"When Hearts meet Brains"

Part-1: Romance at a Library

I'd only gone to the library to read a book recommended by a friend, but never in my
wildest dreams had I thought that there'd be a blackout with a torrential downpour
outside, and I'd be stranded with the prettiest girl I'd ever seen. She broke my reverie by
sighing loudly. I walked up to her.

She (Sighing): "Oh no!"

(The state of alertness which darkness engenders, brought out the spontaneous guy in me.)
Me (Curious): "Are you afraid of ghosts?"
She: "What? No......I mean..... I don't believe in such stuff!"
Me: "Me too. But, I don't know why, whenever I am in an old, large, spooky, dark place like
this and it's raining outside, the probability of existence of ghosts seems very high."
She: "Spooky, large, old, dark." (She emphasized on each word.)
Me (Clueless): "Huh? Yeah, that's what I just said."
She: "No! Your order of adjectives was wrong."
Me (Digesting slowly): "Order... of.... adjectives. Hmm. Is that what this place does to you?"
(She chuckled.)
She: "Hi! I am Rose."
Me: "Rose. The noun or the verb?"
(She chortled again.)
She: "Look, my parents were not that grammar conscious!"
Me: "And look how you turned out!"
(We both laughed.)
Me: "I am Aditya."

(The librarian brought a candle. By the look on his face, he seemed as freaked out as me;
watching two people talk in complete darkness. As opposed to ghosts, crazy people were
very much real!)
Me: "Well, I have heard about candlelight dinners, but candlelight reading sessions are new
to me."
She: "Don't get any ideas, mister."
Me: "But I thought people came to libraries for ideas, for enlightenment!"
She: "Funny of you to say 'enlightenment' during a blackout."
Me: "Hey! Let's not undermine the efforts of the candle. These babies have been very useful
to people, you know; to help them bond, have romantic conversations."
She (mischievously): "Are you flirting with me?"
Me: "Yeah. Rule No.1 of Professional Flirting: When you want to flirt with a girl, praise a
candle instead!"
(She giggled.)
She: "What are you reading?"
Me: "Your eyes! The most beautiful pair I have ever seen. Now, I can see the flickering of
the flame in them. Those glittering pearls have the power to make time stand still!"
She (overwhelmed): "Wow! That is the most wonderful thing anyone has ever said to me.
Now you are definitely flirting with me!"
Me: "Well. I took the last line from the Sci-Fi book I am reading."
(She laughed really hard.)
She: "You plagiarist!"
Me: "Hey! I just gave credit to the source!"
She: "But you used it to try to impress me before mentioning that!"
Me: "So you are impressed by me now?"
She: "Didn't you hear the word try?"
Me: "Okay, let's see, I am in this candle lit room alone, with a beautiful, intelligent girl who
has a good sense of humor and it is raining outside. You can't blame me for trying. I am not
a wuss!"
She: "So what are you?"
Me: "I am not a self-pompous person either. People are free to judge."
She: "Good. I like modest people. Especially, if they are smart and funny."
Me: "Were those compliments in disguise?"
She: "Why do you need to convert my generalizations to attributions?"
Me: "Don't know. Why do you need to play games?"

(She giggled again and made a deep eye contact.)

She: "I don't remember the last time I laughed so much."
Me: "Well, I hope you shall remember this time."
(The power was back. The rain had also significantly receded.)
She: Okay. Time to go."
(We prepared to leave. I went to the shelf to collect my bag.)
She: "Hey! You dropped your bookmark here."

I went back to the table and picked up the bookmark. I looked around. She was gone. I
couldn't understand. Why had she gone away so abruptly? There was no mention of whether
we could meet again. Not even a proper goodbye. I became morose.
I looked at the bookmark again.
There was something scribbled on it in a cute handwriting:
Rose: 99224188*#
Looking forward to that candle light dinner with you!
:) :) :)

Part 2: The Phone Call

I felt there was so much information in those two lines. My brain initiated the self-talk:
**What do three smileys mean? Did I make her laugh only thrice? No, it was more than
that, I hope. But, there is something about the number three? Three is the number of words
in 'I Love You'. Wait. Three is also the number of words in 'I Hate You'. No. Why would she
hate me? If she hated me, she would not have given her number. Wait. Is the number
genuine or did she just pull a fast one on me? Only a phone call can answer all these
questions. **
I started musing; thinking about what I would say to her and how she would react. I was
rolling over the bed from side to side; thinking. Thinking. Thinking. BAM! I fell off my bed.

**Ouch! That hurt! Hey nutcase! Stop this nonsense. 'Falling for someone' is just a figure
of speech. These plans are no good. Just be the guy you were in the evening. Just be that
spontaneous smartass. **
So, I made a plan that I wouldn't plan.

