Sunday Story: An Evening to Remember

Anurita had been feeling quite nervous since morning. She tried to divert her mind by occupying herself with different activities but could not get her nerves to act normally. She would check her table clock every now and then, hoping for time to pass quickly. But every time she would, to her disappointment, only half an hour or so would have passed and her nervousness, instead of going down, would shoot up further.

Seven painful hours after waking up, the time was finally about to come. Anurita started getting ready an hour before—she had to look as presentable as she could. This was a task for her for she was not someone who would dress for somebody. But this time was different—she felt the urge to “dress up”.

After taking up her dear time, Anurita was finally ready to her satisfaction, and in time. She checked herself before heading out—favourite outfit? Check. On-point eyeliner? Check. Best handbag? Check. Best pair of sandals? Check. Perfectly falling hair? Check. Favourite bindi? Check. She was good to go. She quickly drank some water, freshened up, put on her “going-out-for-special-occasion” perfume, took one last glimpse of herself in the mirror, and then headed out.

Anurita had to wait for another hour at the gate of her apartment, courtesy of the untimely rain. Then she finally saw the car, and the person driving it. He was finally here—her online pal. Though she was meeting him for the first time, she felt as if she had known him for years. Being in his company evaporated all her nervousness in a jiffy.

Unlike other people who befriended each other online and decided to meet up, Anurita and Anujoy did not go to a cafe to spend their time together; instead, Anujoy took her to see his famous terrace which he had praised countless times in the one month since they had started talking and made tea for her. One could bet that it was a thousand times better than spending time in the best of the best cafes in the city.

The entire evening, the two did not do anything out of the ordinary; nor did they go out to visit any fancy or over-the-top place. They spent their evening together doing the simplest of things that provided them with the most profound pleasure. And that was enough.

After a scrumptious dinner, they decided to go on a drive around the city. It was a little past the time Anurita had to get back home, but it did not matter at the moment—the only thing that mattered to her then was the company she was in, and she wanted to make the most of it.

They drove around the city in the heavy rain that was pouring while listening to their favourite songs. Every now and then, they would steal glances at each other, turning around in time before the other person caught them looking. It was not special, but it was; it was nothing out of the ordinary, but it was.

It seemed as if neither of the two wanted the night to end and go their separate ways. Unfortunately, they had to. Reluctantly, Anujoy dropped Anurita outside her apartment. He stood there even after she had gotten out of the car. The two looked at each other in silence, not wanting to go their ways. It was Anurita who finally made the first move—she bid him goodbye and turned around to walk toward the gate. 

It was the best evening she had had in a long time. She walked back home smiling to herself, already reminiscing the little but beautiful moments from the evening she had just spent. Little did she know though that it was the beginning of something even more wonderful, something that would last her lifetime, to come.

Liked this story? Here is another to lighten up your mood—Judith.