She is fair and slim, with a walk so dainty it could make blokes dribble and drool with love or lust alike. But as happens with some girls and many love stories, the softness though not merely skin deep, was for the selective few. To those lusting about her, trying their luck, she could be as brittle as a turtle's shell and as vengeful as a wounded tigeress. But that is just a shade of hers, the true hue lies elsewhere.
I don't remember if they talked when they met first. I don't even recall when it was exactly that under my very own watchful eyes they became friends, best of friends and now certainly lovers. He was quite a homely guy, whose material requirements were fulfilled at home, whose life revolved around the family members and every now and then when a familiar call would come from outside from his so-called friends he would go out to say a kind word of greeting only to be back in again. At home he may be stubborn sometimes, but then who isn't? And if you would ask me, that's what makes my day, seeing the naughty side of his.
She altered his simple routine, disrupted his night and day and how magnificently! As to when they met, it beats my memory, but the story lays elsewhere. Keep reading..
It was his love for her that he started to happily wait outside under the sun and the rain, though much to my discomfort and annoyance. He would do nothing but wait for her one backward glance for hours and hours sometimes all through the night that I would have to get him to have his dinner outside the home! So many times I tried to coax him to come inside to the rooms so he would talk to me or watch television with us or eat his lunch/dinner on time.. but he, he was hardly on this planet, hardly aware of time and food. All that he could make sense of were the moments spent outside, yearning for her. And the moments that she would appear strolling by our house, mindful of his unblinking gaze, yet confident of her self, he would be in positive state of trance..
She was definitely aware of the charm that her beauty and suave manners were casting on him for she deliberately took rounds of our home without any reason. Sometimes I found her sitting on the ramp as if resting, so that he may have his pleasure of staring at her demure self for hours altogether! Being a gentleman, he also at times let her be. But whenever he and i went out for a walk, i could see him gazing at her with rapt attention .. sometimes trying to hide his love from my watchful eyes and sometimes even silently cooing for her, thinking I'm too busy to take notice..i did though.
Morning, Evening or late at night, with time she soon took note of our routine..and would accompany me when I would venture out, or when mother would buy vegetables or my dad would go for a walk. At first I was puzzled, why would she do that?? What made her so unabashed. Was she too 'forward??' I was horrified at the last thought! But soon we all figured it out! Like a devoted lover, she not only made her beau fall for her, she now wanted to make his family hers! "Smart girl", i muttered to myself when she first nodded at me when we crossed path near the colony gate. 'She's definitely here for a long haul', I told myself that day. And rightly so, because come next morning she very casually invited herself for the morning walk. A if it was routine matter! He was evidently feeling smug today and his steps were surer and jumpier! I smelled something fishy there. May be this was all a part of a "pre-planned morning stroll" in which I was merely a pawn! But looking at the two of them, it still looked like everything was normal, I shrugged off the thought and I must have missed their winks for just then I recalled. Last night he was out till late wasn't he? hmm...
With time I got used to her hanging around with us. From a pair of two we became a group of three that jogged along in the park and enjoyed each others company. Her dancing, girly self with energy levels touching the skies and happiness knowing no bounds! I have seen them joking and whispering secrets, which I was unable to understand! I have also seen him most happy when she is around, which has quadrupled my affection for the little girl who makes me look forward to evenings and night time strolls and who has carved out a place for her in my heart which I was oblivious of.
Sometimes jealousy does take over when I want to have him for my own.. can't help being jealous about him can I? He being my heartbeat! But yes, he did find a true lover and now she has won all of our hearts. And if I don't find her waiting outside when I step out for work, I get concerned about her well being..whether she ate last night.... As for him, he isn't that young that I would cling him on to my chest forever. He is a big man now out to face the world and I am happy and content, that in her he has found a companion, a friend and an attractive guide! He may be 6 years elder to her in age, but in smartness wisdom, none of her tribe can beat her. These days I also give them some time together alone in the park, seeing my young lad jump with her and also let her trotter about his side. And I just say to myself, may be she has a thing for 'older men'..! Because even by conventional standards, one can easily say that there cannot be any dearth for suitors for her for she is so pretty, so lovable and a perfect girlfriend, who's intelligent, fun loving and has a spark in her that could bowl over any guy, what to say of my gentle lad, who wouldn't say "whoo" to a bird if he can help it.
Perhaps it is this quietness and calm in him that attracts her towards him. He senses her lively youth and smiles to himself and I in turn sense that smile. He is perhaps thanking his stars for bringing this little spark into his life..and I thank the stars for bringing them both into the world, for me and for each other. Maxie's at the gate again.. and Panther rushes towards her.. their tails wagging..
