Chapter 2 : Date or No Date

A/N : Keeping in mind the year when they actually meet usage of Whats App, or online booking are not shown. Names of one or more telecom service provider is/are changed. *warning* some language might be unsuitable, used as required and will be used as and when required.

DATE or NO DATE.

“Hey ! Hi !” it was Ram who called Priya, waiting for public transport, to get back home. The black SUV halted by her, the black glass slid open revealing the face of the speaker. “May I drop you back?” he asked chivalrously. Priya has successfully completed one week and two days in her new company. She was trying to cope up with the situations and acting accordingly also. Last weekend she was praised by the CEO, during the morning meetings. Her interaction with Ram was very limited and those were strictly professional. Asking her  for lift sounded pretty awkward to her, “Sir, I think you are going this side.” Priya said pointing to the direction to which the vehicle stands, “and I am going opposite. I will manage but thank you for asking.”

“Priya please get in I really need to talk to you.” Ram quiet irritatingly said to her, probably the first lady who turned down his offer “Please. Trust me this is professional only.”

Priya thought for a while and accepting his proposal she sat on the front seat. Fastening the seat belt she looked at Ram who took a U turn from the first traffic after they left the bus stop. “Priya as you know, this is Priyanka’s last week with us. So we decided to organize a surprise party for her. Even her fiancé is dropping here so we thought of giving her a grand farewell and surprise her too. I wanted to talk with you in this matter only.” Ram said with a smile, “And as a successor to her you must be present there.”

“That’s a beautiful idea.” Exclaimed Priya with a smile, “So how may I help you in this?”

“No actually not me, food and drinks are my department, all other things are managed by Supriya, our Finance Manager, she used to be Priyanka’s roomie once upon a time. I suggested your name for the organizing team, if you don’t mind.” Ram waited for Priya to refute, he barely knows this lady and he has dragged her into something without letting her know.

“It’s wonderful. I will talk to Supriya and will make sure everything gets perfect!” Priya approved Ram’s idea surprising him only.

“Great!!!” he replied with a pleasant smile, “Now tell me your address.”

“wo!” Priya cut her tongue in between her teeth, “I have to go somewhere else. So you drop me near any taxi or auto stand I will manage on my own.”

“I am not going to eat you, or stalk you or settle down with you if you share your address with me Priya!” Rebuked Ram, “So stop behaving like a kid out of the dark, address please!!” he asked again.

~~

“So you live here!” Ram got down from the SUV as he halted it outside the society compound as requested by Priya, “Are the society people very much strict about male guest to bachelorette flats?”

“No, No, Not that. I actually…” Priya searched for lame excuses all around the black.

“I can understand Priya. I am okay with it and I haven’t mind at all. So chill.  Meet you tomorrow at office.” He smiled and walked back to the driving seat of the SUV. “My coffee remains due, charge for this drop ma’am.” He smiled and drove out waving to Priya.

~~

This kind of small meetings kept on with Ram, until the weekend dropped in. The Party was arranged at Priyanka’s apartment only. Priya along with Supriya somehow managed to convince the society secretary to allow them to party late, as Priyanka leaves on Sunday. He agreed to give permission till 2 am with the condition of no loud music at all. Though Supriya was unhappy with the condition, Priya let her down and agreed to the man.

“So everything is done Priya?” Ram asked as he walked into the room, but he didn’t looked at Priya.

“Yeah!” Unknowingly Priya bumped into Ram which made the water spill on to him, which he was drinking then, “Sorry.” She uttered as an immediately response.

“Its …” Now Ram’s attention shifted to Priya. The lady whom he saw in formals, hair tied in either pony tail or secured in a perfect bun, rather he never noticed her. Today as she stood in a red floral dress with her hairs left loose allowing them to flow like an uninterrupted river, the sweet fragrance that adored her made Ram suddenly calm and comfortable. “Wow” he uttered impromptus.

