11 Hours

by Daniel Paul Singh

  “Umm... Uncle, hope Diana told you. I want to meet her this Sunday. Don’t worry! I will take care of her. I will make sure she is safe. Trust me. Please allow her to come and meet me for an hour or so at Skywalk mall.”

  “Fine, Rob! I don’t have a problem. She will come.” he replied in a calm tone.

  I was sweetly surprised. Didn’t she ask him properly or did he trust me blindly? The respect I had for my father-in-law increased multifold. I thanked him and informed her.

  It was our third date. We decided to meet around 5 PM at Sky walk. I requested her to be on time and reiterated it several times. I started from home almost an hour earlier, got a small gift as usual and began my ride. It was one long, tiresome bike ride for me. I somehow found my way through all the complicated one-ways, over-bridges, traffic signals and reached Sky walk at 5.10 PM. I parked my bike, got the parking ticket, and called her.

  “I reached. Where are you baby?”

  “I am just starting from home. Wait. I will reach in ten minutes.” She replied without remorse.

  “What the hell? I told you to start early, didn’t I? I asked you to be on time. Why are you late? I insisted several times, right?” I lost my cool.

  “What is the point of waiting for you all alone? I decided to start just after you reach.” She said coolly.

  “Diana, I hate it when people come late.” I was gnashing my teeth.

  “Then, you should have come early, by five itself” she wasn’t taking my anger seriously.

  “You know what? I will kill you when you arrive. Start now. I said NOW, and don’t make wait any further!” I ordered her.

  I started to have my mood swings. I wasn’t someone who would ever go on time for a meeting, but I hated it when people made me wait, probably that was the reason why I always went late.

  After five minutes, I got a call from her. I didn’t pick it. She called again. I ignored. She called for the third time, and after much deliberation, I attended and screamed.

  “Whaaaaaaat!”

  “Where are you?” her voice sounded like she didn’t care how I behaved.

  “About to leave. You?”

  “Okay, bye! I came here to shop in Skywalk with my boyfriend” she said casually.

  “Enjoy shopping then! You know what? I drove for almost two hours and I am left stranded here all alone! Just because of you.” I sulked.

  “Where are you now?” she asked.

  I was on the third floor and I saw her with a big shopping bag, hopping around on the ground floor.

  “I see you, come to the third floor.” I cut the call, thoroughly infuriated. She got onto the escalator and reached the third floor.

  “Excuse me.” she called out.

  I didn’t look at her but said,

  “If this were some other place, and if you were someone else, I would have surely slapped you.”

  “You can still slap me. Here, my mom gave some sweets for you” she offered the bag and showed her left cheek for me to slap.

  “You should eat it and add some more fat to your body. Come with me now.” I walked briskly ahead of her towards the parking lot. She followed me without uttering a word.

  “Do you know the way to the beach from here?” I asked as I kickstarted the bike.

  “I do.”

  “Then guide me.” I said, and we headed towards the beach.

  We reached the Marina beach in 15 minutes. She knew the directions very well and claimed it was because of her spending most of the weekend afternoons during her PG days at the beach.

  As we walked on the sandy beach towards the shore, I wanted to hold her hand, in spite of my anger.

  “Can I hold your hand?” I turned towards her and asked.

  “Yes, if you can ask that with a smile.” came the reply.

  “I can’t. I have a toothache” saying I held her hand lightly. It felt very soft. Diana blushed as we walked. I felt awkward and withdrew my hand. We then sat on the beach among many such hundred couples.

  We ate two plates of bhajji. I was then deeply lost in the magnanimity of the vast sea, in its eternal breeze and the everlasting waves. Sea and stars are indeed great healers. They continue to inspire millions of poets and billions of writers around the globe.

  I suddenly felt something twirling and irking my waist. Fearing it to be a crab, I shook off my body and looked around. Diana was smiling at me holding a hand full of sand. She had just thrust in two handfuls on my waist!

  “What the hell?” I glared and began to throw sand at her who was giggling like a 5 year old.

  She retaliated equally and we continued this until I mellowed down and my anger vanished. I then composed myself and spoke to her.

  “I am telling this to you again, and I would say this only once. Remember it for life, Diana!”

  “Tell me, I am all ears.”

  “Never, ever, never ever make me wait. Got it? Even if I make you wait, never ever make me wait.” I warned her.

  She nodded.

  “Good.” I said without realizing that after marriage, the time I was going to spend the most was waiting for her to dress up. Men are such fools!

  “And the same applies to you as well” she countered.

  “I will try” I said, knowing I can never do that.

  “Why were looking at the sea and not me?”

  “The sea, the night sky and the stars always fascinate me. I love this vast expansion of uninhabited space. Our world is so big” I said.

  “Not for me, I hold the world in my hand” she smiled and held my hand.

  “That’s sweet. You talk like you are a poet and I talk like I am an idiot.” I uttered and she laughed.

  I then presented her the gift I had bought for her. She took it with a toothy Garfield grin.

  I then continued, “Diana, I want to ask two things to you, may I? Be frank with your responses”

  “Why so serious? Ask” she responded.

  “First, tell me this. Everyone says you are a silent, calm girl, but every time I converse with you, I have never found you so.”

