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Pushpa's Musings

Pushpa was getting ready and thinking of Happy. She could not quite put her finger on why she had sought out Happy and invited him out. Yes, she liked the fact that he was very easy to get along with and that he seemed to belong to a class of people who are real- with no affectations whatsoever. Yes, he was a bit larger-than-life but that could hardly be held against someone who came from a culture that practiced hyper-masculinity. If anything, he was better mannered than most men she knew. Not the most polished- she didn't think he would be very comfortable in an ultra-formal setting- but he seemed to have his heart in the right place. And yes, he was a flirt! He had flirted with her on the train and now on the phone too. Pushpa, however, knew that he would never cross the thin line between flirting and harassment. Oddly, she reflected, she trusted him implicitly even though she had met him just once. He would be a great friend if he ever got over his moods- Pushpa thought out aloud with a wry smile. She somehow managed to wipe the smile off her lips and apply lipstick. There! Ready! She looked at her watch and groaned inwardly. She had spent over an hour getting ready, and it was not even a date- at least not the romantic kind! She was used to spending a lot of time getting ready when going out with Rohit. Rohit always went to the most expensive, the most formal places. For tonight, she had picked up a peach top and coupled it with a pair of white Jodhpuri trousers and nude color open toe sandals that showed off her peach nail polish. She looked at herself once again in the mirror and gave herself an approving nod- casual chic- exactly what she wanted to look. It was nice to feel like Cinderella but sometimes it also felt nice to let her hair down.  

Pushpa walked out of her home and asked her dad's driver to drop her to Toto's. The ride would be less than ten minutes and she could have hailed a rickshaw but she wanted to look her best when she met Happy again. She could always take a rick back.

 Pushpa reached Toto's Garage and the place was jam-packed as she'd expected. She told the manager that she needed a place for two. He noted down her number and asked her to wait outside.  As she was waiting outside, she saw three old classmates of hers get down from a car and walk towards Toto's. As she waved to them, Pushpa reflected that she had never really gotten along with Shreya- one of the trio of girls walking towards her. She- Shreya- was too aggressive and very overconfident. The other two girls- Hema and Richa were not too bad but always did what Shreya told them to. That Shreya came from a filthy rich family did nothing to improve her attitude. The three girls crossed the road and greeted Pushpa. 

 "Hi Pushpa", Shreya said, a tad indifferently.

 "Hi Shreya, Hema, Richa. So good to see you guys", replied Pushpa.

 "Meeting Rohit?", asked Hema

 "No, a friend", replied Pushpa.

 Thankfully, she was saved from further conversation when the manager called out her name and informed her that two chairs by the bar were free now. Pushpa hastened inside and claimed the two vacant chairs by plopping herself down on one, and her bag on the other. She looked at her watch- 10:05. In spite of herself, she was feeling a bit nervous. She took out her compact and checked herself out. Her make up was in place. Tucking an errant lock of hair behind her ear, Pushpa snapped shut her compact and looked up. Happy was standing there, looking at her bemusedly. 

 "How long have you been here?", Pushpa asked, a bit cross at having been caught off-guard.

 "I dunno", Happy relied with a devil-may-care grin. "My eyes have been glued to you, Pushpa. I don't know how much time has gone by!!"

 "You are such a rascal!", she shot back with a smile and held out her hand.

 "Guilty as charged! Punjabis meet people they love with a hug. Handshakes are for acquaintances and enemies"

 She got up and hugged him. He hugged he gently, making no inappropriate contact. He smelt nice. His perfume was earthy, woody- in character with what he was. And he was big built. She had not really noticed it earlier but she could now feel big, taut muscles beneath his T-shirt. 
   

   
   

   

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