(The following evening, I dialed the number given to me. I was curious as to who would
answer the call or if the number did exist. I hoped for the best and prepared for the worst.
I heard a dial tone. **Okay, it is a real number. Stage 1 clear.** My heart started beating
rapidly. I was breathing as if I had just attempted to break the world record of holding the
breath for the longest time. Five rings down the line, someone answered.)
"Hello?"
(It was her. **Stage 2 clear. ** The feeling was better than winning that world record.)
** Dude, this is real! Stop being so pessimistic. Step on the pedal and bring up your A
game! **
"Hello??"
Me: "Am I talking to Ms. Rose?"
She: "Yeah?"
Me: "Ma'am this is to inform you that, a table for two has been booked at L9 Cafe for
tomorrow at 7 pm."
She: "Okay but who am I talking to?"
Me: "The guy you are having dinner with."
She: "My Goodness!! How did you change your voice?"
Me: "Let's say it is one of my lesser known skills."
She: "What's with the fake British accent?"
Me: "Hey! I practiced those lines 15 times! Acknowledge the effort!"
She: "The British are excellent with phone manners. You need to introduce yourself before
asking for the person on the other end or conveying a message."
Me: "Oh yeah, I forgot to ask you. When are the classes starting?"
(She giggled.)

She: "I knew you wouldn't be following the 3 Day Rule."

Me: "How so?"
She: "Because you don't rely on techniques and clichs. You are spontaneous and I feel you
speak from your heart."
Me: "Yeah beware! That thing is coming after you....really fast!"
(She gave that amazing laugh. A sound which was melody to me.)
She: "What if I said I was busy tomorrow?"
Me: "Okay there is no reservation. I was just confirming your presence. My next call would
be to L9 Cafe, however."
She: You are really an idiot!"
Me: "Yeah! I fell for you. Head first!"
She: "I think I know that feeling."
Me: "I am kind of banking on that."
She: "I can't wait to see you tomorrow."
Me: "Well a great Chinese proverb goes like this: It is the space between the bars that holds
the cage. The waits between our dates are what will make them special."
She: "How can you be so sure of having more than a first date?"
Me: "Well yesterday I wasn't even sure of having a first date; when you left the room
unannounced. Then I found my bookmark. Seems, I am good at picking up on hints."
She: "I am sorry if you were hurt when I left like that. I was praying that you'd notice it and
call me as soon as possible. "
Me: "No don't be. Of 'course, it felt brutal for a few seconds. But hey, I liked your style.
That's what made me admire you even more. Even you are unconventional. That was one
hell of a way to give someone your number! I got that bookmark laminated, by the way. "
She: "I don't want this call to end.
Me: "Well a......."
She: "No! Don't give me that crappy Chinese thing of yours!"
Me: "Alright! But take it easy lady! We are going to a Chinese place tomorrow!"
She: "How did you know I liked Chinese?"
Me: "Yesterday you were reading 'Journey to the West' by Wu Cheng en; I took a blind
shot, which reached its target just about now."
She: "Ridiculous logic!"
Me: "I am an idiot. Remember?"

She: "You are also cute."

Me: "Are you flirting with me?"
She: No! I was talking to my candle, right here."
Me: "You are good. Too good! Okay. See you tomorrow. I need to make a call to the
restaurant before they are sleepy."
She: Bye."

Part 3: The Date

After preening for the umpteenth time, I kicked myself out of the house. I had to look my
absolute best today. My brain had prepared a checklist:
**
Brushed twice? Check.
Rinsed with Hydrogen Peroxide? Check.
Shaved like crazy? Check
Hair Serum? Check
Face cream? Check
Violet Half-Sleeve Shirt? Check.
Black Jeans? Check.
Woodland Shoes? Check.
Perfume? Check
Chewing gums? Check
Got a rose for her? Check
Got a book for her? Check
Looking Handsome? No comments. (But yeah, better than that geek who went to the
library.)

(I reached our reserved table ten minutes ahead of schedule. I was wondering what she
would wear and how she would react, upon seeing me.
There she came.7 pm, on the dot. Wow! She just seemed sexier. She walked with a panache
which could only come from a smart, beautiful and a confident woman. She wore a black
sleeveless gown down to her knees. Sexy but not vulgar. Exactly as I had expected. She was
wearing a pearl necklace and black studded earrings. She had tied her silky black hair up in
a bun with a couple of stray strands kissing her cheek, which formed a part of her triangular
jaw. I felt jealous of them. She had a beauty spot to the left of her lower lip and a nose as
sharp as her wit. Her strawberry-colored lips were glossy, but their shine was overpowered
by her lightning smile as she made an eye contact with me; while putting the hair strands
behind an ear. She was a doe-eyed beauty.)

