The 2 days were spent restlessly, me learning the stuff (I had my summer holidays at college) waiting for my lunch meeting. The day came for my lunch and I dressed up my best, neat shirt, ties et al.
I arrived at the huge house a little early for lunch as I could not wait, I was ushered in by the servant to the drawing room and I was announced. As I waited, I saw a beautiful woman emerge from upstairs clad in a lovely pink saree, pink blouse smiling, it was her!!!! I just watched spellbound as she walked down the stairs smiling, looking at me just like in my dreams. My heart jumped and I could feel the loud beats in my ears!!!
She was now in front of me smiling, I got up and just could not speak, here was the angel of my dreams and I could not mutter a word.
“I am Rukmini,” she smiled and offered her hand.
“I … I ….” I stammered offering my hand.
“You are Raja,” and she smiled again.
I squeezed her hand, she did not draw away and just led me to the table, her hand in mine. I sat down next to her. The servant came by to serve, but she waved them off and started serving herself!!!!
“Raja, It is so nice to see you, I have been wanting to introduce myself for a long time, but never got the opportunity before, finally I get my chance, I hope you forgive me” she said.
I was just looking at her, she was so breathtakingly beautiful, but managed to recover and finally speak “Oh no, I should be thankful to you, you have helped bring me up and even helped get me a job, I will always be happy to do anything you want me to”.
“No, No, you dont have to be thankful about that, you are a wonderful kid and you have turned out to be well mannered too”.
“Thank you madam”.
“Dont call me madam, call me ….” she hesitated a bit, then continued “Rukmini”.
“Yes madam, I mean Rukmini,” I stuttered.
She smiled and again my heart jumped.
She served me food all the time smiling, enquiring about my days at the orphanage and whether I was missing them. I could hear her speak all these , but I was just looking at her and sometimes down afraid she would find out about my boyish crush and she would send me away again, I nodded and answered her questions. We finally finished our food.
“I hope you learn a lot at the job soon, the manager is a good man and a good teacher, so you learn as much as you can from him” she said looking at me smiling
“Yes, Rukmini”.
“Do you have any girlfriends?” she asked.
I was a little shocked and answered, “No”.
“Good, You can concentrate on work,” She smiled at me again and she took my hand and led me to the door.
“Will you come tonight for dinner too, if you are free?” She asked.
“Yes, I will be happy to,” I answered eagerly.
I came home for dinner and we had a pleasant dinner, she wanting to know all my likes and dislikes, I was only happy to tell her, the only thing I could not tell her was “I love you”. She told me to come for lunch and dinner everyday at her place and she would wait for me, I was only happy to oblige.
Days passed, and I took her out on some dates as well, I got to know she was never married and her parents had just passed, the week before I took up the job and she was very alone. She always dressed well and I was always in awe of her. I told her she just needs to relax and have some fun. I invited her out to go to a discotheque with me, she was hesitant at first , then agreed. She had given her servants a week off.