We reached home now. I settled the bill and said “it was nice talking to you today Ravi”. He quickly replied “remember to save my number Anita just in case you need to call” and left.
When I entered my residential complex, there was no man who was not ogling at me. I felt very elated thinking about what would happen to all of them when I walk out with Prakash later in the evening wearing the new dress I just bought…
On the way to my house I met Jagannath who we fondly call Jaggu. He is our next door neighbor and a retired defense officer and a widower. He lost his wife to cancer a few years ago.
He is very close to us like a family friend and every Saturday night we drink together either at his place or ours. Though he has a cook but still I send him food regularly and he always appreciates my culinary skills to no end.
We exchanged pleasantries, then he said “wow Anita, you are looking really gorgeous today”. I blushed saying “thank you Jaggu, please stop this flattery”.
He said “When I saw you last evening after you returned and today morning also when you left, I was dumbfounded that it was really you”. I replied “you are going overboard now Jaggu”.
He took the shopping bags from my hand and walked with me. He said “I was genuinely expressing my feelings Anita. No flattery at all”. I replied “thank you, that felt nice to hear”.
We walked towards my door and I had him sit on the sofa while I prepared tea for us. I served him and sat down opposite on the sofa. He sat sipping his tea with his gaze stayed fixed on me.
I had that uncomfortable feeling like he was undressing me with his eyes. He asked “so what drove you to make such a big change in your dressing Anita? Are you having any issues at home or with your marriage”?
I quickly replied “oh nothing like that Jaggu, I just decided to go back to my old dressing ways like before marriage, only because of Prakash’s encouragement and insistence”.
He exclaimed “I can see that is indeed a wonderful idea. This new outlook is making it hard to recognize you”. I asked “is that in a good way or a bad way Jaggu”?
He quickly replied “In a good way ofcourse Anita. We all men thought some new hot chick just moved in to our neighborhood” followed by a naughty smile.
I said “Oh that’s interesting to hear. So I am that new hot chick on the block then”? He replied “yes ofcourse without doubt. Had someone not noticed your thick long pony tail then we were surely thinking some new chick is in town”.
While laughing hysterically, I asked “so you mean to say that you all men have had your eyes on me”? Jaggu now adjusted his seat sitting uncomfortably, he said “well no Anita, I only meant that someone identified you by your hair”.
I replied “so that still means that SOMEONE had their eyes set on me to identify me so correctly”? Jaggu did not have an answer now. He said “well let’s be honest Anita, you are so beautiful and gorgeous that any man will obviously notice you and if he still doesn’t, then he has to be blind”.