**She is an Angel! Dude, you are dating an Angel! **

She: Hi Handsome!!"
**Okay. CHECK**
(That was it. I was overwhelmed beyond limits. I simply froze. I was looking at her like a
child looking at a rainbow for the very first time. Without breaking eye contact, I gave her
the red rose. My hand was moving like that of a robot whose battery was critically low. I
think that was also because of the fact that I had worked out extra hard at the gym.)
She (Blushing): "Thank you."
(I simply smiled.)
She: Say something."
(I messaged her.)
Me-That is all I can say when I am speechless.
She- Sweet. You do know that we need to talk on a date? Right?
Me-Yes.
She-Speak up!
Me- No.
She-Okay. Here's the deal. You shall receive a kiss from me tonight if you start speaking.
Me- Kiss? Where? The cheek or the lips?
She- That depends on how fast you start speaking. The faster, the better.]
Me:" Hi! How are you? I missed you so much! The wait was..... (I spoke at a speed which
sounded like watching a Japanese movie at 3x speed.)
She:" Wow! That is one good way to tame a guy. And by fast I meant the time to start, not
words per minute."
Me: Okay. So what am I getting?"
She:"Is that all you guys can think about? Anyway, let us not ruin the suspense."
Me:" Suspense huh? Well played!" (I fantasized.)
She:" Are you imagining it right now?"
Me: I am most certainly not!" (My eyes shifted for a couple of seconds.)
She: You liar!"

Me:" Okay. I am good with imagination. I can't help it. You brought up the topic anyway!"
She: Point taken. So, what do you do? "
Me: I cup your face in my palms."
She:"Moron! I am asking about your profession."
Me: Oh! That? I am a Mechanical Engineer currently employed at KC Corp."
She:" Your awesome flirting skills totally second that."
Me: Ha-ha! Yeah it is really bad. You know in our class of 130 we had only one girl."
She: My God! So your ex was from which branch?"
Me:" I don't have an ex."
She:" What do you mean? You have never been in a relationship before?"
Me:" Fact of my life."
She:" Unbelievable. Don't you want to know about my ex?"
Me:" Tell me when you're comfortable. A first date is not a good time to discuss that
variable. You always end up getting extraneous solutions."
She:" Ha-ha. How do you know these details?"
Me:" Remember where we met? I read."
She:" My eyes?"
Me:" Have you memorized our conversation? No wait, there was a recording device, wasn't
there?"
She:" Every moment that we have spent together so far has been recorded in my mental
hard disk."
Me:" I hope that it has a lot of capacity then. At least, infinite."
(We looked into each other's eyes for a long time. For the first time ever, we were at a loss of
words. We had dinner with a few discussions here and there about our families and relevant
past. I found out she had completed her MBA and was pursuing her PhD in Economics. I
remembered that I needed to do a masters soon. We went to have ice cream after dinner.)
Me:" Here's your cone and a book for you."
She: Thank you. 'Journey... to... The.... East?' "
Me:"Yeah. Come back lady!"
(Her loud laughter sounded like that of a ghost in-charge of a haunted mansion. The clouds
rumbled ominously, making the metaphor seem so real.)

She (suspiciously): "You bought a book just to make this joke?"

Me: "Hey! I bought it last year. It is a mystery fiction story of a secret society and a journey
that transcends through space and time. Although, it can definitely be used to make jokes."
(There was thunder again.)
She: I think it is going to rain and I left my coat in the car."
Me: "Good. I am sure the car will keep it dry."
She:"Hey YOU said the ice-cream shop was close by."
Me: I have my jacket, don't worry."
She: Oh! So like they show in movies, you will give me your jacket."
Me: "Mad or what? I don't want to get drenched. I was merely offering to share."
She: Boy you are moving really fast, aren't you?"
Me (innocently):"No. This is the slowest I have ever walked."
(The clouds rumbled for the fourth time and it started raining heavily.)
Me: Code Red. I repeat. Code Red. Ma'am, you are requested to enter this protective
jacket."
(We barely managed to share the jacket, since I was particularly muscular. I knew it was a
stupid idea, but I did not want to lose out on the opportunity. She knew it too.)
She: Okay. This is not working. We both are getting drenched. Let us wait somewhere for
the rain to subside. Maybe, under that Banyan tree."
(She pointed towards some tree like object in the dark. I strained my eyes.)
Me: How do you know that's a Banyan tree? I can barely see it."
She:"Is that your concern right now?"
(She had a point. After dinner we had walked away from our vehicles for close to a
kilometer; engrossed in our conversation. We waited under the tree whose identity was still
equivocal. I removed my stupid jacket which was wet from the inside now; making it
pointless to wear. I noticed her stare at my biceps which were emphasized due to sticking of
the soaked shirt. I smiled. She removed her hair pin, opened her hair and adjusted it with
both hands. It was my turn to stare.)
Me: Why the hell does it need to rain every day?"
She: Maybe that's why people call it the "Rainy Season"?"
Me: I am not very fond of the "Rainy Season". I have some bad memories associated with

