Miles to Marvel Part 2

I should have been dead by now. But god definitely had other plans for me. Twelve hours ago my life condition was pathetic, now it seemed to be "just bad". There was still no magical solutions for my financial loss. But I wasn't the only one. Leading business news channels reported that it was a quite a shock for many stock owners.

'Shock! My whole life depended on this you fools!'

Anyhow, the new phase of my life begins with a journey and some thousand ruppees.

But before starting that, I decided to clean all my clutter from the past. I burnt whatever stuff I had of Natasha. Mind it from her photos to her precious given shirts, all gone. I saw it in a hindi movie, and I FELT AWESOME! But C'mon how can anything not go wrong right now? I think I counted my blessings too soon. Because of the burning, the fire alarm started to beep. Within minutes all my neighbours were at my doorstep.

'What happened Rishi beta? Is everything all right?' asked Venkat ji sounding very worried in his South Indian 'Aiyo' accent.

'Yes Uncle! Everything is fine, actually I was cooking' I replied

'Aaah!' said the crowd in unison. Really? Are men that destructive while cooking? Luckily nobody barged into the house or else they would have seen nothing but an immense amount of burnt clutter.

But man, I seriously felt good. Like I just dipped myself into the holy water of river Ganga. My meeting with Sunaina was just some hours away. She had something to be discussed before we move on for our trip.

'A roadtrip in times of crisis, too filmy to be true' I thought. Though right now my life was anything but normal. I wondered what let on her decision to choose me as her fellow companion. It was so out of blue, our first meeting was at Siddhartha's birthday two years ago. It was a memorable night but I doubted if Sunaina would ever meet me again.

***

HRC Bangalore as usual buzzed with people. I looked at my watch, Sunaina was running late. The waiter had come twice to my seat and asked me if I wanted anything, naturally he was hoping that I don't leave that place without spending any money. 'What if she changed her mind?' I thought. Though that thought immediately vanished when I saw the girl dressed in yellow (Like she said). Her face looked familiar though I still had to confirm if she was really Sunaina.   

'Hi, finally we meet' I said

'Yes, I am sorry there was too much traffic at MG Road' she replied in an apologetic tone.

'It's okay, so what do want to discuss?'

'Hmmm...can we eat something, I am starving' she said

'Yeah why not. Please go ahead'

When I said 'go ahead' I knew I would be paying the bill. I was hoping that she doesn't eat like a beast because currently my pocket couldn't afford one. I was remembering my happy days, days when I had enough money to pay a bill of six. Now, even one girl was turning out to be expensive. She ordered a salad and nachos with a non-alcoholic beverage. I too decided on a Wildberry Cooler. Because last time alcohol did not do us any good. I wondered if she still remembered it.

'Just that? Look, no formality. We are going to share the bill' she said

'No no, eat whatever you want and it's on me'

She gave me a look, the one all girls give when a man wants to pay their bill. I knew she would save that argument for the last. She was definitely very hungry because she finished the entire salad and the nachos within ten minutes. The table was just left with the Berry coolers. Business time it is.  

Sunaina's appearance was normal. Medium height, fair skin and good features. Not to miss her long brownish-black hair that she tied in a ponytail. She looked rather simple nothing extraordinary. But currently all girls seemed better than Natasha. She started by introducing her plan

'It's a five day trip from Bangalore to Bombay. During this period we will be covering some cities. The drive is along the Western Ghats. We begin from Bangalore to Mangalore followed by Panjim and ultimately Bombay! What say?' she said like a tour operator, sounding very enthusiastic

'Sounds really thrilling, how many of us?'

'Just you and me'

'Just the two of us?' Okay, no doubt she was a very good person but whatever it is, a guy just doesn't hang out with his best friend's cousin and that too for five days! I waited to speak, but she started. Girl habit as usual  

'So the car is ready, it's my friend's car and we will be first going to Mangalore, its a seven hour drive depending on the traffic and-' Before she could continue I intervened

'Look, I think you are getting me wrong. I thought it was journey with a couple of more people and for some time, five days are too much! Plus I am not doing very well'

'More people? I never said that'

'I know, I assumed and I am sorry but I can't do this'

'Oh c'mon Rishi! Where is that cool adventurous attitude that you once had?'

Okay, she still remembers that night. That too precisely I think

'Sorry Sunaina, but this can't happen, I mean we hardly know each other'

'You see that's the whole point, I don't want to travel with some person that I know already. That is no fun'

'This is no fun either and does Siddhartha know about this?'

'Are you crazy? Why will he know about all this?'

'Excuse me? The first place we know other is because of him. He is my best friend and do you think I would hang out with his cousin without him not even knowing?'

'Yes' she answered in a split second

I looked at her in disbelief. Can girls be this stupid? I would never endanger my friendship with Siddhartha because of his stupid cousin wants some adventure! Everyone knows how brotherly he is. He would never talk to me if I did something like this. I stood up and asked for the bill.

'Where are you going?' she asked

'Sorry to disappoint you but I can't do this. I am not your guy'

'Oh my god! What drama is all this?'

'Drama isn't this Sunaina, you are the one thinking irrational'

'Me? Aren't you the one who lost his everything!?' she said, the last line pinched me. I had never told her that.

'Who said that you?'

'Siddhartha, who else?'

I had started to wonder why on earth would Siddhartha discuss my personal things with his cousin. Besides he was the only one with whom I shared my failures.

'Relax, he didn't tell me directly. I overheard your conversation with him' Sunaina said.

That explains it.

'Well Sunaina, you don't know anything and I think you could just keep yourself out of this. Enjoy your journey'

In the end I paid the whole amount, I thought she will offer or argue but I think she was pissed at me already for denying her offer. I was leaving the HRC building when I heard Sunaina calling out my name

'What now!' I thought, irritated already.

'Look, I am sorry if I was too frank about all this. Anyway, I am starting-' she started again

'Look, I don’t want to-' I clarified

'Just listen, I start tomorrow at 7:30AM. I am living at a friend's place near HSR layout. If you want to come you can, I am doing this with you or without you, I thought you might appreciate some change and it's okay if life becomes tough for a while. Some change won't harm'

'Thanks but I think I don't need it' I said in the end. She handed me the address. Just in case if I change my mind. I still had one question to ask. 'Sunaina!' I shouted before she hopped into the auto rickshaw 'Why me?' I asked

She smiled and replied 'Why not you!?'