"Isn't it weird? Being on your own for the first time. In this crazy world. Trying to build something out of your life. Life was so much better when we were kids.", expressed Ishaan, his eyes embodying honesty.
"I sometimes can't believe that I wanted to grow up and be independent when I was a kid.", I gasped, sounding disappointed while saying that.
"Yeah, I can relate. You know, I wanted to be a pilot when I was seven. A surgeon when I was 10. And an engineer at 15. But now when I look back at those times, I just wish that I had appreciated being a kid rather than planning for the future."
Ishaan smiled as he looked at me and I could see a shred of regret in his eyes.
"Well, you can't be a 10-year old again. But you can choose to appreciate how amazing it is to be a 17-year old kid now."
Ishaan nodded happily and drove ahead as the signal turned green. I was starting to feel more comfortable around him and he, being the fine gentleman that he was, was doing his best to make me feel at home.
'Is it his routine behaviour? Is he always so nice with the people around him? Or am I the special one?'
My mind was all cluttered with thoughts that had 'Ishaan' labelled on them.
While I was still trying to process my feelings, Ishaan turned the car towards a service road that certainly wasn't the route to my home. Surprised, I looked at him and all he did was smirk.
"Umm..I'm possibly the most stupid person when it comes to understanding the roads of Delhi. But I'm sure that this is not the way to my home.", I said, sounding confused.
Ishaan started looking for an empty parking space as I sat there wondering what he was up to.
'Does he want to hook up? Did he take my niceness as an agreement to have sex with him?', I thought.
"Hello! What is it?", I asked him again.
I had all sorts of questions infesting my mind that I couldn't ask him directly. He parked the car and looked at me while taking off his seat belt. He then got out of the car, came around and opened the door for me to step out. And I did.
"You must be hungry.", he said, with the most endearing smile on his face.
Pointing towards the café' door that read Soda Bottle Opener Waala, he gestured at me to come out of the car. I was finally relieved knowing that he was as much a gentleman as I had imagined. But there was something I had started to wonder – was it a date, or was it a mere friendly gesture? Beaming with joy at the idea of spending some more time with him, I followed him along to the café.
"Been here before?", asked Ishaan, as the waiter guided us towards a table.
"Nope. Never went beyond the street food.", I answered, staring at the food prices on the menu card.
"Aah. Nothing compares the street food of Delhi. All these fancy restaurants and cafes, they can never match the amusement of bingeing on the sev puri of South-Ex or the Chhole Bhature of Amar Colony."
"True that.", I answered, trying to find the cheapest dish on the menu.