Soul Mates

“Stop, stop damn,” Trisha hissed in anger as she was late to catch the bus, which had resulted in chasing the bus with her curse words. The rain had started drizzling on her, slowly dissolving into her red kurta, as she stomped her way back to the bus stop, remembering agonizingly the tsunami of scoldings which was gonna swallow her at her office. “This is awesome, but something is missing,” she heard a sound from beside her, and her gaze fell on a guy eating pani puri from the shop. She was frozen for a second as she saw him, the guy she used to glance from the corner of her eyes, piercing the throngs of people as he'd stand near the closed pani puri shop early morning while she boarded the bus, gulping down the pani puri, cherishing each and every bit of it. That guy!

“You know what brother, cursing a bus won't get back the 5 minutes someone missed,” he uttered, smirking.

“Oh, hello, talking about me, huh?” Wiggling her eyebrows, she asked in fury.

“Oops no, not at all,” he grinned while she fixed her glare on him.

“Then why the hell are you telling all this? Just shove that pani puri down your throat and mind your business,” frustrated, she replied, as her thoughts went hazy about her boss.

“Woah, rude much?” He said.

“Oh wow! Thanks for the insight!” Shifting her glance, she looked for the next bus. The rain has started pouring heavily, blurring her vision.

“Do you... Do you want pani puri?” He asked from behind.

“No,” she replied without turning her face.

“Ah, the flavors, the taste, it's so yummy,” he said with a rather loud voice. “Maybe scared to eat it in empty stomach,” giggles filled the air, lifting the blanket of tension though she was stubborn enough.

“I. Am. Not. Scared.” she said and stomped her way to the small shop behind the bus stop and asked the guy, “One plate pani puri.”

“It's a sin to eat just one plate pani puri from someone who doesn't even sell it,” saying that he went towards the counter and gave her order.

“You, you sell pani puri?” Astounded, she replied.

“Why? Can't I sell pani puri?” He asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Of course..” her words trailed off, and she was perplexed.

“Taste this,” he gave her a plate with some special flavor.

“Mmm..” a small moan erupted from her mouth, as her taste buds raked over the sudden surge of flavors. “It's delicious. How come you do this job?”

“What do you mean? I completed b.tech and MBA and started my own business, is that wrong?” He replied, with a husky voice.

“Really!”

“And you are dumb enough to believe that shit! No, I didn't do that. I am a 12th pass,” he said.

“Still it's wow for me. It's delicious. You have that flare of making and selling it.”

“Mmhm…” he smiled looking at her. “So, going to the office, haven't eaten anything, right?”

“Nice observation,” she replied, laughing.

“And got late due to searching that black handbag of yours!”

“How did you know that? Are your stalker?”

“Oh my! No. I usually see you boarding the bus hurriedly, there's no single day I've seen you standing peacefully like this, that's why?” He said.

“Oh, so you stare every girl here, huh?”

“Oh god! No, never. It's just…..It's just…” he seemed blank for a moment, there was a crimson blush creeping up his cheeks, with a stupid smile.

“About the peaceful thing you said, think I should take a day off for myself.”

“And do what?”

“Maybe learn to make Pani puri from you,” she giggled.

“Or maybe restart your writing career, I saw this paper falling from your bag yesterday,” he took a piece of paper which was a story.

“Oh that. I have stopped doing that. It couldn’t pay my bills.”

“Well, then by that logic, I'd have chosen to beg instead of this. It is such a zero investment profitable business you know!”

“Haha.”

“Anyway nice...Nice to meet you.” He hesitantly put forward his hand for a shaking hand which she duly reciprocated, sending vibes of thrill towards his insides.

“So you've got a regular customer from now on.” She said, letting her gaze wander over his disheveled curly hair fluttering in the breeze and meeting the glitter of hope in his eyes!

“And years down the lane, I never thought I'd be writing this novel about him while he is sleeping like a baby beside me, mine forever!”