ESPN guy and Paapad ki sabzi

Dating this guy let’s call him ESPN guy simply because he works with ESPN. We met at some Golf event after usual hiz helloz we came out and he took out cigarettes. Gold flake light it was. When I asked for one he said “you too smoke?” His eyes almost popped out. So, he didn’t expect bespectacled over weighted girl dressed in lose Kurta and chappals to smoke. It was quite an insult, I took one long drag and exhale the stream of smoke from my nose! He just smiled and we left after exchanging our contact numbers and gmail ids.

We didn’t even ping each for six months forget calling! And one fine day he pinged me. He was in Colombo to cover World Cup and I was jobless. He asked me which team is going to lift the cup and I said “Obviously Australia.” And as a true patriot he said “ It is going to be India, this time.”

I asked him why he said that. He replied “first you tell me why you are a journalist”. I replied “because I could not become anything else!” I asked him why is he in ESPN and he said because he wanted to be there. “I would see those people covering cricket and think man I want to be one of them.” He said he liked my Golf story and said I have a long way to go and should not give up and also I should have some goddamn respect for this profession.

And India won. I was in Jaipur watching the finals in my new office and man I was not even thinking of him. At 3 he text me that said “see I told you”

I didn’t reply, I had nothing to say. After four months he mailed me. I had changed my number and he wanted the new one.

He called after 30 seconds I mailed him my number. It was my off and I was in the kitchen. He asked me what I am cooking. I said papad ki sabzi. “ Papad ki sabzi !! He gushed. Papad ki bhi sabzi hoti hai” . I told him it is a Rajasthani Delicacy and really tastes yum.

He called again and it was my off again. He was in Jaipur and wanted to see me. And guess what! He wanted me to cook papad ki sabzi for him. Now that was too cheesy, I mean how could I do that. I didn’t even know this guy well and he was asking me to cook for him. But man he was serious he really wanted me to do that.

Alright I made the delicacy and fluffy white rice to go with. As he had the first bite in his car , he held my hand and said “ Marry me.”

FUCK I was hating him from the core of my heart. I was actually feeling like puking. I didn’t say a word. I asked him where we would go. He went to Nahargarg fort and rest was too filmy. Nice weather, a not so shy girl, a confused guy and some sutta (Ok this was not too filmy)

He liked the way I looked. I was lighter, had better hair and wore contact lenses. We talked talked and talked. Man he was actually making me talk. Trust me when I say it is a tough job.

He drove back to Delhi after dropping me home. Next day he text me “ I liked your contact lenses”. I knew what he meant. Those were transparent lenses. I text back “ you mean you you liked my eyes.” He just sent a smiley.

How cheesy this guy could be. I mean obviously he couldn’t say “ I liked your boobs” but eyes?

I was not at all thinking of him until he called next. We talked for 4 hours, about books, personal lives of celebs, our editors, dreams, past, future and you name it.

And the first thing I did the next morning was to check my phone to see if he has texted me. Man , why on earth he would do that.

He text me in the night saying he will be in Jaipur again to see me.

Later. I am sleepy