A short story i wrote sometime back

here is a short story i wrote a year back i think.....

6000 miles - A good day's work in the life of a faithful husband

" 'twill do, i think ", she said stiffly.
It wasn't the beginning of a torrid love affair.
I think those lines were spoken sometime around the
turn of the century.A time when I had little to do
,and much to observe.

She was a year older to me,and you know how i dig of stuff.I think it was the English accent that killed me.I poured her a glass of cheap Indian wine.
"Yes, there is such a thing,it isn't too bad";
anticipating the question;"though somethings are
best left to the French!"
"Yeah?like what else?"she asked without interest.
"Err,speaking French,I guess",I blurted ou and felt dumb
instantly.The air of sophistication my opening line died a thousand deaths with the unpreparedness of the second.
To my surprise,she ejected a short laugh,though i promised
myself to anticipate better.In any case reflexes weren't my strength
,planning was.

I would have you believe that i have mastered the
art of willfully surrendering the initiative in a
conversation.Get a person interested and let her
take over from there.It's like saying "Hey!here i am,
now do/say whatever you like with me."
Most people take it from there,she did not.

There was about 3 minutes of silence,the not so awkward
kinds,if there is such a thing.It wasn't working.She kept
sipping her wine graciously,in a way only the English
can.The French do not lack the grace,but they invariably have
this "We invented the wine slash it's only wine"
look i have grown to dislike.

Looking "a little constipated and charming" at the same time,
I asked her if i should pour any more.That is Nia's
description of my attempt to look disinterestedly charming.
According to her it looks as if I have been unsuccessfully
trying to locate the exact coordinates of a cistern for my
biannual unloading.I think she adds the "charming" part
because she loves me too much,and i suspect
she secretly loves that look too.

" 'twill do, i think ", she said stiffly.
"Do you travel much?"i asked,a relatively safe question
posed to someone 6000 miles away from her country.
"Oh no,not really,'cept that i keep going to France,
err the French speaking France.",she grinned.
Below the belt!!!
"Let it go.We Indians have a great sense of humour,
except it doesn't always come right in your language."
I said as I recovered."Of course,some things
aren't funny in any language",I added sheepishly.

"My language?I bet it's the language you think and
dream in!And by the way,it was quite funny,you know,
you so looked silly and eager
to impress",she giggled.

Now,really,that may have actually sounded nice if she were
solemnly reminiscing on the occasion of our 10th wedding
anniversary.

"Why it was barely five minutes back I said that and you
talk of it as if it were years ago",I said looking as if
i wasn't being taken advantage off.

"Isn't that a good thing?",she smiled flirtatiously
trying to match my fake vulnerability.
She was in the net.

"Maybe it is,but I must go now.",I said quickly and purposefully.

Then,I asked the waiter for the cheque ,paid promptly and left looking
for a real chase.
As i said, it wasn't the beginning of a torrid love affair.

the Dabbler is in trouble.Three deadlines...in three days
in another 3 days you might hear me giving unsolicited advice
about not dabbling into too much.
dhananjay

A dabbler is born

Too much going on these days....and i still sign up for every blasted proposition,
so,here's a resolution,
i will not sign up for any new project which sounds cool to the wannabe techie in me!
dhananjay

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