Chapter 11: Fairy Lights
1489 Words
"Where are we going?" Matt asked again. He liked being in control, always.
As predicted, Lisa loved the musical. He tried not to gasp when she came down the stairs in a black dress and heels. The dress clung to her curves, and while it didn't reveal much skin, it was enough to pique Matt's interest."You don’t like not being in control, do you?" Lisa said.
"I am in business. It is second nature to be in control of things."
"Well, maybe you should relax a little and go with the flow. You never know, you might see things that you would otherwise have missed! " Lisa said.
"Like what ?" Matt asked curiously.
Lisa stopped in front of Matt. "How many times have you been down this road?"
"What?" Matt asked, confused.
"This street, how many times have you been down it? Ten? Twenty? " Lisa asked.
"Well, it is the main street, so probably more than that."
"Well, have you ever seen the street cats?" Lisa asked.
"The street cats?"
"Kind of…look up!" Lisa said, and Matt did. It took him a while, but he finally saw a cat perched on a ledge, two floors up. Matt saw there were, in fact, two statues of cats. The other one looked like it was climbing up the wall and was painted black.
It had been decorated with fairy lights, a sign that it was well-loved by the community. "They were done by a local artist a long time ago. There are cats all over this area in various styles."
"I never noticed them before!" Matt admitted.
"Why would you? You are always rushing around, trying to control things. Sometimes, you just need to relax and look around. Come on, you don’t know what I had to do to get the table, " Lisa said as she grabbed his hand and began to drag him. Matt felt sparks race up his arm at her touch. He had to stop the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her.
After five minutes, Lisa pulled him down a small alleyway. There was a small doorway, and without hesitation, she went through it. "Lisa?" Matt asked as he walked through. He was suddenly blinded by a multitude of lights. Matt looked up to see thousands of different fairy lights hanging from the ceiling, giving a soft light. It should have been tacky, but it was charming and almost magical.
"Ahhh Jaata, It is so good to see you. It has been too long! " An old Indian woman said as she squeezed Lisa’s cheeks with her hands.
"I am so sorry, I have been busy with work," Lisa said, through squeezed cheeks.
"I know! Mama Prisha knows how hard you work. But you need to have fun too and find a man who will treat you like a goddess." Mama Prisha said.
"That is what I keep saying!" Matt said, and Mama Prisha looked her way.
"What is this? Jaata brings a man to my restaurant? Please tell me this is a date! " Mama Prisha said.
"Yes, I suppose it is," Lisa said, blushing.
"Thank the Gods! Finally, Jaata has brought a man to me! Do you know how long I waited? I was even thinking of setting you up with my cousin's child. He is a dentist, you know. I was hoping when you said it was the two of you, but then I thought it might be Emily. As sweet as she is, I said to myself that Jaata is not getting any younger and she needs a man. Then, like a miracle, you come along with a very nice looking man! Oh, I must tell Yash, but let me take you to your table first, " Mama Prisha said as she led them to a table. Lisa said, "Sorry," as they weaved in and out of seats. They were taken to a hidden grotto outside that had fairy lights hanging from a pergola. The seating and tables themselves were wooden, with a candle in the centre.
"Please, sit. I will send Samesh over. He will be dying to see you! " Prisha said as she handed them two menus. "I will bring some starters over, and don’t worry Jaata, Yash has your favourite on standby!"
Prisha walked away, and Matt said, "This place is.."
"Tacky?" Lisa expected him to say.
"No, enchanting was what I was going to say."
Lisa's smile filled her face, and it reminded Matt of the midday sun. "I think that too! It is like a magical fairyland that you step into. When I feel down, I come there and I instantly feel happier. How could you not? "
"I completely agree," said Matt, as a young teenager came running over.
"Samesh! How are you? " Lisa said and signed. Matt suddenly realised that she had probably taught Samesh and that was how she knew the family. Before turning to Matt, Samesh was signing with Lisa. He signed, obviously trying to be polite. "Sorry, he does not sign. His name is Matt, and he is pleased to meet you too!’" Lisa said and signed.
"I am sorry," Matt said, determined to get Simon to teach him some basic signs.
"No worries, he just presumed because you are with me. What would you like to drink? " Lisa asked.
"Do you like Cobra beers?" Matt asked.
"Yes, I do. Do you know what you want to eat? " Lisa asked. Matt was going to order, but remember what she said about being in control.
"I'll leave you to it; you've been here before and know what you're doing!"
"Wow! I am impressed. OK, well, you are in for a treat. Can we have rava fried fish, house fish curry, Rava fried bread, and your prawn curry? Of course, we will have Bebinca. Oh, and cucumber yoghurt side. " Lisa said and signed.
"That is quite a meal!"
"Trust me, it is worth it. They are Goan descendants, and they perform culinary magic in their kitchen! " Lisa explained enthusiastically.
"I do, you know," Matt said softly as he leaned forward and slowly began to caress Lisa’s hand. He mentally smiled as he could see her cheeks becoming flushed. "So, no matter how much you try and hide it, you do feel the connection!" Matt thought happily.
"Do what?" Lisa asked.
"Trust you, Lisa."
"Then you are a fool!"
"Why?"
Lisa was about to answer when Samesh came with two glasses of cobra beer, popadoms, and some dips. "Thank you, Samesh! Shall we talk about something else? "
"OK, so tell me about Emily," Matt asked.
"Well, she is my adoptive younger sister, and she is a typical teenager. She is at college studying Maths, Physics, Chemistry, and Statistics."
"Wow, she is smart!"
"Very! Do you have any brothers or sisters? " Lisa said, as she noticed his face dropping slightly.
"I have one brother, but we don’t speak anymore."
"That is sad. I am so sorry. " Lisa said genuinely.
I am not. Sometimes, it is best to part ways with people," said Matt, as plates of food were placed on the table. "This is incredible!"
"I know, try this fish!" Lisa said as she cut some fish and gently placed it in Matt’s mouth. Matt's mouth was filled with an explosion of flavour. "Good, right? It is rava fried fish. They cooked it with ginger, garlic, and red chillies. "
"Whatever it is, it is simply divine!" Matt said as they both ate happily, talking about the musical they had just seen. Matt could not remember the last time he laughed so much, and he said so when pudding was put in front of them.
"This is Bebinca and is my absolute favourite! It is sixteen layers of coconut buttery cake goodness. You are lucky that I am sharing this secret with you, "Lisa said, as he looked down at the pudding. Mama Prisha had shrewdly given them one plate and two forks. "Here, try it," Lisa said as she put a forkful in his mouth.
"That is... indescribable. Now, am... let me feed you, Amoreco."
"No, that is not necessary!" Lisa said, blushing as Matt held a piece of cake in front of her.
"Even birds, amoreco, allow their partners to feed them. So, open wide," Matt ordered, and he was surprised when she obeyed. Lisa opened her mouth, and Matt tenderly put the cake in. "See, that was not so bad, was it?"
"No, I suppose I am just not used to …this." Lisa is said to be trying to ignore the squeals of delight from Mama Prisha in the background.
"Well, you are going to get used to some care for you, because I am not going anywhere."
"Really?" Lisa asked.
Really, Matt swore, and as he said it, Lisa’s heart began to fill with hope.
- Writer
