffee is coffee."

Sneha is matured enough to accept that. "Hmmm, you really were very honest. But yeah, be this way, every time. I don't want you to have another face behind my back. By the way, it's a pleasant Thursday, shall we go to Sai Baba temple."

Raj thinks, 'Cool! She is good to me today. Not angry or cranky.'

---X---

Flashback, two years back, at that wedding event. Sneha is done with her dinner and enjoying Chocolate Ice cream. Raj sits beside her.

Raj: Hey, I heard you are leaving tonight itself.

Sneha: Yeah, tonight 11 pm I must catch the train. At least I can sleep tonight. And what to do, Engineering, the very last assessment. Project work and its presentation. That stupid thing had to be tomorrow evening itself.

Raj: Hmmm, unlucky! By the way, you have new flavor ice cream to taste, Sitaphal.

Sneha: Chocolate is chocolate. I took one spoon of Sitaphal ice cream for taste from my mom's cup. I want to fit in the third chocolate cup too! No place for others.

Raj: Such a fan of Chocolate.

Sneha: Love! My current boyfriend! At least until I find a permanent human boyfriend. It's ok, you can laugh, I don't mind.

At the railway station,

Sneha: Mom too busy with other stuff and you end up accompanying me here.

Raj: Absolutely no issues.

The train will be here in 10 mins. Both are sitting on a bench at their respective ends, not looking at each other. Nothing to speak about also. Night silences. It's awkward. Ten minutes pass by.

Raj: I will get you a water bottle.

Sneha: No need, I have one. The train will be here soon! They can hear the train arriving. Raj has a quick question to ask.

Raj: Oh, the train is here. Hey, quick question. Any plans of getting a permanent human boyfriend?

Sneha with a shocked blank face, "No". She picks up her bags and gets onto the train. They don't even wave goodbye to each other.

Raj at the outside, softly "Good night Sneha, but how did I dare ask that off. Is she really driving me crazy", and of course Sneha can't hear that.

Sneha at the inside "I won't be able to sleep tonight also. How dare he. Ok, now, should I confirm he did take my picture or not? Leave Sneha leave. Just proud moments. You are a very happy single. You don't need flirts; you need a partner for a lifetime. If at all he is able to analyze what he feels about you, then we will see".---X---

Thanks for choosing this story. Please vote and comment as you like my works!