(ting tong) Howard, a 6 feet 1 inch well built and handsome lad, hears the door bell ring. He hurriedly runs to get the door and looks at his watch. Thinking that his date has arrived 15 minutes early, opens the door. Upon seeing Mona, 5 feet 3 inch tall girl dressed up in a scintillating and elegant evening gown wearing minimum jewelery and Howard admiring her simplicity yet her exquisite taste of fashion, holds her by her waist and gives her a passionate kiss. Mona surprised with the affection shown by Howard like never before blushes and quietly sits on the couch while Howard rushes in to wear his new blazer to look classy for Mona or shall I say dresses up to meet her standards. He comes out wearing the blazer. Howard: So what do you think?
Mona: About?
Howard (showing off): About my new jacket sweetheart.
Mona (smiles): You look fantastic as usual.
Howard blushes and goes into the bathroom to admire himself one last time to look fine for the evening. He comes out and asks Mona if she needed anything to drink before they left. On saying "no", they decide to immediately take off to the restaurant where Howard had made early reservations. They head off to the parking lot of his apartment complex where Howard leads Mona to the car and opens the door for her.
Mona: Oh, that's sweet. You didn't have to do that.Howard: Honey, I want today, in fact tonight, to be the most memorable moments of all.
He closes the door and sits in the car. After igniting he car,
Mona: Why?
Howard: Why what?
Mona: Why do you want tonight to be the most memorable night?
Howard starts to drive to reach the destination, which is a beautiful upscale Italian restaurant.
Howard: Well, I don't know. It seems you are always classy and all and I know I have been always rough and on the rugged side and you still seem to have tolerated with me at times.
Mona: I like you the way you are ... that's why I ...
Pause
Howard: Well, I what ...Mona (smiles): nothing ...
Howard, too smiles.
Howard: By the way, how was your day? Sorry, completely forgot to ask you.
Mona: As usual. Staffing sucks. It's surprising these IT contractors recruited to work for the fortune 500 companies by these staffing agencies who earn much much more compared to us recruiters working for this God damn agencies for ages ...
Howard seeing Mona upset, wrapped his right hand around her shoulder to comfort her and his left hand on the steering wheel.
Howard: It's okay babes. You were telling me about some IT training being held somewhere around this vicinity.
Mona (excited): Yeah, they have a batch starting next week. I do see a good career in it.
Howard: Babes, I ...
Mona sobers down.
Mona (low pitch): Yes ...
Howard: mmm ... look at the clear skies, the bright stars, amazing night ... isn't it?
Mona: Yes, its very beautiful.
They arrive at the restaurant. Howard walking fast towards the entrance of the most lively and busiest restaurant, opens the entrance door for his fine lady to walk in before him.
Mona: Thank you.Howard: Your welcome.
Hostess: How many?
Howard: We have a reservation for 2 please, Howard ...
Hostess: Oh yes, one minute sir.
A waitress comes towards Howard and Mona.
Waitress: This way please ...
Howard and Mona follow the lady. This was Howard's first time taking Mona for a candle light dinner. Waitress seats them right in the middle of the restaurant where everybody were completely visible to everyone. Kids, families, singles, couples ... all at one place.
Howard notices a candle lit in the center of the table and a small vase carrying just one beautiful rose.
Howard: Mona ...
Mona: Yes Howard: Do you like roses?
Mona (looking at the rose): mmm they are nice.
Howard: But not as good as you.
Mona (with a confused look): Howard, are you okay? You are behaving all weird and all. So formal, well mannered ... that's not you.
Howard: Well, I don't know. I think I'm a changed man now.
Mona: Howard. (Smiles) I like you no matter what.
Howard smiles and leans towards her and kisses on her cheek. Mona blushes and starts looking at the menu.
Waitress: Anything to drink?
Mona: I'll go for a glass of Pinot Noir. Any Pinot Noir would do.
Howard: I'll go for the same.
Waitress (Smiles): Will be right back guys.
The evening goes by. At times, they talked; at times, they smiled; at times, they holded hands; at times, they stared at each other. After an exquisite appetizing dinner and sharing a scrumptious dessert, Howard slightly pulls Mona and looks into her eyes.
Howard: Babes, what do u like in me the most?
Mona (bit tipsy from the wine): Everything.
Howard: Everything what. Can you be specific?
Mona (with an innocently sounding voice): Everything means everything. Your smile, your eyes, you hair, your style ...
Howard: That's all !!!!
Mona (smiles): I like you for what I'm not ... like you are intelligent, smart, fun loving, ....
Howard (anxiously interrupting her): That's all ...
Mona (smiles): I like you as a whole.
Howard: Just like ...
Mona (calm): well, yeah like.
Howard (with a sad face): Okay.
After paying the bill off and walking silently towards the car, Howard and Mona look at each other as if they had something to say and then looked away. Howard forgets to open the restaurant door for her as well as the car door. As they drive, Mona looks at Howard and sighs and turns towards the window enjoying the scenery. Howard looks back at Mona and sighs and tries to concentrate on driving. Both are tipsy as a long day and a nice glass of wine and food seems to have worn them out.
They arrive at their apartment and as they walk towards the door, Howard fiddles with the key not realizing Mona is walking behind him. Mona grabs his hand and holds him.
Mona: Look at the sky sweetie. Isn't it beautiful? Hey, there is that favorite star of yours that you always admire.
Howard (looking up at the sky): Yeah ...
He looks down at Mona and Mona looks at him. With a tenacious eye contact, Howard admires her beauty under the moon light and Mona gracefully smiles. Lost in their own world of thoughts while in each other's arms,
Mona: Babes ... (Pause) ... I love you.
Howard surprised, tries to comprehend of what she just said and walks her into the house by smiling. Mona smiles and follows him holding his hands firmly.
Howard turns on some music and prepares 2 glasses of wine. While they drink, they dance. Howard sits on the couch and pulls Mona along with him. Mona being tipsy and having revealed her love for him, dances with joy humming with her sexy voice, goes closer to him and dances for him. Howard pulls her towards him grabbing her glass of wine with one hand and grasping her with the other. Keeping the glass on the table next to him, he comforts her on his lap, holds her hair and says, "I love you too."
Mona who was dancing with joy and that smile on her face, suddenly becomes quiet. For a while, she pauses and looks into his eyes. There is a saying that goes like, 'The eyes reveal more than what is in the heart'. Seeing that conviction of love for her in his eyes, she bursts out in tears and says, "I love you so much".
They kiss and holding each other in their arms, they get through the night talking and talking and talking ... about anything and everything.
This was a simple, short and sweet love story of two people who complete one another or shall I say completed a quest of finding a soul mate.
Love is when one sees the real you when the real you remains invisible to the world. ~ K. Usha
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