Lovers in the Café

She comes, conquers and announces, “Hello sweetheart, you look tired."

"Not anymore."

"Hmmm...Mere paas bas 15 minutes hain…don’t mind yaar…bossne tight leash pe rakkha hai.”

“Tell him to go to the pearly gates and disappear into the oblivion. Forever. You coloured your hair again?”

“Does it look nice? You didn’t much appreciate the last one.” She takes a chair finally.

“Yes I like this one…green tinge this time. It looks cool…suits your brown hair.”

“It’s burgundy. Anyways, kuchh shayari karo na mere baalon pe!”

"Hmmm..."

"Jaldi bolo...jaana hai."

"Sochane do...haan, listen...

Ikke pe ikka, dukki pe dukki, tikke pe tikka aur satte pe satta…”

“Ok boss, I got the message…it looks awful, no? I thought you would like it.”

“It looks great…you didn’t let me complete. Care to listen to the second line?”

“Nope, keep you shayari for your fans…………………………………………"

"..........."

"Don't sulk, sunaao…”

“dhyaan se suno…Irshaad…

Ikke pe ikka, dukki pe dukki, tikke pe tikka aur satte pe satta,

Ye julfen hain ke ghataon ke sannaton me khila ek ghaas ka patta…”

“hahaha…”

“Hey saw that lightening?”

“Where?”

“Struck my heart just moments ago…tere hansee ka baadal garja, followed by adaaon ki lightening.”

“Haaye…Kya baat hai B’saab, aaj mizaaj bade kaafir hain aapke…maar hi daaloge kya?”

“Maren hamare dushman…bass aur 15 minutes! Don’t go alone, I’ll drop you.”

“Ok…”

“So what’s like ultimately romantic for you?”

“Don’t bother…”

“Common…”

“You have seen that song from Taj Mahal? Hmmmmm…Jo Vaada Kiya…I wish I had a good voice…Remember how that ghastly hero creates a carpet of roses for the equally ghastly heroine to walk on? That’s like ultimately romantic for me, my feet against the velvety touch of the rose petals…”

“You mean Pradeep Kumar and Beena Roy? Hmm...but hey, what if the hidden honey bee gives a good sting on your delicate feet?”

“You unromantic bloke…get lost.”

“Point noted…you will definitely have that pleasure one day…”

“Of you getting lost or me treading on rose petals?”

“You trampling the rose petals…”

“Oh really? When? After our marriage?”

“Darling, jale pe namak nahi hi chhidko to achchha hai.”

“I am sorry re…it’s just that this comes from guilt…I feel responsible somehow…”

“Oye ye guilt wuilt chak…tainu time jyada hai jo inn baataame time waste kardi hai?”

“Punjabi? Noooo…not again…”

“……….”

“……….”

“That bullock has been staring at you for a long time now, since the moment you joined me. Do you know that guy?”

“No…honestly, do you blame him?”

“Yes……I mean, no.”

“What will happen to us after say, a year?”

“What do you mean?”

“You think you will be able to manage what I said before?”

“No…but I am confident you will do a turn-around.”

“I doubt. Why can’t we be just together?”

“Why don’t you marry me?”

“Ok…stop…”

“Ok…”

“But life is so beautiful when we’re together.”

“Beautiful? Sunsets are beautiful…but you, and our love…it’s spectacular…”

“Stop it stud, if you have forgotten, we saw Con Air together!"

".........."

"But honestly, I am afraid to look too far into the future.”

“Ok baby, listen, life’s too weird already without us looking into the future…Don’t you have a sneak peek of the future alone…we’ve got each other and we’ll sort it out somehow.”

“……….”

“What?”

“What what?”

“Why do you smile?”

“Coz I just realized how much I love you…”