  “I am indeed an introvert; I don’t open up unless I like a person. There are a handful of people with whom I talk like this” she revealed her secrets.

  “And you added me to the list”

  “Yeah, that is my fate. Didn’t have a choice” she gave a dejected look. I gave her a gentle knuckle punch on her head.

  “And the second thing. The day I met you at your home for the first time, your voice was bland, man-like and unbearable. How is that your voice has become sweet and child-like since then?” I wanted to clear that doubt as well.

  “My voice was manly? I thought it was always sweet”

  “It is sweet now, agreed, but that day I didn’t like it. You know I didn’t like your voice, the fact that you didn’t know cooking, driving, didn’t like our first conversation and above and beyond all that, I have agreed to marry you” I said looking at her eyes.

  She was startled and didn’t react for a few minutes and then spoke.

  “Frankly, more than me, my mom liked you and only because of that, this has all gone to the next level. And I didn’t do anything with my voice, it has always been the same. Not sure what you heard the other day” she said in a low voice.

  I wondered how her voice became sweet and child- like from what I had heard earlier. I would never know. She would never say. It was all magical. She was a bit disappointed though, on hearing what I told. I wanted to change her mood and make her smile.

  “And tell me this as well”

  “A third question?” she asked in a lifeless tone.

  “Yes, tell me. Have you watched porn?” I winked.

  “Do you even realize what you are asking a girl?” her expression was of utter shock.

  “Very much yes. Tell me. Have you or have you not”

  “I haven’t”

  “Don’t lie”

  “I am not lying!”

  “I know about girls, tell me. How many mo
vies have you watched?”

  “Movies? Oh, my god. I just watched one small clip, detested it and never watched it again. I swear!”

  “Holy mother of Christ, you cheat. Your parents believe that you don’t even watch TV and here you are sitting and watching porn loops”

  “As if your parents know that you are watching porn every night”

  “Not a good come back darling. So, what did you watch?” I enquired.

  “I wouldn’t tell, but it was so horrible that I didn’t want to watch any further”

  “What could be so horrible in that? Tell me, tell me. I have watched the worst. Tell me, else my head will burst”

  “I won’t. Keep guessing”

  I continued to plead her, but she didn’t budge. She was adamant on not sharing with me what she watched. I couldn’t probe her any further. We spoke for some more time casually when she turned around to see a woman selling shells.

  “Rob, could you please get me some of those shells?” she asked enthusiastically.

  “Definitely! Do you like them?”

  “I love them!” her face glittered in the moonlight.

  I bought her all the shells she wanted and she was jumping around in joy like her life-long dream had been accomplished. I took one of the shells in my hand, went down on one knee in front of her, gave the shell to her and said,

  “Diana, I want you to be my better half”

  “You are already my best half” she blushed and got the shell from me.

  I hugged her and gave a gentle kiss on her forehead. She kept looking at me. We then decided to part after a time well spent. Her dad had called five times by then. He even offered to come and pick her at Skywalk mall. However, I wanted to be the ‘responsible’ man and drop her home.

  She navigated the way back home. After about half an hour of travel, we realized that we had been going in a completely unknown direction. We laughed our hearts out and then took a U-turn towards her house.

  I dropped her and said bye even though my heart fervently wanted to be by her side, hug her, kiss her and hold her hands all night. I reached my room nearly an hour later when I got a message from her.

  “Rob, can I tell you something?”

  “Go ahead.” I responded as I settled on the bed.

  “I used to have a dream, a repetitive dream.”

  “What dream?”

  “That I am on the beach with someone, admiring the stars, speaking everything that comes to my mind, shedding all inhibitions, losing myself in the moment, and then this person buys me shells. I have had this dream for a long time, several times.”

  “Oh!”

  “I always thought that the person was my caretaker, Esther. But, after what happened today, I realized that it has been you all the while.”

  “Don’t tell me! Are you trying to say that I am the man of your dreams?”

  “You definitely weren’t when I first met you, but guess what, you might just be that guy!” she sent an eye winking smiley.

  Signs from God, they really were, or so we thought, rather wanted them to be. Diana was in fact the first alliance I met and we clicked. My maternal aunt claimed during our engagement that, when she prayed, the name Diana got stuck in her mind and she couldn’t think beyond that.

  Maybe, God had been sending the right signals to many of us all along.

  There was still no signal in her mobile. I dialed her phone for the 69th time as I leaped up the stairs of Phase 3 to reach the 3rd floor of Galarena in Ascendas. I was sweating profusely as my legs wobbled over those steep steps.

  Just as I finished two flights of stairs I saw two wings – A and B ahead of me. At the A wing, there was a large green name plate that read, “Galarena, India”. I rushed towards the glass door, on which it was written, “Tailgating is prohibited”. I tried to push open the door, it didn’t budge.

  Dejected, I looked at the Security guard standing nearby and pointed him to open the door. He asked me to display my Galarena ID card and kept looking at my neck and worried face. He didn’t look like someone who would comply with my request. I was never going to have my way with these guards.

  “I have lost my ID. I have to go in. Can you please help?” I said in an authoritative tone.