“Sorry!!” asked back Priya.

“Shit Ram!” he scolded himself without letting it reach to Priya’s ears. “No I mean everything is beautiful here.” He looked around to hide his nervousness, all his life he ran away from girls, two ladies he respect, love and look forward to are his mother and younger sister, other than them no one neither crossed his mind, nor he gave space to anyone. “Should I call Saahil to bring Priyanka here?” He asked trying not to look at Priya.

“Yeah Sure. I will get the last things done. The lights. Please call him” as Priya walked to the switch board, her hairs danced with the rhythm of her steps. For the first time in his life Ram Kapoor is checking out a girl in a proper manner from head to toe. Every inch of her surprised him, his eyes got accustomed to see the corporate lady in her, the flawless beauty that she carries within herself was masked under it. When Priya turned she found Ram still standing at the same position with the empty glass in his hand starring at no where aimlessly. “Sir..” she tried to get his attention, she called thrice when there came no response, raising her voice “Mr. Kapoor!!” these words escaped her lips. Ram cursed himself for staring at the girl, “Yes.” He answered.

“Call Saahil!” she asked.

Ram turned with his phone pressed against his ears, the phone on the other side rang, the man tried to reach out Ram, but he was lost in thoughts of Priya. “Mr. Kapoor” the sweet voice again invaded and pulled him back to reality. “Saahil, come up!” he kept it sweet and short and hung up! “What’s wrong with you Ram?” scolding himself he went to the Open Terrace of the apartment.

“What’s wrong with this man?” thought Priya before switching off the lights.

~~

The surprise went good with Priyanka, who became bit nostalgic about leaving Delhi, “Friends, let me tell you something, this guy..” she pointed to Ram, a sheer nervousness hit him suddenly as Priya looked at him “what’s happening with me?” Ram looked down to avoid any eye contact with her. “This Guy, he is a very good guy.”Priyanka was already under the influence of alcohol, “Every girl, even me thought of dumping Saahil once. Such a hot shot potential millionaire, kaun ni chahega (who will not want to be with him)? But he is such a nice guy he never ever looked disrespectfully to any of the ladies, even not to them who wanted to go any extent just to have his attention.” Priyanka’s voice chocked, “I will miss you brother. I will really miss you. A man like you is just not rare today but people must be lucky to have you in their lives and I am happy that I have you.”

Ram walked to Priyanka and hugged her tight, “Take good care of her Saahil. She is a sweet girl.”

“If he doesn’t will come back to you naa,bhai bola hain raksha karega naa. (Now when I have considered you as brother, you should protect me)”  Priyanka hugged him back, “Ok everyone off to the dance floor. Yaar Priya why you agreed to that Khadoos for no loud music? It’s officially my last night here in India.”

Saahil played some soft music and pulled Priyanka to the dance floor. Few more people joined them. The spectator Priya sat back on her seat while Ram kept looking at her while he puffed off his cigarette, standing right at the terrace. “Should I ask her for dance? What will she think yaar?” Ram scratched the side of his forehead, “If she thinks I am cheap?” His lips stood straight and curved down as someone from his team only asked Priya for dance and she accepted it. “Shit! You lost the game. Now I can’t see her dancing with someone else. I can’t see someone else’s hand secured around her waist. The classes that I took in London, what a waste!” Leaning to the railing he pulled out another cigarette and lighted it. Sometimes cocking his head back, he found her still dancing with the sudden partner. Some kind of jealousy, possessiveness attacked awkwardly inside him. “Is it just an attraction?” he asked himself, “Just like the previous one?” Failing to understand he pulled out another cigarette and finished it off in almost 5-6 puffs, in anxiety he was almost going to pull out another but the voice from the back stung him like a cupid’s arrow.

“Are you okay?” Priya came with food platter and stood by him, “Here Dinner.”

“Thanks.” Ram pushed back the pack of cigarette into his pocket. He tried to speak but her presence somehow perfectly glued his feet and mouth at its place and eyes to her.

