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Shantanu S. Bhattacharyya Double Date
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Everlasting romance CD in the car - $19
Lunch with your girlfriend - $52
Dinner with your girlfriend - $64
The two girlfriends being different - priceless :)
It has been more than a year since I last came to this restaurant. There is no way the waiter will recognise me. But I immediately recognised him as he came out of the counter to take order from the couple sitting in the next table. He is a nice young guy who was doing his graduation in the physics dept. at CMU till I last spoke to him. He got partial scholarship from the school while this job arranged for the rest of his tuition. But this is NOT exactly why I remember him so well.
Two years back I had a girlfriend Sakshi. And 1.5 yrs back Sakshi got a room-mate Parul. And about a year back I had two girlfriends Sakshi and Parul :) And while you can hurl all the abuse you want on me, you cannot reasonably deny the genius involved in keeping this arrangement going for even a week. I had streched it for a month now when this mess happened.
'Union Grill' is one of the best restaurants near campus. Me and Sakshi used to come here atleast twice a week. I almost always ordered 'Jumbo fish sandwich' while Sakshi ordered her usual 'Chicken Burger'. That day was no different. Max, the waiter I talked about, had joined about a week back.
Max - Hi Guys ! How are you doing ??
Me - Gud Gud. How are you ??
Max - Pretty gud. So what can I get for you ? The regulars ?
Sakshi - Yep, and can I get some coke too ?
Max - Sure ! I will be right back with your orders
There was nothing unusual as we talked about our projects, profs, problems etc. And then we paid the bill and came out. Just then I got a call from Parul.
Parul(on phone) - Hi Dear ! Muaaahhh Wasssuupppp ??
Me - Hello, who's there ??
Parul - Honey, Its me Parul. Are you free this afternoon ?
Me - Hello, Hello Cant hear you Hellllooooo
And I disconnected the call. And of'course discretely switched off the cell as well.
Sakshi - Who was it ??
Me - No idea, all I could hear was some murmur. Anyways I gotta rush for my class. Cya later.
Sakshi - Class ?? But this is friday. You never have classes on friday !!
Me - Ya, but Dr. Kelsaw was not well yesterday. So he scheduled it for today. Gotta Rush. Byeee
Well, thats what happens when you have to lie in unforeseen circumstances. They are hardly believable and totally fragile. Like in this case, Classes never get rescheduled in CMU like that and secondly I forgot, Dr. Kelsaw is out of town. A terrible lie indeed.
Anyways, right now I had bigger worries. I had to call up Parul and make sense to her.
Me - Hi Sweetu, can you hear me now ?
Parul - Wat the hell. I tried your cell like 10 times. Why did you switch it off !!
Me - No honey I didn't. I was passing through the NMR centre. So the connection got disrupted. I just came out of that area.
Parul - What were you doing there ?
Me - Oh nothing ! I just thought I will get some sandwich from the cafetaria nearby.
Parul - Oh OK. But that place is closed today. Some cleaning or something going on. Went there an hour back.
(Phew ! Lucky me. I almost lied I bought sandwich there. )
Me - Thank God You told me. I will go somewhere else.
Parul - You are going nowhere else but coming straight to Union Grill. Our lab got cancelled today and I am freeeee.Lunch together. Yipppiieeee !!
(@%%@%@#@&&%&....Damn Damn ... Cant eat again and definitely not Union Grill )
Me - Hey listen. Thats great but I have to rush for a class now. So I will meet you in the evening
Parul - You just now said you were going for lunch. And class on a friday ? Since when ? Tell me honestly are you trying to avoid me ??
... and after 20 more mins. of emotional exchange I reluctantly agreed to do the unimaginable - Have second lunch in the same restaurant within an hour. Damn !!!
I met her just across the curb of the restaurant. Irrespective of the situation, there was something about Parul that made all my sins worthwhile. Hardly any make-up, just the earrings and light lipstick. Hair left open, sparkling eyes, silver bracelet to go alongwith her black t-shirt and denim. I just so so loved her. I planned to enter the restaurant and go straight to the second floor, order something really light and get out of here ASAP. My plan succeeded only till reaching the second floor.
The moment I stepped in Max and me came face to face.
Max - Hey Buddy ! You back ! Did you leave someth...
(and then he saw Parul right beside me)
There are moments you want to die. And then there are moments you are pretty much dead.
Max - err... So glad to see you back. Where have you been ? Hello Ma'm ! Which table ?
Me - The corner one. (And I just fled)
Max - What should I get you? The regulars ??
Parul - The regulars ?? Whats that ?
Me - He means something from the regular menu or friday special.
Max - Ya Ya. Thats what I meant. We have the regulars and then we have the weirdos. Girls seem to prefer the 'weirdos' nowadays.
I could have killed Max right there but I knew the situation called for such double meaning statements and I had to just bear it.
Parul I think I will just have plain chicken burger. What about you ?
Max Good pick Ma'm. One young girl came just an hour back. She made the same choice as you and totally loved the 'burger'.Seems pretty popular around here. (nastiest grin ever).
The entire ordeal lasted for 45 mins. As I came out of the restaurant I made a silent promise to myself, never ever to go to that place again. Double dating was risky. Double dating room-mates was way crazier. And now this witness to my craze. Terrible !.
Obviously my misadventures didn't last long. All it needed was one oversight to blow apart everything. In my case it was the wrong Valentine's day card to the wrong girl. I was mentally prepared for the eventuality but I stil miss Parul. Anyways, It has been a long time now. I guess I can move on and start fresh. That's why I came back to Union Grill today.
There he is. No Hi, No Hello, Fantastic. The past is buried :)
Me - Hi, Can I get the Menu please
Max - Sure Sir, Just to let you know there 50% off on the burgers and $2 off on all beverages.
Me - Oh thanks ! I guess I will still go for ..
Max - Jumbo fish ? The regular :D
I HATE THIS GUY ...Grrrrrrrrr !!
P.S. - The inspiration may be real but this still remains a work of fiction. May the author not be judged based on this. Though a 'Thank You' note if it got anybody thinking is always welcome :D