TABLE FOR TWO

Sharon had been attending the art festival for two days now. It was true the venue was far from her home, but the workshops and the talks were definitely worth the travel. The only thing she disliked was eating all alone, amongst the sea pool of couples and families that were also attending the 3 day event.

Today was the last day. She had an early morning workshop on poetry writing and a cooking demonstration in the evening. She had the free time after lunch till the demonstration started. She would sit for something or the other.

Her workshop on poetry went off well. She read out one of her poems though no one understood it. It was too dark for the atmosphere they were in.  She had named it, I Run Away, I Run Away. She heard a few poems by others. She liked My Life by a guy named Ajay.

At the end of the session, she thanked the speaker and quickly walked out. She was hungry as the workshop had extended on its time.

She entered the only restaurant still left unexplored by her and asked the waiter for a table for one. The waiter soon got her seated on a table for two, instead. When she was browsing through the menu, she heard someone say, “if you don’t mind, can I join you?”

She looked up. It was the 'My Life' guy. Before she could answer, he continued, “I am starving and the waiter informed me that there was no table available. I saw you and as it is I hate eating alone! So here I am.
Sharon nodded.

“You are Ajay, right?”

“Right. And you are the ‘running away girl’ Sharon.” She smiled and questioned,

“so, do you want to order something or should we fill our stomachs with talk?”

“Ah my lady, you have a fine sense of humour. Sorry. Let’s order.”

When the waiter approached them for their order, they both spontaneously said, “sweet corn chicken soup.”

She looked at him and smiled again.

He immediately told the waiter, “could you make that – one sweet corn chicken soup – one by two?” To that Sharon added, “that will be all for now. We shall tell you the remaining order later.”

The waiter went away.

For a minute or two, they just kept staring at each other.

“You know I thought your poem was beautifully dark,” he said.

“I thought no one liked it.”

“I never said I liked it. It was just that I could relate to it.”

“Thanks. You are being honest. I rarely get that as well.”

“Oh, I never have a problem with being honest. It’s just that sometimes I am too honest.”

“Oh I could see that in your poem,” she said.

“Thank you. Most people get scared of that kind of honesty.”

“People!  Well, I am not much of a people person anyways.”

“Wow! We have more in common than I could guess. Should we order the remaining lunch?”

“Of course. Do you want to go dutch?”

He nodded and asked, “Pizza?”

“Would love some with garlic bread.”

“Are you willing to share the garlic bread?” She raised her eyebrow.

“I thought so too. Let’s order two then.” She started laughing.

The soup came and the lunch continued. But Sharon and Ajay were more interested in getting to know each other.

When their lunch was done and the bill paid, she asked him, “so now, where to?”

“Wherever you say, Madam. Wherever you say!”

~ A Story By Fizaah Faiyaz, © 2015