Chapter 2- A lot could have happened over an icecream!

"I like vanilla, what's wrong with it?", I replied to a rather insignificant question with another insignificant question. What else could I say to a guy who was a perfect stranger. On our last meet, a few days ago, that is exactly what we were, perfect strangers. I could not call him that now, though.

In a rather unlikely situation, we had met by what people would call "chance", I would call it good fortune. But, that is another story.

I had never expected to meet him again, but he had found me.

I was happy beyond description. But, I hid it all. From him and from myself, there was no way I was going to raise my hopes. I was completely convinced that this was somebody else's story, and I was just in it for a side role. There was no way that anything exciting could ever happen in my dull life.


Things seemed to be spinning around though, here.

"What is wrong with vanilla? It is so plain, to begin with. On top of it, does it even have a flavour"? I can't even recall the last time I had one. Give it to me, I need to know what fascinates you so much with this white thing." He said, as he snatched my cup.

It is weird. Whoever told this guy, I wanted to share my ice-cream!

"You don't mind it, do you?", he said as he ate a spoonful. "Yeah, I still don't get it. You should tell me. You have been quiet all this while. Is something wrong?"
 
"Of course, something is wrong. You are eating my ice-cream and about the flavour, I like vanilla because it is the closest to simple one can get."

"Did you know that the more a person likes simple things, the more complicated he/she is?", he remarked casually.

Yes, I am complicated but he could not have known that. He hardly knows me!!!

"So, how did you find me?" I changed the topic to stop him from elaborating on that one, and more so because, I was really curious.

"Oh that! I didn't have to do much. You said you were going to Rajiv Chowk last time. All I did and could have done was to hang around this place a little more often. I deserve to be rewarded for my effort., he winked as he said. He wanted to know my real name.

I had lied the last time, and he knew it.

I was quiet. It was his turn to change the topic. "We should sit for a while. Let this be our first date!". He said, as he pulled out a chair for me. My eyes became moist and all I wanted to do was hug him at that moment. I shook my head and looked at my watch, it was just 5 minutes until my class started.

I have to make the most difficult choice of my life. Sit here for a dream date(my first date!) or attend a boring class. I would hate to be disappointed in this one. The class would be a better option.

"My name is Deepali Singhal. Find  me again.You can do that, I know." I smiled a forced smile and reached out to grab my ice-cream from him. "I get to keep the ice-cream atleast. I think I like vanilla. It isn't that bad.", he said as he clutched the ice-cream close to himself.

I smiled and left for my class. I knew this class would be point less, all I would think of would be of this weird gentleman Shashank, who had come out of nowhere and spiced up my life.