Sana looks at Nandini who was busy reading a novel.

Sana: Nandu...

Nandini: Hmmm... (Still engrossed in book)

Sana kept silent. Nandini looked up through her reading glasses which was resting down on the tip of her nose. Sana was looking at her wardrobe and then starts strolling to and fro in her room biting her nail.

Nandini: Yen aitu akka? {What happened akka?}

Sana: Huh? Nandu, what do people wear on date night?

Nandini was shocked. She removes her reading glasses and places it in the novel to bookmark and keeps it on the side.

Nandini: Why are you asking? Are you going on a date with him?

Sana: Huh? Hmmm... (Nervously)

Nandini: Are you serious? Akka, how can you go on a date night with stranger. I was worried about your boyfriend idea and you getting him home but at home atleast I am there with you. You can't go out alone with him at night.

Sana: Shut-up! I have an knowledge of identifying a good person and a bad person. I lost a chess game, so he asked me for a date as his prize. He is a good person.

Nandini: Yenu? {What?} A chess champion lost a chess game? Did you lose deliberately or is he a better player?

Sana: Stop this interrogation and help me. What do you wear on you night outs with Vishnu?

Nandini: He is my husband, I can wear anything but please you are going with a stranger so wear something very plain. You are not the great warrior Kittur Rani Channamma. He looks like Bheema from Mahabharata and you look like a little mouse. I am scared for your safety.

Sana: Devre Devre!! {Oh God!} It's useless asking you. Amma Taayi, neenu dayavittu ninna novel odamma. {Oh Great Goddess, please continue reading your novel}

Nandini: (frowns) Ninn karma. {Your wish} Do whatever.

She resumes reading her novel. Sana picks up a black dress and Nandini looks at her from the corner of her eyes.

Nandini: No no no! The neck is too deep.

Sana glares at her.

Nandini: (puppy face) please don't wear that.

Sana nods her head in disbelief as she keeps the dress back inside the wardrobe. She pulls out the blue dress.

Nandini: No! It's short.

Sana: (glares) It's below knee.

Nandini: please no! (Pleads)

Sana exhales deeply and places it back into the wardrobe. A maroon dress falls down from the wardrobe and she picks it up.

Nandini: Akka, perfect. Wear it.

Sana: Ay Daddu, adu nighty.. {Hey idiot, it's a nighty}

Nandini: Oops sorry! I only saw the length and didn't notice that it was a nighty.

Sana: (folds her hand) Keep quiet. I will wear as per my wish now.

Sana pulls out a green dress and before Nandini opens her mouth to comment she glared at her to shut her mouth. She gets ready while Nandini couldn't find peace and kept observing her the whole time helplessly.

Nandini: Akka, he is just your patient only right? Is there anything serious?

Sana was silent and surprised as to why she couldn't answer straight and found it difficult to deny. She was searching for the answer herself hence it was useless trying to answer.

Nandini: Akka.. Akka.. Akkaaaa...

Sana: (annoyed) Stop it! Why are you screaming like a Kaage {crow} Kaa kaa kaa.. I don't want to answer to your stupid questions.

Nandini: Stupid question? Hmm.. that means you are not serious. Thank God!! (Folds her hands looking at the ceiling)

Sana: Huh? What's wrong in it if I am serious? (Sana ponders)

Nandini: I don't know.. May be because he is a North Indian.. will you be able to adjust?

Sana: Don't go so far!! I am just going on a date that's it and for him I will be gone after 10 days.

Nandini: Akka, in that case please don't invest yourself emotionally, I don't want you to get hurt again.

Sana: Hmmm..

She sprays the perfume and goes out to his room. She knocks on the door. He was ready in black turtle neck t-shirt and blue denim.

Sana: (coughs) Someone is looking very handsome.

Sid: (smiles) Thank you. But someone is giving me complex of being under dressed for the date. You are looking extremely gorgeous yourself.

Sana: (blushes) Thank you. So where are you taking me?

Sid: You are a vegetarian, so I chose The Higher Taste.

Sana: Wow! Nice choice. It's my favourite. Let's go then.

Sidharth: Yes, my half the work is done!
.
.
.

They reach the restaurant and occupy their seat.

Sid: Wow! This place is nice. I love the ambiance.

Sana: Yes, I visit here often. The light music so soothing.

Sid: Since you have been here so many times, you decide the menu.

Sana smiles and agrees, she looks at the menu and places an order.

Sid: Sana, I have lost everything in my life and I had stopped putting up a fight against the wrong doer. When I had no hope to live, you came in as a ray of hope. I want to thank you for everything.

Sana: (rolls her eyes) Oh God! How many times should I remind you that  you don't say thank you to your girlfriend? (Giggles)

Sid: Sana, can I ask you something?

Sana: Sure, ask me anything.

They are served with a welcome drink.

Sid: Why did you want a boyfriend? Didn't you dream of a marriage or a husband?

