Holidaying In Goa.
By: Shweta Upadhyay
Tags: Travel, Publishous, Meal, Goa, Short Story

Looking through the giant rectangular window facing towards the busiest streets of Goa, Tom was enjoying his Meal with one of his clients. Meals were the Dealmakers. He had always preferred to have a meal with his clients than having late-night drinks. Yeah. He followed significant trends.

Revisiting his past, Tom drove through the rainy, stormy night listening to a soulful track sung by a great Indian singer Jagjit Singh (that added fuel to the fire), Tom saw Rose, his girlfriend (Who hardly texted him or spoke with him in the last six months)a great admirer of Elizabeth Gilbert.

He wondered If reading was her only addiction!

She chose different places, different meals and different time to sit, read and eat. Prodigious reader. Women devouring literature, pay less attention to men and surroundings. They live in their head with theories, ideologies and their perception of the world, through books.

The notion of spending some hours in her company was dauntingly dreamy yet alluring; hence, he cancelled his appointment with his dentist sat in disdain and began to exercise brief confab.

Tom walked to the hotel reception, carrying a red velvet scarf wrapped in pink transparent covering. Not caring about Rose and her reactions; he made a brave and brilliant move. How could he forget those generous eyes!!

******************************************************************

Last year Tom had seen her the scribbling some letters on sand. She was a traveller? Evidently, Tom had not mistaken her for someone else.

Rose, an inexplicable person, had given Tom sleepless nights and a strange restlessness. No. It had nothing to do with lust. She carried some nostalgic vibes speaking a language only homesick people would understand. Some evenings he found her sitting near the shacks, sipping sex on the beach, shuffling the pages of an autobiography of Amrita Pritam.

Tom felt connected. CONNECTED. Obviously, for her choice of the book, she held like a baby.

She was a stranger and approaching her would reveal his desperation; hence, he stepped back, or he would have initiated a conversation or invited her on lunch. As she walked past him; he could breathe warmth that would melt away, the coldness spread over his heart.

He felt like calling her name to ask how many books had she read in the past? Was Amrita Pritam her favourite author?

He had swallowed his words. He didn’t know if she would appreciate his approach. Wondering if she visits the restaurants near seashore frequently, he approached the serving staff. The waitress was addressing her as an author.

Rose cherished authentic Goa-cuisine without paying any attention to her visitor, Tom. Apparently, she loved Goa. Tom had her details after following her the whole day although he was scared to be seen as a stalker.

He wondered If reading was her only addiction!

She chose different restaurants, and cuisine to sit, read and eat. Prodigious reader.

“ Women devouring literature, pay less attention to men and surroundings. They live in their head with theories, ideologies and their perception of the world, through books”.

******************************************************************

Tom wanted to meet her. The notion of spending some hours in her company was dauntingly dreamy yet alluring; hence, he cancelled his appointments for the upcoming week, sat in disdain and began to exercise brief confab.

Tom walked to the hotel reception, carrying a red velvet scarf wrapped in pink transparent covering. Not caring about Rose and her reactions; he made a brave and brilliant move.

He prayed for her relationship status.

Looked for her last name.

She could be Married? So what?

Single? Married? Happily married?(He didn't care).

Or. Living on the verge of divorce like him? (He would be more than happy).

Battling with his internal dialogues When he handed over the red velvet scarf to Rose; she smiled covertly; like she knew, Tom was making different moves to reach out to her.

She carried question marks in her bright brown twinkling eyes.

Tom wasn’t really interested in watching her closely for her neatly painted toe-nail or an autobiography anyone could read; she interested him for carrying herself with all her choices so gracefully. For not staying in touch with him. For avoiding his messages and calls. Her struggles, desires and her philosophy of life. *************************************************************** Tom Texted - Rose. Should we grab our lunch at 1 pm today?

Pick you up at 12.45pm.

Rose-Yeah:-)

Source: My Camera.

A delicious meal would bring them close. While the meal was being served on the table, Tom continued to gaze at white marble flooring; her silky brown hair tied in a loosely tied bun looked stunningly sexy . Maybe Insomnia and Restlessness were the culprits.

Tom. I love prawns. Rose was enjoying steamed rice with Prawn curry.

Gasping the awkwardness Rose said, “Tom doesn’t carry any guilt; we are not going to have a romantic clandestine affair”.I know you are married. Presumably, a rainy day and the desire of speaking to a woman who happened to be enjoying her own company with an autobiography and a warm cup coffee tricked your mind. And. Listen. Today. When you saw me walking down a busy street; I had my eyes on you. (Rose chuckled).

My intuitiveness spoke to me every time we crossed paths. Seeing this world through my heart, I understand desires; not the adjectives and verbs.

To meet a woman who reads to fill her voids and nurture her mind or look for the anomalies of life in the most literary way can be quite intimidating for some men. If not intimidating, then surprising. Exhibiting lucidness in various realms of life is like enticing strangers. Not promiscuously.

Now, Tom had started to like Prawns. A unique flavour for his taste buds. The air weighed lighter; Tom began to check his to-do list. Rescheduled his appointment with his dentist. He had to spend this week with Rose, she was travelling to non-coastal cities of India. Salinity in the air had filled her nostrils; mountains had other exquisite flavours.

Indulged in an endless conversation concerning their bohemian attitude towards life; they offloaded their awkwardness to explore the world of human relationships, the smuttiness, the quest of wanting and holding on to past. Tom and Rose watch the sunset together. A new beginning for them.

Source-Vivek Doshi(Unsplash).

Shweta.

2608shweta@gmail.com.