My true love story- Itreallyhpnd (Part 2)

I fished around for my cellphone and started to dial, immediately realizing that I hadn't dialed his country code. What is your country code? I typed but he was already offline. By the time I found the code, the 5 minutes were up. I called anyway but he didn't take the call.

Suddenly, he was online again. You were late. Your chance is over, he wrote. Dammit, I thought and took a shot anyway- Ek aur chance milegi? Ek aur chance chahiye?, he countered. I smiled, yes please. Ok, call. So I called. Again.

His voice was deep and masculine yet silky smooth. A dulcet tone that stayed with me even afterwards. Our conversation began like the usual. He asked me what my plans are? Why I'm thinking of USA? A loquacious person, I rambled on without thought, explaining my career and studies in detail. After a while he interrupted, You love to talk. That's selfish. Do you ever listen to the other person? Ouch! That felt like a real slap in the face. I hadn't expected such a harsh response. I would later find out that Unexpected is Mr. Bond's middle name. I apologized and told him I'm not selfish and he should get to know me better before judging. But his comment did shut me up for good. Sensing the tension, he asked if he could ask two questions. Sure, I said. Do you wear sarees? My answer- I really like women dressed in a saree, but I don't know how to. I wore them for my farewells. He thought that girls look the most beautiful in Indian clothes like suits and sarees. Then came the second question- do you know how to make aloo paranthe? Yes, of course. I love cooking. I'll definitely cook for you. As soon as I said this, his tone changed. I don't need you to make paranthe for me. I can make my own. Acha...What if I make them better than you? I asked, smiling. I think he smiled but said nothing. From food we went to music, his other passion. He told me he loved singing. I asked him to sing something for me. And the song he sang was-

Dil ka yeh kya raaz hai
Jaane kya kar gaye
Jaise andhero mein tum
Chandani bhar gaye

Kare chaand taaron ko mash'hoor itna kyun
Kambakht inse bhi khoobsoorat hai tu... la la la..

from the movie Bodyguard. His voice was mellow and beautiful. His love for music was clearly evident in the way he was singing. It was a voice that would touch your heart. It touched a chord with me instantly.

There was something else that took me by surprise. While singing the song, he deliberately omitted the words- I love you. When I asked why so? He said he'll only say it to the girl he will marry. So you've never said these words to anyone? No, never, he said. I admired his thought. In today's world, these words are thrown around like spare change. People say them often and can't live up to them at all. A friend once told me after her break-up, "Love is a euphemism for selfish interests." But the fact that he gave these simple words the significance they deserve made me respect him.

And then he said something even more startling. Websites are not the right place to find a soul mate. I agreed. It's true you can't interview someone and see what they are like so you can decide if they are fit for the job of being your partner. It takes time to know someone and to bond emotionally. It takes time to trust someone and love them. The funny thing was that here we were talking through a website and none of it felt forced or uncomfortable.

It was two hours when we ended the call. Its been two hours, he said, did you realize? I giggled. Pata hi nahi chala. So do you think we'll ever talk again?, he asked. I don't know for sure. But I really hope so, I told him.

Hope springs eternal.