In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.

Coco Chanel

Chapter 4: The Date

   "Flight number 2732 is boarding. Last call. Flight number 2732 is boarding," the flight attendent announced.

   Madhan smiled in relief that he was just in time.

   "Here's the ticket," he said. The flight attendant just nodded her head in acknowledgement.

   Madhan walked in the aisle, rolling his two big hand luggages. He was going back to India after two years, and there were loads to buy. As per his mother's orders, he applied for vacation and was surprised his leave was granted minutes later.

   He had started shopping immediately. There were dresses to buy, lots of chocolates, and a ton of other miscellaneous gifts to buy for his family. After all, he's allowed to visit them only once every two years.

   Surprisingly, he wasn't late because of the traffic, or the fact that he had to pack four luggages. It was rather embarrassing for him to admit it since the reason was that he was daydreaming about Riya.

   Ever since he looked at the email, it was love at first sight. He didn't think it was possible to fall in love after looking at a picture. But he did.

   His mother sent four pictures. Three out of four of them were her wearing a saree. She was fair, but in a tanned way, and her face was flawless. She wasn't thin, but she wasn't fat either. Unlike him, he cringed.

   But she appeared quite short. Maybe five feet ish. He, on the other hand was close to six feet. Five eleven, to be exact. He always wanted a tall girl. Most girls he came across appeared like dolls to him. But now, it didn't matter to him. He thought it could be cute, to have a doll-like wife.

   In the three pictures, she was wearing different sarees. Everything suited her. The fourth picture of her was in a casual attire, and he immediately approved, as that was the kind of clothes girls were supposed to wear, in the US. It would look quite odd if she were to parade about the streets wearing a saree, and looking sexy as hell. Did he just think she was sexy?

   Madhan chuckled to himself and snapped out of his daydream again. He was comfortably seated in the plane.

   Eighteen hours later, Madhan unboarded the flight, and went to retrieve his luggage.

   Chennai, he thought, smiling to himself. It felt like ages since he was last here.

   "Beta," Madhan heard his mother's voice distinctly from somewhere.

   "Ma!" Madhan said, a big smile lighting up his face. He pushed the cart in front of him, and hugged the life out of his mother.

   "How are you, Reshma? Being a good girl only, aren't you," Madhan asked his little sister, affectionately.

   "Yeah, duh," she said, rolling her eyes.

   "Good girl? She wants a butterfly tattoo and three ear piercings," Mrs. Roy said, disapprovingly.

   Madhan laughed heartily. His sister was currently doing her first year of college. He wasn't surprised to hear that. She was the rebel of the family. He, on the other hand, was the obedient one.

   It was Sunday morning, and his jet lag made him want to crash, but Reshma wouldn't let him. She kept begging him about what he bought for her.

   Succumbing to their wishes, Madhan spent the rest of the day talking to his family and giving them what he got for them. All his family members came home to see him, and by the end of the day, when he crashed, he was as dead as a nail.

   The next day morning, he was woken up by a blood curling scream.

   "What happened," Madhan asked to no one in particular, as he slowly stirred.

   "Your date! Your date! You were supposed to meet Riya at nine for breakfast! It's almost eleven, " Reshma shrieked.

   That immediately awakened Madhan. "What the heck? Why didn't anyone wake me up," he grouched.

   "Mom was feeling bad about waking you up, and when I asked her if you already left for your date, it was like she had just remembered. Now get up, " Reshma said, hitting him on his shoulder.

   "You should have woken me up earlier. Now I have to shower. Do you have her number?" Madhan asked.

   Both Reshma and Mrs. Roy looked at each other. "I'm guessing that's a no. Just call her parents will you?"

   "No need. Just tell her. I'm sure she'll understand." Mrs. Roy said.

   Madhan took another fifteen minutes to choose what he wanted to wear. At around twelve, he was ready to go. He caught an auto and reached the mentioned place.

   He walked into Cafe Coffee Day and looked for Riya. He didn't know if he would be able to recognize her.

   But there she was. Looking as beautiful as ever. Even with a scowl on her face.

   Wait what? Scowl? Oh oh.

   Madhan walked up to her. He could tell she recognized him too. "Hi. I'm Madhan Roy," he said, sticking his hand out.

   Riya appeared to eye his hand. "Riya," she said, curtly. "What time were you supposed to be here," she asked, ignoring his hand.

   "Nine? Look I'm sorry, I overslept. Jetlag. "

   "I could have been informed, " she fumed. "I'd been waiting here for hours. Anyways, I finished eating. Eat whatever you want, and we'll leave."

   "No, it's fine. We'll go somewhere else. " Madhan said, awkwardly.

   Riya didn't crack a smile.

   "Are you sure?"

   "Yeah."

   "Okay, let's go then." Riya got up and didn't bother to wait for him.

   Things weren't looking up so good. Madhan knew he was so dead. He didn't tell her that he hadn't eaten, though. Riya was already riled up. The last thing he wanted to do was make her wait even more. Hopefully, she gets hungry soon.

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