“Don’t smoke that much!” Priya said taking the lighter from his other hand, “I must be writing an official health warning to you after this week’s medical checkup. What say?” She looks up now.

Ram smiles and tried to concentrate to his food, he didn’t feel hungry at all, “I will try. It’s a habit since 12^th.”

“Much damage has already being done.” Priya smiled, “You should give it up now. 12 years. Much time and much damage.”

“You are here to lecture me about smoking?” Ram at last tried to speak.

“No No No..” Priya took another spoonful of rice, while Ram’s plate remained same as it was brought by Priya, “Why didn’t you join everyone? You were pretty excited about this party and today I find you comforting yourself at the furthest corner. Why so? Everything is fine?”

“Ya..” Ram placed the plate on the table that laid by him and turned back to Priya, “I am okay and thanks for the food but I am not feeling hungry.”

“Should I get you a drink?” Priya asked, “I don’t think everything is normal.”

“Priya.” With all the nervousness that clouded he somehow managed to convert the same into courage, “I..” He paused for a second before starting again, “I ..I want to..” he paused again, that irritated much, “say you something.”

“And that is..” Priya asked.

Suddenly all the courage flushed out of him and he was tanked up with the uneasy calmness, “I will drop you back.”

“Okay… Okay..” Priya smiled, “Thanks..”

“Priyaa..” someone called from the room, “Ram you too, come in some photos..” Awkwardly smiling to eachother they walked inside and joined the troop.

~~

At the parking lot Ram and Priya walked side by side with a safe distance of almost 3-4 feet. Ram used the key to unlock the car. While they drove through the hush hush roads of Delhi, he decided to ask Priya if she is comfortable.

“Ya. I am.” She smiled, nothing beautiful he has seen before, “Just Priyanka said you are just as sweet as a brother…” Immediately pretty loud and clear Ram responded, “Please don’t call me brother. I am not!”

“I am not calling you brother. I was trying to say something else” Priya said under her laugh.

“Sorry” Ram concentrated back on the road.

“You are a sweet Person, I just wanted to say, please don’t accept anyone who will love you for your money. You are a good guy.. Ah I don’t have any right to say but I felt like saying.” Priya shrugged off her shoulder in uncertainty.

“Thank You and please share you advice I don’t have anyone who can really advice me.” He smiled.

“Why? Your family?”

“Maa Papa sister, choti. Former two live in Lucknow and the latter in Mumbai. So basically I am living alone since Ahmadabad days it makes 8 years almost.” He said after counting it. “What about you?”

Priya didn’t answer for a while, what she should answer, coming out of it she opened up, “Maa Baba, two brothers one elder and one younger.”

“I see so you are the pampered sister of the family? But you don’t look so?” Ram teased her, in response she tried to fake a smile. With no traffic at all, the distance that should have taken 1 hour is covered in almost half of it or even less. This time Ram drove into the society boundary. He came out after Priya. Noticing him the security stood up, ready to block his way.

“I will leave now only. No need to show your rowdy self dude.” Ram warned.

“Good Night. Meet You on Monday.” Priya turned to leave. As she started walking, Ram could feel his heart crashing against his chest, at least he can praise her like a gentleman, there is no awkwardness in it.

“Priya.” He called her, as she stopped and started turning to him, he felt his heart coming out rupturing every ribs and muscles blocking its way. “What the fuck happening to me?” he said inside his head.

“Yes.”

Aimlessly he stared at her, like someone has put instant glue on his lips. This time Priya also didn’t asked him back she gave him time to respond, but the watchman was in hury to get Ram out of the society compound. “Sahab, aap jayiye.” The hoarse voice of the guard pulled him out of the nervousness, “Good Night!”

Little disappointed Priya walked to the elevator, which was parked on the ground floor, she pressed the desired floor. While Ram zoomed out of the compound and hit Vikram’s number, who can save his ass right then.

