Kismet's Odyssey

-THREE-

The ring of the phone could not be heard over the din of the morning sounds in the house. There was the work-out music blasting from the television, pressure cooker whistle from the kitchen and drone of the water pump from the back yard. Miloni jerked open her eyes when her brother yelled, “Mili, call for you!”

She frowned and checked the time. It was only seven in the morning. Who the hell was calling at this hour on a Sunday? None of her friends would dare to call her this early, that too on a holiday. Stretching her arms, she pulled an oversized T-shirt over her slip and sauntered to the living room. Why would the i***t not call on her mobile and instead call on the landline phone? Her brother who was working out, turned down the volume of the television. He gave her a teasing smile and to her annoyance, waited right behind her.

“Hello!”

“Hi Miloni!  Tuhin here, sorry to have woken you up so early.”

Miloni turned to look at her brother and he shrugged, pretending to work out.

“It is ok. What do you want?” her question sounded sharp and her brother looked askance at her.

“There is an invite from the neighbouring town for a swimming competition in their district club. Would you be interested in coming with me?”

Miloni regarded the instrument with a puzzling scowl and then questioned, “You want me to participate in the event?”

“No no… I am inviting you to come with me as spectator. When I got the invite, I remembered you telling me about your interest in swimming so I thought I would ask you if you are interested...” Tuhin left the sentence hanging.

Miloni was dumbfounded. Her brother gave her an amused look. He probably heard Tuhin’s invite and mouthed, “Date?”

Miloni didn’t know if it was a date but she was curious.

“Miloni, you there?” Tuhin asked.

“Yep, I am here. What time is the event?” She couldn’t have known that Tuhin bumped his fist in the air excitedly at her question.

“I will pick you up around 2.30!”

Miloni began, “My address...”

“I know your address. I will be there, bye Miloni! See you!” Tuhin ended the call and Miloni glanced at her brother in puzzling surprise. Her brother Rishi chuckled, “Quite a fast worker he is! Where is he taking you?”

Miloni made a face and replied, “Some swimming competition in Katni.”

“Enjoy! By the way what is his name?” her brother tried to make the question casual but Miloni knew that both her brothers kept track of the boys she dated. Rolling her eyes, she replied, “Tuhin!”

                                                   **************

“Are you serious? He is taking you on a date i***t! Wear something nice,” Sherry advised on the group call.

“I am telling you, he is going to ask you out again today,” Nithya reiterated for the nth time

“It is a sports event. I can’t be wearing a dress there,” Miloni remarked, while looking through the dresses in her wardrobe.

“She is right! I think jeans and a nice top, that yellow top you have Mili. Wear that!” Ajitha suggested, others echoing her.

Thanking her friends for the advice, Miloni got ready for the outing. She pondered about Tuhin’s mode of transport. How was he going to take her? Thankfully her parents had left home for a get together with friends. Only her brothers and she were at home. If her parents had been present, they would have quizzed Tuhin and asked him to drop her back early and also would have taken his phone number. At least, her brothers would do it with discretion.

Tuhin arrived in a cab. Katni was an hour from Kymore by road and on a weekend, it would take them just forty-five minutes to reach. Tuhin wore a light jacket over his shirt and jeans. He got out of the cab as Miloni came out of the house. Her brothers watched him from the window of the living room.

“Hi Miloni!”

“Hi!”

Miloni did not know that Tuhin drew his gaze away from her face with difficulty. She had left her wild curls open and her eyes were the only ones that were taken care of. They looked smoky with dark kohl and the yellow string necked top highlighted her creamy shoulder. The blue jeans that she wore enhanced her curvy figure.

Once they settled down in the cab, Miloni regarded Tuhin critically. He was dressed to impress.

“I am sorry for disturbing you in the morning. I didn’t know you were asleep,” he apologised recalling her sleepy voice.

“It is alright. I am not a morning person,” Miloni added, remembering the teasing she had to endure when her eldest brother got to know about her call and date.

