Feminist Dating - Complete - Page 31

'First dates are awkward'

Maan hadn't bothered calling once to confirm their outing, for he simply forgot up until she called to let him know that she'll make her 'own way', those where her modest words which triggered a unknown irritation within him. Yet he ignored, and flowed down with breeze as soon as the clock struck 7:30. He was a man of discipline, never to be late even for a cordial dinner, yes that's how he saw it. A friendly dinner with one of his friend, maybe his only female friend. This was no date, so there was nothing to be nervous about yet when his phone shrilled calling for his attention he jumped up seeing Dadima, and then he rejected the call almost immediately, a preposterous act he never committed. 'Men no fear' he repeated the influential words of The Rock as he took off his blazer and slid into the back of his car.

'Dadi' he answered when she rang again

'Maan what are you doing?' she whipped as he concentrated on unbuttoning the cuffs, and rolled up his sleeve, the driver he noticed took a left turn then a right

'Just going for a meeting dadi' he lied with ease, a little rebellious smirk playing on his lips. Fooling Dadima was an easy task, oh so he thought as he heard Dadima snigger in the background.

'Hmm I see, ok what did you think about today's article?' she asked and he swore he heard her laugh between the question. Was he being paranoid, was the date, no no no was the cordial dinner affecting his senses? As the pulsating thought travelled, his hands froze mid-air stopping the mundane task

'Maan' Dadima probed jarring his thoughts and he broke into an unwanted discussion, he hung up saying but I still think it wasn't an article and more like a personal diary. 'Why are females so free with their feelings? Its cringe worthy!' and even before Dadima could rebuke he pressed the disconnect button, ending their talks with a victory grin. He chuckled imagining a frustrated Dadima who immediately texted 'YOU DO NOT HANG UP ON ME MISTER' with three angry faces.

'We're here' the driver instructed a few minutes later and he found himself 15 minutes early, now he JUST couldn't go early to a cordial dinner, so instead he opened up his email and got stuck with work.

'oh Geet I'm so sorry for being late' he apologised rushing to the table the headwaiter showed, as she took in his view: one hand his in pocket while the other folded over the phone; without a blazer and sleeves rolled up, but what caught her attention was his tout chest playing hide and seek between the moving laps of his shirt.

'I was feeling warm' he smiled quickly buttoning up the third button as she reached for the chilled water; he had left the other two as it is, 'oh boy' she flushed trying to keep her calm watching him take the seat opposite her and wave to the waiter.

'You weren't waiting for too long, were you' he asked once the waiter left with their orders, the clock ticked 8:25 indicating he was more than 15minutes late.

'No its ok, gave me the time to absorb the surrounding' she smiled brightly and he couldn't help but smile back. Her smiles were infectious.

'You know the table there, I think they're on a blind date' she pointed carefully and immediately looked away once he registered not wanting to come across as snooping, a soft smirk playing on his lips as usual watching her converse in the easiest fashion.

'Ever so observant' well she couldn't say the paper asked her to be, so instead she shrugged claiming traits, yet she knew it was. She always looked for hidden feelings and motives however when it came to the man in front of her, all logics died a silent harmonious death. From the corner of her eyes, she saw the blind daters fight of some sort, while the guy held his plate away the girl pounced forward trying to reach for his plate. Awkward!

'What the hell is wrong with her?' Maan questioned in horror as the waiter placed their order

'How can you say it's not him?' she questioned aback, fuming at him for yet again accusing the female in another situation

'She seems a little spoilt, she wants to share the food and he doesn't' the female waiter shared and then left as Maan raised a brow as if answering Geet's question and that smug smirk, oh that See-I-am-always-right smirk riled her already simmering anger.

'Yes Tasha, the final copy of tomorrows paper is at my desk' she answered as Maan looked exasperated

'hmm I've sent it to print already' she finished as Maan looked around feeling slightly bored, although she wasn't the only one to receive calls tonight however she might be the only one that regretted

'I so hate that Tasha, ewww her voice is so annoying' he commented suddenly making her smile, she had known of Tasha's ways of keeping him away, be it a call or a visit; Tasha always opposed to his whimsical woes and hence the dislike

'Can't believe she and Sasha are sisters, somehow Sasha minus a few glitches is bearable but Tasha. Oh god she's as annoying as F' he continued pulling a face of pure hate as her smile grew bigger

'Why are most women this deranged?' he asked a question of his own helping her come out the stupor she was in

'And care to tell me how many women you know?' her raised brow told him of her annoyance yet he feigned ignorance

'Just enough' that proud smirk lay satisfied and untamed as her eyes heated in specks

'That's disgusting, females are such insensitive jerks' Maan seethed after a few minutes of silence. Geet was trying hard to control her crush and anger simultaneously, which was rather a hard task. While Maan seemed immune to his said words, however very vigilant to his surroundings. It was the lonely guy at the other table that caught his eye, from the looks of it the blind date had gone awfully wrong and he was left alone to finish off his meal. She was gone without him knowing or so they found out as waiter told him the same.

'That was indeed rude' though Geet was annoyed both at the girl and at Maan for his generalising, however she agreed it was uncalled for. When Maan continued with his ever-so-choosy-female speech; she chose to ignore, 'be in control, be in control' was her mantra.

'I'll pay' Geet offered when the time came for their date/cordial dinner' to end; the same female waiter arrived with a plate holding their bill. On the whole, dinner was an uneventful affair; although quite a few of Maan's remarks were damming however they both seemed to have enjoyed each other's company. Or the tiny moments where he wasn't talking and she wasn't bubbling.

'No no no' Maan wavered with a haphazard wave

'Look I insist, my treat' she smiled seeing that cute frown of his face

'oh shut up' he cut short flashing his wallet as she threw a horrified look and so did the waiter. Just when she thought things couldn't get any worse!

'Maan I'll pay' she continued, this time that laugh in her voice was missing

'You can pay next time'

'Fine we'll split it'

'Shut up Geet' he repeated unknowing of the effect it had on Geet who grew unfriendly and dismissive

'We'll spilt the bill' she ordered looking back at the waiter as he finally took in her appearance, angry and red, oh boy what has he done?

'I was only being a gentleman' he defended once at the door as she waited for the waitperson to collect her coat and bag. She had remained quiet while existing the plush restaurant and then tilted forward to wave down a flying taxi.

'Try harder next time' she pecked his cheek before getting into the taxi, he had so wanted to offer a ride home but nothing of such happened rather he knew there were going to several missed calls from his side and a cold shoulder from hers'. Dadima also awaited, 'dating is awkward' he muttered sitting in the backseat and rode off home.