Chapter One-Perfect Strangers

Love stories are a rather sad concept to me. I am one of those people who have never had one. Never one of those people to be proposed by a million men, never one of those a guy has ever fallen in love with at first sight, I have always been jealous of all my girl friends. Yeah, it is a rather nasty thing to say but, when you have never had something your friends can take for granted, you are bound to feel that way.

It is no justification. Just a confession, perhaps.

There are always two girls in a movie, the main lead and the best friend or the ex-girlfriend, may be. They have a story too. But, their side of the story is never told, never talked about, never made movies about, because for some stories, there is no "happily ever after" ending.

My line of thought was interrupted by a guy who excused himself after he almost bumped into me. "It is okay", I said and moved towards my destination.

Rajiv Chowk Metro station is always a crowded place.

I wonder if it is just as crowded on weekends.

I spotted a couple through the corner of my eye, I sighed. The tragic trail of thoughts came back to me.

I have never been there. I have never had a guy to pull a chair for me to sit in. It must be a happy feeling.

I reached my destination, an ice cream parlor I visit almost every time I am at the metro station which is almost everyday these days. I switch metros to get to my classes at British Council, here.

"A vanilla single scoop in a cup, please", I said. The guy seemed to be busy and did not hear me. I repeated my order, another guy heard me.

"Not many people have vanilla these days. You seem old -fashioned", came a voice from behind me. I looked around and found a familiar face.

He smiled at me, and I smiled back. He hugged me, caught me off guard. I hugged him back. I knew it would be rude not to.

"So, you found me", I said. "I had to.", he said with the most charming smile I had ever seen.

"One black current, please", he said to the guy who held out my vanilla.

All my stupid, boring and tragic thoughts vanished into thin air as he offered my vanilla to me.