“Was that your brother who answered the phone?”

“Yep, my second brother & he was standing right behind me till you ended the call.”

“Oh!”

“Yeah, that is my brother, he wouldn’t budge even if I tell him that I want privacy.”

“They sound fun,” Tuhin replied and Miloni caught the wistfulness in his tone.

“Do you have brothers or sisters?”

“Nope, single child!”

“You must be having lot of space & room in your life.”

“Too much space! I wouldn’t mind if someone intruded on my privacy. I am left alone to cope with my loneliness most of the time,” Tuhin sounded cold and distant.

He turned his face away to look at the passing scenery. Miloni regarded him thoughtfully. She considered the possibility of him trying to gain her sympathy by depicting himself as a lonely child. But she dismissed the thought, taking account of the earnestness on his face.

Miloni changed the topic and they began to chat about everything under the sun. They apprised each other about their favourite book, favourite movie and even their favourite star. By the time they reached the club in Katni, they had grown comfortable with each other, the initial awkwardness had vanished. The indoor stadium in the club was bustling with activity when they took their seats in one of the front rows.

“This is quite a crowd for such a minor event,” Miloni observed, reflecting on why she had been clueless about such a competition.

“It is not minor. They would select winners from this tournament for district championships. How come you don’t know about this? If you want to take up swimming as your career, you have to know about such events.”

“Yes, you are right. But swimming is a distant dream for me. I don’t know how focussed I am to pursue it,” Miloni murmured, realizing the truth at the moment. She contemplated on her goals. What did she want to become?

A national swimming champion? No way! Champions practice from a very young age whereas she started learning only from the age of ten. Also, to become champion, one had to be very fixated on the goal. She was more interested in wading in the water than beating the next swimmer.

While Tuhin got her a bowl of chips, the race began and Tuhin and Miloni enjoyed every minute of the game. Tuhin took a selfie and posted it on i********:, captioning it as “Nothing can beat this moment!”

They cheered their favourite contestant in the next round. Clapping and hooting, they were thrilled when the contestant won. Post the event, they walked to a nearby restaurant for dinner. Tuhin had clasped her fingers and he didn’t let go of them even when they waited for their food.

While they sat on the bar stool and sipping their drink, Tuhin asked, “Miloni, are you free tomorrow?”

Miloni glanced at him suspiciously and asked, “Are you asking me out on date Tuhin?”

Without hesitation, Tuhin grimaced, “Yes, I am asking you out on a date. What do you think I was doing during the vacation?”

Miloni frowned, “Meaning what?”

“How to muster enough courage to ask the most popular and prettiest girl in the school for a date! I have been keeping busy by reading up all the articles on the subject!” Tuhin answered with a straight face and Miloni gawked at him. Then a slow smile lit up her face and she laughed playfully. Tuhin was ensnared by her charm and his gaze roved over her face with loving detail.

“So are you free?” Tuhin asked holding his breath tightly. He crossed his fingers under the table. Miloni nodded cheerfully and he curbed the elation that threatened to burst out.

As they stepped out of the restaurant, a bike whizzed past them and they stared at it. Miloni espied the bike but it was not the one she had been searching for. Tuhin exclaimed,” Good god! What a mean beast!”

Miloni shot a look at Tuhin’s face. He seemed arrested by the beauty of the bike that was disappearing from their view swiftly.

“Do you like bikes?” Miloni asked him breathlessly.

“I love them!”

“Do you own one?”

Tuhin glanced at her then and their gazes froze in a lock. He caressed her chin gently with the tip of his finger, “You are so beautiful!” His murmur was lost in the kiss he dropped on her soft lips.

Miloni drew back abruptly and he leaned away from her with embarrassment. Miloni realized that he had not answered her question. Was the biker Tuhin?

Astonished by the discovery, an enthralled Miloni hugged the thought to herself.