The eyes tell a story

“It is lovely to catch up after eons!”

“Indeed, it has been a decade!”

Rajiv and Amit were meeting up after nearly ten years. They had studied together at the same engineering college, after which jobs at different cities meant that the cycle of corporate life caught up with them. Both had quite a chance meeting today. They had been travelling for work and as fate had had it, were on business assignments at the same city at about the same time.

“You seem to have turned lean Amit.” Rajiv quipped.

“I hate paunches.”

“In that case you should hate me.”

Both laughed.

They were both in their mid-thirties. While Rajiv had a receding hair line, grey hair, a few wrinkles on the face, Amit was quite the opposite. Age seems to have worked little on his appearance. He still carried the boyish looks. Casually dressed in a polo t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, with a beaming smile, he still looked in his late twenties.

“I have come to a vegetarian restaurant because of you Amit.” Rajiv chuckled.

“The food here is delicious.”

“They serve an unlimited thali.”

“Aha Amit, you are still the guy looking for value even in a thali.”

Rajiv wore an expensive suit and carried an expensive phone.

“You know Rajiv, I have not changed much, I keep looking for value.”

The waiter brought up unlimited servings of all the courses.

“I agree, it is a good choice, I am beginning to fall in love with vegetarian food.”

Amit looked pleased. He observed that a slim lady with straight hair and dressed in a pair of jeans and a floral top sat on a table opposite theirs.

“Concentrate on the food man. I thought tasty vegetarian food makes you forget everything.”

Amit choked.

“Are you all right?”

“I am fine, don’t worry.”

“You know Rajiv, the lady on that table in my line of sight. You cannot see her. But I have been noticing something.”

“What?”

In the span of the last ten minutes she has stared at me many times.

“Maybe she likes vegetarian men!”

“Ha ha. How would she know that I do not eat non vegetarian food?”

“You have been hogging like you have won a lottery ticket. Maybe she has not seen a man fall in so much love with his food. “

“Do you want to swap places with me?”

“Only if it making you feel uncomfortable.”

“No, in fact she has been smiling throughout.”

“Smile is the language of love.”

“I thought I was the writer!”

“This is your quote I read somewhere.”

“What do I do?”

“Walk up and join her. I can eat on my own.”

“What a suggestion, what would make me walk across to a random lady seated on a table and share a meal with her.”

“I don’t know, the look, the smile, all seem to be an insignia of love.”

“Love happened on an empty stomach, and then his appetite was whetted.”

“Ha ha”

“Sir, anything else?” The waiter asked.

“No please get the bill.”

“O gosh.”

“What?”

“She is leaving.”

“She ate so fast!”

“She ate very little, maybe that is the reason why she is slim.”

“Run Amit run!”

“Nah.”

He looked in awe as the lady walked up right up to their table.

“Mr. Amit, I guess the warm smile and expressive eyes are not an indicator for you.”

“Ah well. I just.. well.. Hi..”

“I think the food was way to delicious.”

“No..I mean yes…but...”

“How do you know my name?”

“The stories that you have written have started to become the stories that you have started living.”

Amit wore a blank stare.

“Stop staring and meet me tomorrow at 11. My eyes tell a story that not everyone can read.”

Amit smiled.