My date and I, we had a perfectly nice evening, or whatever was left of it. The night sky looked beautiful as I drove her back to her place. As I walked her to the door, I realized she was probably expecting me to kiss her goodnight. It was something I had learnt about women. Apparently, simple things like walking a girl home or waiting till she’s safely inside earn you major brownie points.
Anyway, I didn’t know what to do. I know what you are thinking. Honestly, even I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I just knew I didn’t want to take things forward with this girl. Something about her just wasn’t right. I couldn’t put my finger on it. She looked fantastic, we got along okay, she didn’t have any obvious issues. Still, it was a gut feeling.
I held her by the shoulders and kissed her on her cheek. She stared at me in disbelief. I didn’t blame her; I was finding my actions unbelievable. Finally, I did what Maya had taught me to do. I was straight with her.
I told her that I thought she was great but I didn’t see us together at all. What I got wasn’t what Maya had prepared me for. She struck me across the face with all her might, “Are you telling me I spent new year’s eve with you for nothing?” She screamed.
I should have known it was a bad time to crack a joke. “Hey, at least it was free.” I commented.
I guess I should be thanking my stars that all she did was slam her door. I got in the car and drove away. I didn’t want to go home. It was the New Year after all. I went to the only place I knew I was welcome at all times. I went to Maya’s house.
All the lights were turned off when I reached her place. For a moment, I wondered if she was there. Maybe she was still out with that guy, I forget his name now. I rang the bell and waited a while. There was no movement in the house. I was about to go away when a light came on. She was home.
Another thought struck me, maybe so was he. Suddenly I began questioning the smartness of my decision to come to Maya’s. If I had a girl home and Maya had turned up, I know for sure I wouldn’t have been too pleased. But before I could turn around and run, the door opened and a disheveled Maya appeared. Clearly, she had been sleeping.
“What are you doing here?” She had asked, surprised but still pleased to see me. She stepped into my arms and hugged me tightly as though she hadn’t seen me in ages. “Come on in..” She invited.
I hesitated, “Where’s your friend?” I asked.
“I sent him home. Where’s yours?” She asked me in return.
“I dropped her back. Something didn’t feel right about her.” I said.
She stared at me for the longest time and then murmured softly, so softly that I would have missed it had I not been standing so close to her. You are so stupid.
She left the door open and walked in.
As I followed her in, I couldn’t help but wonder what she was referring to. She called me names all the time, but never in that wistful, half sighing kind of tone. I wish I knew what she meant.
Photograph via sxc.hu
