Rian pinched the bridge of his nose, head tilted heavenwards in a bid for grace. He took two breaths in, releasing it in short puffs before he spoke once more.
“You did not just quoteKuch Kuch Hota Haito me,” he grumbled, his eyes closed, praying for strength.
“I saw an opportunity and I took it.” She giggled, his frustration only adding to her merriment. “But see? We get each other. Help me out, hmm?”
“I’m not going to help you by marrying you.”Yet, that annoying voice in his head added. Rian had to work hard at maintaining an unaffected visage. His mind and heart had not been so torn over a person since he’d caused an upheaval in his friend Kaya’s life. And that was thirteen years ago.
To face such a confusing array of feelings over a woman again made Rian wary of getting too close to Aditi. Not that he’d been the least bit successful in staying away from her either. It was as if she was a giant magnet and he wore an iron suit.
“Are you certain? I’d make a fun wife. And,” she snapped her finger, gesturing to herself, “you get free healthcare for life!”
“I don’t plan to get pregnant so I don’t need a gynaecologist,” he sullenly argued. How was she so unbothered? She’d just issued a proposal. A PROPOSAL!
“Semantics,” Aditi waved, as if it was a trivial detail. “I can treat other things. Unofficially.”
“Then I hope you know how to unofficially treat an aneurysm because I think you might be giving me one.”
His glare told her that if she laughed, she would pay. Aditi had to physically wipe the mischievous smile off her face. Bothering Rian and seeing him get twisted up in knots had to be the best part of her day.
“Killjoy,” she needled him. “Help me in a different way then."
"How?"
“Find me a nice guy. Maybe you know people.”
“You’re mistaken. I don't own a marriage bureau.”
“No, you own a restaurant.” She rapped his chest, walking off towards the flowering plants that spilled over the baskets on the railing. She played with the fronds on one end, adjusting them until they lay prettily on the side. “I can bring my future dates there. You can observe, and coach me. Be my love guru.”
There were crickets. She turned to face him, his stupefaction telling her that he was on the verge of stomping off.
“You don’t believe I need help? I got anxious at one of my previous dates and had to go to the washroom. Guess how I excused myself.”
“How?”
Her cheeks turned a dull red, intriguing Rian.
“I waved at him and said ‘don't Barry, I’ll be back in a Flash.’”
Rian’s nostrils flared. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“Because, you know,” she continued, taking a step towards him. “Flash is that DC comic character who super speeds everywhere?”
“Doc, stop.”
“And his real name is Barry Allen.”
“Doc,” he groaned.
“And Barry sounds like hurry. . .”
“Quit explaining the joke,” he begged, his mirth clashing with fear for what this was leading towards.
“I thought it was kind of funny,” she said in a small voice, head low, kicking an invisible stone with one foot in an embarrassed move. “So, you see. I need help. And you can help me.”
“You don't see potential problems?” Her surety provided him no relief. This plan was insane. It was like the beginning of a bad romantic drama.
Aditi shrugged.