Sana: (stumbles) aa.. aa.. I can't afford a husband for the limited time you see. Boyfriend are short term and does not have commitment. They can leave you anytime and go. And anyhow in our case, I will be gone in 10 days. (Smiles)

Sid: (his smile fades) That was an answer for the first question. What about my second question? Didn't you dream of a marriage or a husband?

Sana: Who doesn't? But I want to keep it realistic. (Sips on the drink using the straw)

Sid: Sana, I want to marry you. Will you marry me?

Sana: (looks up shocked and the drink spills from the straw) What? That's.. that's not possible.. You know that I am..

Sid: (cuts her) I don't want to know anything. I want to fulfill all your dreams in whatever time we have.

Sana: (she held her head in her hand) What's in it for you Sid? You might fulfill my dream but this will leave you in bitterness. I want you to live after 10 days and stay happy in life.

Sid: (holds her hand in his) I promise I will live and stay happy even after 10 days. But if you don't agree, I might have to stay in repent for life. I don't want to do this.

Sana: But Sid..

"Hey Sahana. What a pleasant surprise?"

She looks at the person and pulls her hand from Sid's grip. She stood up from her place.

Sana: Bharath! What are you doing here?

Bharath: Dining obviously.

Sana: Alone?

Bharath: Aaa.. Hmmm..

Sana: Sullu helbeda. Nandini kalsidla ninna? {Don't lie. Did Nandini sent you here?}

Bharath: Howdu. Ninage yenu apaaya aagde haage nodkollike kalsidlu. {Yes, She sent me for your safety}

Sidharth looked at them unable to understand what they were talking.

Sana: Adara avshyakate illa. Ivaru tumba olle avaru. Ninu hogu illinda. {No need. He is a very good person. You please leave}

She looked at Sid who looked at them perplexed.

Sana: Oh, he is my college class mate, Bharath. And Bharath, he is Sid, my boyfriend.

Bharath smirked looking at Sana. Sid stood up and shook hands with Bharath with a smile. He was happy being introduced as a boyfriend.

Sid: Hi Bharath, Nice to meet you.

Bharath: Same here buddy.

Sid: What were y'all speaking?

Bharath: (speaks before Sana could speak) She asked me to join y'all for dinner since I am alone.

Sid frowned as he looked at Sana for inviting a 3rd person to join on their date. Sana looked at Bharath in shock while he took a seat next to her with a smile. Sid quietly sat down and so did Sana. Their order was served.

Bharath: Wow! My favourite. Can we have one more plate please? And one additional serving of this as well.

Sana and Sid looked at him in annoyance unaware of each other feeling the same about him.

Sana: Hotte biriya tinnu, bakkaasura. Ninage hogu andre gotaglillawa? {Fill your tummy until it bursts, Bakkaasura demon. Didn't you understand that I asked you to leave?}

Bharath: Sahana, why don't you speak in english itself, Sid won't understand and might feel left out.

Sid: Sahana?

Sana: Hmm.. Sana is my pet name.

Bharath: Since when Sahana? We all called you Bugri in college.

Sana: I was always called Sana at home.

Sid: What's Bugri?

Sana: Forget it.

Bharath: Bugri means Top. The toy which spins round and round. She used to be a pro dancer in college. (Smiles as he stuffs the food into his mouth)

Sid: Oh, we call it latoo in hindi. Sana, you dance as well? (Sana nods)

Bharath: Not just dance bro. She is a trained classical Bharatanatyam dancer and had won many awards. Strange you don't know about it being her boyfriend.

Sid looked at Sana as he didn't like the remark made by Bharath.

Sana: We have lot of time to understand each other Bharath, we would have known some more about each other if you had to not join us uninvited.

Sid: Uninvited? (Looks at Bharath)

Bharath: Okay, let me leave then. (Gets up to leave)

Sid: What? No!

Sana: One minute Bharath. Please pay your share of bill at the counter. We are on a date and I don't want my boyfriend to pay for some uninvited guest.

Sid: Sana? Bharath (Bharath frowns and leaves) What is happening? Sana, why did you turn so harsh towards him?

Sana: I was just giving him the taste of his own medicine. I asked him to leave politely yet he joined, I kept quiet and then he started disrespecting you which I couldn't tolerate.

Sid: But he is your college friend right? He might have felt too bad.

Sana: It's okay. Don't worry about him. He spoilt our entire date and my mood as well.

He got up and sat beside her. He hugged her from side and kissed her forehead. She was shocked at his gesture and her anger melted like butter at his touch and she was feeling very shy.

Sidharth: It's okay. Don't spoil your mood now. Shall we go home?

Sana: Hmmm.. Can we walk home instead of taking a vehicle?

Sidharth: Won't it be too far?

Sana: No, I know a shortcut, it will take half an hour.

Sidharth: Hmm.. I don't mind until I get to spend time with you.

___________________________

To be continued.. ❤️❤️