Place - Soho

Club- The Peppers Bowling Alley

Date - 6th July

 

 

“Hi there!!! I dread to meet strangers in general. A friend of mine coaxed me into this event.” She said as a matter of fact.

 

“Well, I thought, it will be interesting to meet someone you don’t know. Unfolding a blind date is challenging.”He fixed his eyes on the pins…

 

The pleasantries were exchanged to break the ice between them. They began the bowling. He was her first team mate in the speed dating event. Bowling was an innovative way adopted by the dating agency to bring the strangers closer. The idea was to form different teams and members could switch from one team to the other to meet more people. An event like this wither the initial awkwardness among the members till the point members find a common thread to talk to. If they click then they can carry on the relationship there on.

 

“Yuppie! I was an inches away from hitting the jackpot.” He muttered joyously. 

 

“And, my luck is not taking me anywhere. So what do you do?”. She asked.

 

“I am an aspiring actor.” He muttered.

 

“I am an interior designer.” She answered.

 

“You can design my life.”He said flirtatiously.

 

“I don’t think I can. You will be acting all the time.” She picked the chips from the bowl which was complimentary with the entry fee.

 

“Do they know, there are many hopefuls who come for these events and go empty handed each evening?” She could not hide her perplexity in her tone.

 

“Who cares? as long as one gets to meet the pretty girls, complimentary chips and discounts on bowling, it is kindda cool.” He said while allowing the ball to swing past his left foot.

 

“Is that all that you want?” She sounded bewildered.

 

“Yup!!! I am 23 year old, looking for a break in films, serials or drama wherever I can set my foot in. If I meet someone along well and good else I am enjoying my single status at the moment.”

 

She was glad that he was honest. “This isn’t going anywhere.” She thought.  She aimed the ball in the direction to hit the pins while making a mental note of changing the bowling partner in the next round. “He is here to have some light-hearted fun. Far cry from the serious relationship that I am looking forward to.” She thought.

 

Event organizer made an announcement to change the partner in the next round and those who wished to continue with the same partner could do so. She excused herself and quickly went to the next table. This time around, he was a rusty man with a French beard. He wasn’t well dressed to her taste but she wanted a change and quickly at that.

 

“hello, can I join you?” She asked him.

 

“You have already joined me. You seemed quite bored with him” he said in a mischievous tone.

 

“Actually yeah!!! Did I look that desperate?” She was totally embarrassed.

 

“Not desperate but wanting to get rid of his company.”

 

“You know the kind of people you meet and you have no clue what to speak after a while. It was more like a question answer session with him. I hate that.”

 

“What makes you think that I won’t be as boring as him?”

 

“Your French beard. I thought it looks quite cute on you”. She said flirtatiously.

 

“Well, no one had actually complimented me on my beard yet. That reminds me, I haven't dated for a while. I am a straight guy, so I guess, guys won’t compliment me.”

 

“That was a clever way to set the record straight. I guess, I can stick to this table for a while.” She said while winking at him.

 

They laughed.

 

They played bowling for a while and headed straight to the sofa area to catch up some conversation. It was getting interesting and his mobile rang. Expression on his face changed immediately.

 

“I gotta go. I am so sorry. I have to rush in the middle of this interesting meet. I really am sorry.”

 

 He took her hand scribbled a number on it. He planted a light kiss on her forehead and left. It was too fast to react. She had not expected much from this evening but unexpectedly it was getting interesting. In the middle of nowhere he left without giving her an opportunity to say goodbye. She was left with a bitter feeling.

 

She had no intentions to linger there any longer. She went home but the incomplete feeling did not leave her mind. She noticed a fading number on her palm. She quickly dialled the number, it went straight to his voice mail. She left a message trying hard to sound normal. Next few days, work took over her mind and she almost forgot the events from the last week.. Then one day, she received a voice mail on her cell.

 

“Hi there!!! Remember me? the French beard? I am up for the bowling challenge once again. Care to join me? Same place, same time coming Friday. I will be out of town until we meet for a French Kiss. Are you a game?!!!”

 

She could not help smiling.

 

This time around she put the minute details to her make up. She wore the best dress that her wardrobe could offer. Finally, satisfied with her outlook, she was set to meet him. It was a Friday evening. She was waiting…

 

 

It was almost an hour she was waiting. She hated people who don’t respect time. Had it not been for him, she would have left the place by now.

 

“Please accept my deepest apologies. I am not going to give you any excuses. I am late. You have the right to punish me. Tell me what is my punishment?” He appeared from nowhere and pleaded her with his antics.

 

Her anger turned into a faint smile. “You know what, I had made up my mind to  slam you right left and centre. It is your first late mark so I forgive you. Be punctual next time around.”She said in a bossy tone.

 

“You have even set up our next date?”

 

“I mean, no matter whom you meet, be on time.”

 

“Does that make a good impression on the girl I meet next time.”

 

“Well, anyone for that matter. Otherwise, it is a criminal waste of time for the one who is waiting, you know. Be it a girl or a guy.”

“Got it.”

“You have been out of town on business?”

“Sort of.”

“What do you do?”

“I am a dream merchant following my horizon.”

“That’s poetic and may I ask what that dream is?”

“To make the world a better place to live. For everyone and anyone.”

“How do you wanna achieve that?”

“Decide, plan, and act.”

“Like?”

“Well, it’s a long story. May be some other time.” 

“I want to know that. I have a plenty of time in my hand.”

“See, there are a few powerful people in this world, who want to create a perception and fool the rest of the people who follow them. I want to change that perception.”

“I am not getting it?”

“I wish it was simple to explain it in the few words. You can say, I am a social worker. Not that usual big pocketed, politically motivated and  naive bastards who think that he is doing good to the world by opening a social camp and looting the world. Pardon me for my words but hypocrisy kills me.”

“It does. But tell me, what brought idealistic like you to a speed dating?”

I wanted something to take my mind off from an important assignment that I am doing. I entered into this Bowling alley only to realize that there is a speed dating event going on. I wasn’t sure if I was at the right place till you joined me in the next few minutes. We hit it off instantly. Does that sound too unreal?”

The conversation was getting too serious, she changed the topic. The evening went fine with they chit chatting about their childhood, growing up years. She gathered, he had a difficult childhood and he was quite an adventurous person.

 

“Hello Miss Hannah! We are tracing the calls of Mr. Sam. We traced your number from his calls list. We have a search warrant for Mr Sam and we want to know more about him. Can you come to the police station to tell us what do you know about him?”

“Why sir, what is it for?”

“Have you heard of recent bombing? We think, he might be linked. We don’t know for sure but we are gathering evidences.”

“I will be right there sir.”

 

*******

 

She could not believe her ears. He, the criminal used her… and she, thought, he is the guy for her… A simple event like speed dating turned into a farce- to register an evidence that he was with her.…. A social worker? My foot.

 

 

Or, is he really up for a better cause? No way to figure that out. He is not picking up his calls since the last date.

 

She decided to co operate with the police. Tell them whatever she knew about him. Nothing more nothing less. She had to unmask her date… everything happened too fast… too soon… Is that a speed dating all about…..

 

 

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