The Honest Romantic's Saga - Part 3

HRRomeo and his Juliet were at the anniversary party of their common friends. That couple had just gotten engaged. Everyone was sitting around the living room after a sumptuous dinner.

Now, many of you might wonder how our HRRomeo and his Juliet were still together after reading the previous part of their story. Well, here is what happened at the  dinner in the classy karaoke restaurant after we last left off.

“So you would not want to bring down The Moon for me and lay the stars at my feet?” asked Juliet, trying hard to maintain a neutral tone and not let any frostiness creep into it.

“No!” affirmed HRRomeo, quite clearly and confidently.

“Is that not sweet of that A___ who just said what he would like to do for his partner? Don’t you think that is great?” Juliet asked, a clear challenge in the tone.

“Well, A__ can say anything he wants, but he definitely cannot do anything like he says. It is totally impossible and impractical. If his partner chooses to be impressed with that, it is her choice. I know A____ well. He comes from a very rich family. Their lawyers are right now drawing up a prenuptial agreement for their upcoming engagement and wedding, so that if they were to split, she would not get more than 2% of the vast family wealth and estate that A___ is entitled to,” said HRRomeo, evenly.

As that bit of information sank in, Juliet calmed down a bit from within. She was still a bit annoyed at HRRomeo for not wanting to do such things for her.

“Well? What do you feel like doing for me?” Juliet continued still hopeful of atleast something halfway decent.

HRRomeo again thought for a few seconds. A bit more delay and he would have been in deeper trouble.

He looked at Juliet, into her expectant eyes shining with the reflected lights from around, with a calm confidence. He held her hand and quietly said, “I do not have any fortune like A___. All I have is some small savings and my job. As long as I own or have anything, I will share it with you. You can treat it just as you would your own. If I have my last loaf of bread, you can have half. Why, a bit more than half.”

He continued.

“As long as I have a roof over my head, you can live with me. You can have half my bed. Why half, you can have more than that. You get first dibs on which side you want to sleep on.

If I have my last clothing to wear, I will give you the shirt off my back. It will be long and big enough to cover your legs a bit too. For various reasons, I suspect you would not want me to give you the pants off my hips...

When we travel on public transport, if there is only one seat available, you can sit either on the seat or on my lap.

You can spend my last dime. That is all I can do. I cannot bring down The Moon and stars.”

Juliet knew he meant every word and would do exactly that. She melted into his arms. She did not notice much of the proceedings from then on, except when HRRomeo went up to the stage and sang an old favourite song of theirs that had a stomping rhythm. Everyone joined in it, stamping their feet, even while sitting. They went back home, late, happy and tired.

Now, coming back to the anniversary at their friends’ place, just after the man had proposed and the woman had accepted. Everyone wanted to hear their story of how they had first met. They asked the man to recount it first, so that the woman could correct all the details afterwards!

“It was the 16 of March, a Thursday. We were both at the lounge in the restaurant at the airport. I saw this stunning woman in a light blue dress, with a silver brooch on her left shoulder that was shaped like a Swan. The folds of the dress under the brooch were like waves. She was reading a book. I commented on that as I asked if I could sit down in the seat opposite to her if it was not taken. She said “OK, go ahead!” then continued to read her book. Then as the waiter came up, she ordered coffee with cream and no sugar. I ordered exactly the same, though I normally have it with sugar…”

The newly engaged man continued to recount many of the things in great detail. After he finished, he got a good round of applause.

Everyone was impressed! All the women looked at their own partners. Many men had guilty looks. As tea was being served, many one-on-one inquisitions began. The women started to ask their personal captives questions on what they remembered about the details of their relationship.

Our HRRomeo too was trapped in a corner of a couch. He did not seem too aware of the peril he was in. He smiled innocently.

“Now, Dear! Do you remember the date we first met?” she asked quietly, as a start.

“No! Not off the top of my head,” he replied readily, honestly.

“Do you know what dress I was wearing then?” she continued.

“No! Not exactly! Were you wearing your grey jeans? ” he replied.

“No dear! Never mind. Do you know my favourite colour?” she asked.

“No, I have not noted that. I see you have things in various colours that you like,” HRRomeo continued valiantly.

Juliet pulled up her feet quickly under her and covered her lap and feet with her shawl and asked, “Do you know what colour and type of shoes I am wearing right now?” she asked. Many around her saw the warnings signs of an approaching thunderstorm.

Quite ignorant of the approaching Armageddon, HRRomeo smiled and replied, “Hey! You are cheating, you hid them under you before I could notice them!!”

---- To Be Continued ----




Copyright  (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2015


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