it."
She: Why? What happened?"
Me: Well, for starters, my school always reopened after vacations during monsoons. Then
there were the bullies who threw me into every puddle they found; punishing me for topping
the class."
She: Oh dear! My coochie pie! Did they also snatch away your chocolates?"
Me: Yes. Actually!" (I faked a cry.)
She: You are so cute."
(She hugged me. The feeling was beyond words. She was the softest thing that I'd ever
touched. Well, apart from my teddy bear Fufu, which I stopped hugging upon getting
thrashed by my mother. Simply the feeling of having her in my arms made me feel on top of
the world. I was leaning against the tree; her head on my chest. I could feel her warm
breaths. I was thankful to the Rain Gods for making this happen. I stopped hating the
Monsoon Season that moment onward. It was time for new memories now. Memories with
my Rose. We were in that position for around ten minutes. I wondered if she had fallen
asleep.)
Me: Rosey?" (I whispered in her right ear)
She: mm?"
Me: Are you going to sleep like this?"
She: I would love to."
Me: Not that I mind, but this stem has a sharp edge which has been poking my butt for the
last ten minutes. I noticed it just now and it HURTS! Ouch!!"
(She laughed hard. I shifted from my position. She whispered back into my ear.)
She: Adi? I am surprised that you didn't ask for your reward."
(I whispered back. I think we had started playing Chinese Whispers, unintentionally.)
Me: I have never stopped thinking about that. I did not ask you because I did not want you
to feel compelled. Our nascent relationship is way beyond this."
(She looked up into my eyes. I could see intense admiration in them. I could see the passion
which I was feeling all along. She brought her lips close to my face and stayed there;
maintaining eye contact. **Oh God this is the moment! Please choose lips. Please God! Let
it be lips. What is she doing? Acquiring her target? Oh come on lady, do it!** She did it.
Her lips brushed against mine for a couple of seconds. Then she pressed them. I was on
cloud eleven. For a moment, I couldn't believe what had just happened. The feeling was
pure ecstasy. It was like kissing a jelly. After close to fifteen seconds we broke contact but
she was still very close. So close that, the warm breaths that I had earlier felt on my chest

were obliging my lips now.)

She: Thats your reward." (She said looking towards the ground, probably hiding her tears.
I think it was something to do with her past.)
(I had a lump in my throat.)
Me: The secret to your name has been revealed sweetheart! It is your lips; just like The
Rose."
(She looked into my eyes again. Maybe she no longer cared if I found out about her tears.
Her moist eyes sparkled like diamonds. They were looking even more beautiful than the
other night.)
(I cupped her face with my palms. I wiped the tears formed over her cheeks using my
thumbs.)
Me: "As gorgeous as your eyes are looking right now, this is the last time I want to see you
cry. You are with ME now!"
(We kissed again. This time deep. The passion was like a raging inferno. I don't remember
for how long we kissed.
The only thing I remember is waking up below that tree. I still wasn't convinced it was a
Banyan tree. There was a hint of dawn. The rain had stopped. I was sitting on the wet,
muddy ground with my back against the bark. My lips felt really sore. I could barely move
my mouth. She was still asleep. Her head once again resting on my chest. My nose felt
moist. I had probably caught cold.)
"Aa...aaan...aanchoo...."
(She woke up with a start; glaring at me.)
She:"Is this the way to wake someone up?"
(She looked even prettier when angry.)
Me: Ask that to the cold viruses...Aaan.....aanchooo."
(She smiled and stood up.)
She: Well, this is the craziest and also the most romantic thing I have ever done in my life."
Me:"Yeah me too. My numb rear seconds that. Also, considering my history of
relationships, any romantic thing I do with you will end up being the most romantic thing I
have ever done."

(She smiled while helping me up and gave me a tight slap on my right butt-cheek.)
She: Get it some massage and it will be alright."
Me: "Care to oblige?"
She: Control those horses............ horny creature!"
(I smiled)
Me: "Alright! Let's get some coffee and head home."
She: You know, for a guy who has never been in a relationship before, you are a really good
kisser."
Me: I have to thank the library for so many reasons. Then there is YouTube too."
(She giggled again, the way I always wanted to see her. I could do anything to see her smile.)
We walked towards the horizon hand in hand, our fingers entangled; gazing at the early
morning sun without a care in the world. I felt her glance from the side. I looked back. I
think we both knew what that meant. It was happening. Happening fast, but yes, it was
indeed happening.
After all, you never know when love strikes you.