Disclaimer: I do not encourage or condone many of the behaviors depicted in this story. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author's imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.
"Hey how about dinner at mine tomorrow?" I texted her that evening.
"Ya, that's cool. I'll be there around seven. Is that fine with you?"
"Perfectly."
There we go! It was the first time Neha was coming over though we lived just half a kilometer apart. I was excited but didn't want to go overboard and instead, chose to keep it simple. All I wanted was for her to feel at home and be comfortable.
I wasn't an expert in culinary either and hence, decided to make chicken rice that we could have with some white wine. It wasn't all about giving her an impression as we're already well connected. It was just one of those tiny steps in the right direction.
I took a shower around dusk and got myself clad in a short sleeveless Kurti and a skirt that ended a couple of inches above my ankle, and started preparing our meal. I was sweating profusely in my kitchen despite having had a shower a few minutes ago.
The dinner was almost ready as I heard a knock on the door. I wiped my sweaty face and adjusted the tangles in my hair as I rushed to open. It was Neha, clad in a black Kurti and a pair of white leggings. Her hair was still wet and untied as she let out a warm smile. I welcomed her with a quick pat and led inside to the living area and rushed back to the kitchen as she settled on the couch and unbuckled her sandals.
"Some wine baby girl? It's too early to fill up the stomach I think." I said returning with a bottle of barefoot Moscato and glasses.
"Nice ambience." she commented looking around the darkly lit space as I filled the glasses having sat next to her.
"So, you must be liking the place?"
"Yes, looks much spacious and good interior as well" she said as I handed her a glass of wine.
"For our lasting companionship." she raised a toast.
"So, you are getting into a career in academics? Or research being an RA?" she asked after sipping for a while in silence.
"It was momentary. To be honest I was done with my masters and I wanted a job and I got this. I didn't even know whether I'd be capable of. But so far so good though."
"That's nice then; good going. Even I have no idea what I'd do after this. I have a year or so to figure it out. "
"No hurries. It will happen when it's meant to be. I don't say you don't plan but don't get stressed pondering over it."
"Another bit of expert advice?"
"It's more of personal experience than expertise." I quipped and went into refill both our glasses.
We spent some more time getting ourselves immersed and intermittently conversing about things that popped up randomly, till the clock ticked nine.
Neha suggested that we'd stay on the couch itself. I brought down the food and set it up on the coffee table, and filled our glasses as well one more time.
"Tastes good. And should I say thanks for having me over here?" asked Neha and I responded with a blank stare, busy tasting my own skills.
We settled back on the couch after having moved the dishes to the kitchen, with the remaining bit of wine in our glasses.
"Want to smoke?" I asked as I pulled my legs up and sat cross legged.
"Nah, had too much of this." She pointed to her a glass she just emptied and kept aside.
"That's right."
"You look smooth." she said staring at my feet and a couple of inches of skin that was exposed above my ankle.
"What?"