~~

“Hi!” Neha said in a sleepy voice as she opened the door for Priya. “How was the party?”

“Horrible!” Priya called it out in anxiety.

“Why? Kisi ne kuch kiya kya?( did something happen)

“If something would have happened I …” She opened the fridge and took out a bottle. “Something weird happened today.” She said gulping water.

“And that is” suddenly every little dizziness that Neha had vanished.

“Someone keeps on staring at you like a bugger, like he will eat you up or already eating you up with his eyes and when you come near to him, he covers himself with a shield, what will you call that guy?” Priya looked up.

“WHAT??” confused about what her friend asked she uttered.

“Fucker!” Priya sat by her in rejection.

“Hua kya hain? (what happened) I didn’t get even a single word that you said to describe the state of your mind. Can you please tone it down?” Neha looked for an answer.

“No look, someone is checking a girl and that girl gives you an open space to flirt! What a guy should think?” Priya sounded pretty frustrated.

“If it is for the first time and if the guy is genuine, I mean if he is really like that girl, then he will surely back off. But why are you saying all these?”

“I see. He was nervous.” Priya stood up.

“Who was nervous and why I am feeling that you have fallen for someone?” Neha said pretty restlessly, “At mid of the night you are sounding crazy as if you were the girl and …” her mouth dropped open  standing infront of her friend holding Priya by both the hands she asked, “You.. you were that girl, you enjoyed someone’s checking out and you didn’t react, you want him to react? Who was that lucky guy?”

“Shut Up!” Priya shrugged her hands off and headed to her room.

“No ..no..no.. wait!” Neha blocked her way, “what is happening? Priya Sharma, the sanskari bachha (well mannered) actually enjoyed when a man checked her out!”

“Shut up Neha! Go and sleep.” Priya dashed into the room and locked herself in.

“I am here only. Aaj nahi to kal batana toh tuje parega darling! (this way or that you have to spill the beans)” Neha said smiling, “Priya is in love or atleast attraction. Hot news..” she sounded pretty excited.

~~

“What is the reason to pull me out of the bed in the middle of the night?” Vikram, who was pissed off by his friend said.

“I am a duffer.” Ram answered.

“Will you please explain why you are finding yourself a dumbass?”

“Priya!” the name he uttered.

“Who is that?” asked Vikram.

“You remember that night at club that lady who for no reason bashed me?” Ram waited for the response, after thinking for a while Vikram nodded yes. “Her name is Priya..” Ram added after him.

“And how do you know that? Is she stalking you or you?”

“None. She is the new Senior Manager in place of Priyanka.” Ram said puffing off his cigarette.

“What difference does she made to you?” Vikram said placing his head on the glass top wood finished bar counter at Ram’s apartment. “Make me a strong drink if you want me to continue to hear your non sense.”

“Non sense.” Ram slapped hard at the back of Vikram’s head, “You find this non sense. She is beautiful and I couldn’t even say that much to her.” Devastatingly Ram said settling back on the bar chair.

“Beautiful? And what?” Vikram sat with his spinal cord making 90 degree with the floor. “Let me guess you tried to say her that she is beautiful and you failed horribly right?” While still it is guessed if there comes no answer, it must be taken as yes, applying the same formula Vikram continued, “Don’t tell me you are having crush on her?”

“That is the problem! I don’t know what it is, is that an attraction. I mean…” Ram looked at Vikram, “I have never seen her in casuals or any informal attires and when suddenly today I saw her I found her beauty to be out of the world, is that happened or ..”

“Or what!”

“Or I am getting attracted to her only..” Ram sounded thoughtful.

“Look brother if it was not you, I could have agreed but having you I am damn sure this is no way an attraction. It is much more than it. But there is again another but..” Vikram sighed.

“Now what but?” annoyingly Ram asked back.

“But nothing, now what you want me do?” Vikram retorted.