  “Trespassing is not allowed sir” he insisted.

  I looked around and found the emergency exit option right next to the glass door.

  “Break in case of emergency” was written in red bold letters on the box. The security guard was asking me to get some approvals to enter into the work area. My mind was not listening to him. Thinking of all possibilities, without having any other choice, I decided to break open the door and rushed towards the emergency exit button.

  ₪ ₪ ₪

  Chapter 6

  The Long Drive

  September 19th, 2014: “What is the emergency now? Why should I come over to your place immediately?” I questioned Diana over phone.

  “There is no one at home” came her instant reply.

  “Ooooohhhh!” I said playfully.

  “Don’t let the horses of your imagination run wild dear boy. I want to go to my friend Darshini’s house now and invite her for our wedding. She stays in Mathur. Come soon. My parents might come home anytime in the evening” she urged me.

  I was at Thiruvanmiyur at my bachelor pad then. It was 1 PM in the afternoon and the sun was making its presence felt in the best way possible.

  “To a friend’s place? Err... It will be too hot outside now.” I told her. “It might be really difficult for me to drive. Moreover, I don’t want to get tanned before our wedding. If we are to spend the time at your home, then I could give it a try”

  “You dirty pervert. And can you even tan anymore? Duh!! Fine, you stay there. I will go by myself” saying, she cut the call ruthlessly.

  Women have their own way of bending their men to their will. I got ready and left my room within 10 minutes flat! I called and informed her that I would reach her place within half an hour. She responded as if she expected my call and asked me to come at the earliest.

  I couldn’t believe my eyes. Diana was standing right in front of me in her bikini. The door behind us was locked. Phew! The things that girls do when parents aren’t around.

  She came close to me to hug me. I could smell her sweet fragrance. It was jasmine, I liked it. I was nervous and excited at the same time. My hands trembled. I couldn’t take my eyes off her perfectly shaped body. She brought her lips towards mine, and just as I was about to taste them, I heard a horn blare in my right ear. That’s when I came back to my senses and looked around.

  I was still at the Tidal Park signal and it had turned green. The vehicle behind me kept on honking incessantly. I started my bike and rode it as fast as I could, hoping my day dream to turn into reality.

  I reached her bus stop in about half an hour and dialed her number. She guided me to her house, and as I rode following her directions, I saw her on the way walking towards me. I pressed the brake disappointed.

  “Why did you start walking already? I would have come and picked you at your door steps.”

  “That’s fine! Someone might see you coming in and I don’t want them to imagine things, especially when my parents aren’t around. Start the bike.” she ordered.

  I pouted in disappointment.

  “Why, what did you expect? To be in my bed?” she smirked.

  “No, no! All that is only after our marriage.” I lied and started my bike as she sat in the pillion.

  She was my Google map again, as we drove from Padi to Mathur. It was one of the best roads I had driven on. It was long, straight, serene and traffic-free. She sat behind me leaving a considerable distance between us.

  “Why don’t you come closer and hug me?” I questioned her.

  “Only after our marriage.” She insisted.

  “Hardly 40 days left for that baby!”

  “Doesn’t matter.” she said and kept her handbag between us. Damn.

  We reached D
arshini’s house in about 20 minutes. Darshini was her classmate in college and her best buddy. She was married and lived with her mom and husband.

  “Vanga Vanga! [Welcome! Welcome]” her mom smiled and lead us in.

  We chatted for some time. Darshini was upset that Diana didn’t come for her wedding. I then had to convince her and made her to agree for coming to ours. As always I talked non-stop and Darshini’s mom was impressed. She said that I complimented Diana, who was the silent and calm type, perfectly. Opposites attract indeed.

  We then conversed for some more time after which we decided to take leave. The climate suddenly changed like the mood swings of a toddler and it started to drizzle.

  “We need to reach home soon. I can’t get back home all wet. I will be caught red-handed as my parents still believe I am at home” Diana urged me to drive faster.

  I was in no mood to listen to her. It was the perfect setting. A soothing climate, long drive, light drizzles, my favorite girl on the bike, nothing could get better than that. I began to drive slowly deliberately.

  “Drive fast!”

  “Can’t hear you, baby! Come closer to me.” I said.

  I could slowly feel her hand hugging my waist and holding it tightly. Her body embraced my back as she came closer.

  “Take me home soon.” she whispered into my ear.

  “I will take you to my room in Thiruvanmiyur, if you put it like that.” I said as I smiled.

  I drove the bike at a snail’s pace as her hold tightened around me further. The gap between us became non-existent. I could hear her heartbeat and feel her breath. Her thighs were close to my legs and were wet. She didn’t complain, I never would.

  It was one of the most memorable rides of my life. On the way, she showed me the marriage hall where our reception was to take place. None of that chatter fell into my ears anyway. My sole focus was on her hug and her proximity to me. I wanted to stop the bike and kiss her in the rain. The best way to overcome temptation is by yielding to it.

  I stopped in the middle of the bridge which we were crossing at that moment.

  “Why are you stopping?”

  “It’s raining too heavily! I am not able to drive.” I lied.

  She should have guessed it.

  “Get down for a minute please” I requested her.