“I want to ask her for a date? What’s say?” Ram had a child like enthusiastic smile.

“Date? Date?” Vikram repeated twice and the enthusiasm suddenly turned into great fear as Vikram slammed the glass top counter and clutched Ram’s shirt with both of his hands, “DATE!!” he shouted. Ram gulped a lump of air and looked for an answer. “salein tere mein himmat ni hain khubsuraat lag rahi hoo yeh bolne ka aur bc date poochega?” (when you have your heart in your mouth just to say that she is looking beautiful and you are dreaming of asking her for a date?”)

“What is wrong in that?” Ram said.

“Brother your love story will end on the very first moment when she will declare you a branded Tharki!” Vikram was pretty pissed off with Ram, “First appreciate her be a little friendly with her then ask her for a date. Don’t get so much kind of Satabdi Express kind of thing. Have a little patience.”

“So what should I do now?” like a kid learning the first step to basics he asked Vikram.

“Sleep and let me sleep.” Clasping his hands in front of him he walked to the guest room. Ram sat in silence for few more minutes and very courageously he pulled out the phone from his coat’s pocket but the time 03:26 AM urged him not to disturb her at the middle of the night. Resting by the window he looked out, the sheer calmness of the night engulfed him but sleep couldn’t invade. Every time he closed his eyes that smiling face of Priya, her that beautiful eyes, every cell of him got intoxicated with the presence of Priya. Even trying for much time, he failed to sleep.

~~

“Good Morning!” Priya came out of her room, Neha woke up early than her on that particular day.

“So Priya Sharma is in Love?” teased Neha.

“What! Who said you?” Priya said brushing her teeth.

“You only.”

“When?”

“Last night it was clear written all over your face that how much you are pissed off from your boss not complimenting you.” Neha spoke.

“Ah! That was noth…” Priya stopped as her phone gave notification of message. She took the phone and surprisingly said “What does he wants to say now?”

“Is it him?” pretty shockingly surprised Neha spoke. “What he is saying? Date?”

“Date? If he has written this Neha, I am going to slap him hard.” Priya opened the message from Ram, “U Looked beautiful yesterday. I was trying to say this but somehow didn’t managed to speak up. So I found best way to write it down and send it you. Keep your hair untied, you have beautiful hair and look beautiful too. Hope I have not offended you lately. PS – I am not good in this things Sorry if I said anything awful.”

“How cute!!!” Neha said as Priya finished reading it, “It’s better than date.”

“This is private I guess.” Rebuked Priya.

“I thought nothing has been settled down yet, so this happens between friends isn’t it?” asked Neha repulsing back. Priya kept staring at her until Neha spoke, “So what are you going to reply him?”

“Bitch!!” Priya said, and then typed on her mobile. “Thank you sir. But I can’t keep my hairs open at office, against dress code.” She hit the send button and sat on the bean bag at the living room. She played with her phone hoping for a reply.

“Aag dono taraf…” Priya cuts in retorting, “Will you just shut up!! I am trying to chalk out what this man is upto, I have never given him a wrong signal for a single time. Then..” She looked down as her phone beeped back with notification. The message read this time. “That’s my bad luck. Will wait for my luck to favor. Have a great weekend ahead.” The last line turned Priya’s excitement into anxiety, “Now I will make sure he goes through hell before getting hold of me.”

“Why you think he is trying to get hold of you?” Neha waited for an answer while Priya starred at her phone with a hope of it beeping again, almost after 10 minutes being seated in silence she declared, “Lets go out for a movie then lunch, I am not in a mood to be here. Get ready.” Priya walked inside, Neha saw her rushing in, the banging of the door was an expression of her mental state. Particularly when this kind of situation arise, Neha always chose to follow Madam X’s order word to word, even more to be to the point letter to letter. Neha like an obedient child climbed into the cab booked by Priya.

“Chailye.”  Priya instructed the cab driver.

“If may I know which movie?” Neha spoke.

“Don’t know. I just need to revive myself from this after shock.” Priya covered her eyes with glares.

“Ooo..” Neha raised her eye brows and tried to see Priya without cocking her head. “Priya don’t you think…” She sealed her lips with the first look that Priya glared at her. Pulling her ipod out she sealed her ears too.

~~

“Ram bolega kuch?” Vikram jerked him placing the plate infront, “Speak up dude!”

“What?? I don’t know how I am going to spend this weekend even without seeing her. I said her what I wanted to, even she replied and then you bustard, what was the need to send such sms to her. Nice weekend. If I have asked her she would have definitely said yes.” Ram rebuked. “Please let me drop you home and I will not be going any where around this weekend.” He walked out of the café.

Many a times Ram tried to reach Priya over phone, but everytime the phone responded to be switched off. He cursed himself for not having her personal number. Twice his mother called to talk with him but he avoided her cleverly, excusing himself for official pending works. Once visiting Priya at her flat crossed his mind, but again “what she will think about him” thought stopped him from doing so.

On the other side, Priya kept her engaged on the regular weekend chores she is habitual in doing. Neha didn’t stir her much as her emotional hormones were in imbalance.

~~

Monday morning, when Priya switched on her official number, two things happened first 36 sms from Ram Kapoor’s Number and 14 sms from an unknown number surfaced in. Secondly Priya ignored every sms like a boss. That morning she reached much before the time and settled herself in her cabin. She is now soul responsible for any HR related issues of the complete office, every department of that branch. Morning meetings has to be handled with much more maturity. The medical camp that is scheduled for the week, will be taking much of her time, she tried to prioritize the work list before her day starts.

Come in she said being seated on her the leather chair. “Yes” she found Ram standing infront in a full sleeve white shirt and red tie adorning him as usual. Today was something different with Priya too. Her hairs were neither tied in a pony tail nor in bun, a white clutch clip held her hairs loosely. “Good Morning.” She said withdrawing the eye contact from him.

“You didn’t answered my calls that day?” Ram asked, “Not even today?”

“I was bit busy and I don’t combine Professional and Personal relationships.” She said glued at her seat.

“Did I do anything wrong?” Ram tried to look into her eyes.

“I Think Sir you need to go, we can discuss this later. This is not the place nor the right time to discuss all this. We have full day left.” Priya marked the awkwardness of the place and time.

“Okay! Then I will drop you back, please.” Ram pleaded before Priya could deny, “Please one chance.” As Priya looked up she found herself drowning into his deep black eyes. His eyes have some hypnotic power, she has never noticed his eyes so closely before that night and something after that night changed. Today the spark in his eyes has some story to tell which can never be ignored. “Okay Sir.”

With her response, Ram left the room, without arguing anymore.

~~

Ram halted his car just infront of the main gate as Priya walked out. She was with Supriya, who was surprised to see Ram Kapoor offering lift to them. “Ah! Sir, my husband will come to pick me up!” Supriya tried to dodge Ram including herself into Ram’s thoughts.

“You carry on Supriya. I am here to pick Priya. Priya please.” He said opening the door of the front seat. This startled Supriya a little, Priya has never shown any interest to Ram, or she just faked it! Priya wished her Good Night and climbed into the car. As the car zoomed out of the office complex, Bitch uttered Supriya.

“Why did you said that infront of Supriya?” Priya revolted immediate after she got into the car.

“aaj nahi toh kal toh pata chalna hi hain?” Ram was casual in his reply, “And you wished me luck to see you with your hairs open loose, so here I am lucky, please untie it!” he requested.

“No I will not!” Priya sat straight with her hands crossed against her chest.

“Please” Ram extended his left hand towards her.

“What!! What are you doing?” Priya pushed herself back to window avoiding Ram’s touch. “Okay .. Okay I loose wait!” She untied her hair and let it flow.

“That’s pretty! Thank you.” Ram pulled out a cigarette and lighted it up.

“Stop it! I just hate those men who smoke like chimneys” She said disgusted.

Ram looked at priya once who refuted to look at him, He lit off it and placed it into the astray. “Happy?”

“Please tell me what you want to say and drop me somewhere from where I can get an auto or taxi whatever.”

“First I will drop you back, second can we have dinner together today?” In one breath Ram said, pretty quick he completed. He sighed and under his breath he repeated, “Can I take you for dinner?”

“Okay!” Priya couldn’t complete, Ram exclaimed in overwhelming joy “Thank You.. Thank you so much”

“I didn’t say yes.” Her reply evaporated the happiness out him just like a camphor vanishes into air magically. “I have a condition, you have to do something for me.” Ram didn’t answered he concentrated on the road, “You have called me so many times this weekend, and even from your personal number I guess. So now I have your personal number also. The messages you sent is still unread..” Ram cuts in, “Then please don’t read them.” Thinking about the “I Like you” that he send to her he felt heavy at head. The nervousness dropped along the spine.

“Now that makes me more curious to read them and if you stop me from doing so then trust me I will never see your face again.” Priya smiled wickedly and victoriously, “So coming back to my condition. I want you to ask me for dinner or date whatever you are going to categorize it, over my personal number not like this or not on my official number.”

“Okay I will do it, what’s the big deal in it.” Pulling out his phone he dropped it on Priya’s lap, “Dial it and give it to me.”

“Nah! Not like this Sir. I …” Ram cuts in correcting Priya, “Please I am not your Sir or Boss, if you are calling me that at office it’s okay but here only Ram. Can you please?” he looked at her, “Now please go ahead with your speech.”

“Okay whatever, I am not going to give you my number, you have to find it out and not the one which is mentioned in my file available at office and anyone can give it you from my file. That one which I restrict to only Friends, a few and family.”

“How? I mean this is not done, if you have to say no say it at my face, don’t drag me around.”

“No I want to. I want to know you more but I want to know what you can do to know me further.” Priya said, “So this is fair enough!”

“But How?” Ram sounded pretty helpless.

“Beg borrow or steal!” she smirked, “Or else give up and accept you are just getting attracted to me. That’s it! Then you and me both will be free from this torture.”

Her last few words gave more confidence to Ram, till then he was thinking that, he has left no subtle effect on her even. But the way she approached to a conclusion reflected her dilemma too. “Okay fair enough at least give me a hint. That is not much I am asking for.”

“Okay. Fair enough! I will give you the name of three service provider and I use one of the three, Reliance, BSNL and Hutch. Amongst three I use one and you need to permute and commute many numbers to hit the bulls eye and as I gave you a hint I put another clause, Find it by day after tomorrow. We will meet for coffee as there is holiday, and if you can even provide the 8 digits correctly I will go for dinner with you.”  Priya sounded victorious already.

“Done! Challenge accepted. You have put your hand at wrong place sweetheart.” Grinned Ram, “Never challenge me, or set limitations for me, I love to win in both cases and here you are my challenge and that number is my limitation, so be ready to go out for a date with me.”

The word Date was announced by Ram subconsciously but it pierced Priya sweetly, she smiled to herself. “And…” the car came to a halt with a screeching sound, “You look beautiful with your smile and hairs flowing like this.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. His fingers touched her nape. With his touch she shivered a bit. He smiled and withdrew to his position. “Can I come up? My coffee is still due.”

“First the number then anything. Let’s make this clear you are trying to be personal with me so first you by your own has to break this barrier of the professionalism and then only anything else.” When Priya was about to open the door, Ram accelerated the car and moved out to the road again. Finding a perfect spot he parked the car. Undoing the seat belt, Ram turned full to her, “Then there is only one way for it!”

“Sorry!” Priya looked nervous.

“Can I have your number Priya?” Ram asked looking straight into her eyes.