The next day Betty was already seated at The Patio in a blue sundress waiting for Rick to arrive. Today she had a white gold chain around her neck from which was hanging the ring that Rick had given her last night. She had come in half an hour early as she could not wait any longer in her room. Her eyes often turned towards the entrance of the restaurant to spot Rick. But it seems he was running a little late today.
At ten past ten Rick entered The Patio wearing khakhis and a white t-shirt, looking a little peeved, his features more stormy than usual. He saw her, gave a tight smile, walked up to her and sat on the opposite chair.
“Good Morning, Mr. Sanders,” said Betty cheerfully trying to gauge his temper.
“Morning,” replied Rick tersely.
Betty could sense that he was angry, but could not fathom the reason for his anger.
“Umm… Is something wrong, Rick?” she asked conversationally.
“Nothing,” replied Rick and signaled the waiter to get his usual breakfast.
“You can tell me,” insisted Betty.
Rick remained quiet for a while.
“Rick?” asked Betty unsure.
“Hmm,” answered Rick.
“Please?” insisted Betty again.
Rick took a deep breath and let out a sigh. “Why were you not in your room this morning? I had gone to bring you down for breakfast. I thought we would come down together,” complained Rick.
“Oh,” said Betty. “I thought we were to meet here directly. Besides it would only waste your time to bring me down here,” continued Betty placating.
“I don’t consider it as ‘wasting time’ as you so put it. I asked you out for a date today and I intended for it to be one in the whole sense of the word!” stormed Rick.
Date? This is a date? Oh. I. Well. Umm. Shut your mouth, Betty. Stop gaping at him like that.
“Sorry,” mumbled Betty. And in her nervousness she fidgeted with the ring on the chain around her neck.
Rick looked at her and then at the ring she was twisting in her fingers. He smiled to see that she still had the ring on her body. He would have preferred to have her wear it on her ring finger but well… He said, “Never mind. So what do you plan to do today?”
“You tell me. You invited me for the date,” replied Betty with a twinkle in her eyes.
Rick smiled some more and said, “Okay let us go see the carnival. It is Sunday today and Valentine’s Day. They must have something special lined up for today.”
What he didn’t add was that it was his last day in Rio as well. He had to return by a late evening flight today if he had to catch up with his Monday early morning meeting. His last day with Betty, he wanted to make the most of it.
Betty too was thinking along the same lines. She had a late evening flight as well. She wanted to tell Rick about that, but just could not muster up the courage to say that. She did not want it to be the last day she met him.
“Let’s go,” said Betty with a forced brightness.
They both went to see the carnival and had fun dancing with the revelers and frolicking with the locals. They had street food as lunch and then lazed around on the beach in the afternoon. Betty had never had such an entertaining Valentine’s Day ever.
As the sun began to set, Rick turned to look at Betty beside him, “Shall we head back?”
Betty let out a sigh, “Hmm.” She turned to give him a smile and then got up. She extended her hand towards Rick, who took it and got up himself.
Hand in hand they walked back to their hotel and up the elevators. Rick got out along with her on the sixth floor and walked her to her door.
Betty turned to look at him on reaching her door and Rick placed his hands on the door on both sides of her head. He looked down into her eyes as if trying to say something. Betty tried to read what his eyes were saying. He dipped his head and placed a slow kiss on her lips. She slipped her hands on his chest and raised them to his nape. He brought down his hands to place them on her waist and pulled her closer in him as he deepened the kiss. She entangled her hands in his head to bring him closer to her as the kiss continued.
After a few moments passed they came up for air.
“Betty, I…” started Rick but then stopped abruptly. He didn’t know how to tell her that he was leaving tonight. In fact he had to leave within half an hour if he had to catch the 10:00 p.m. flight out of Rio.
Betty too wanted to tell him about her departure flight. She didn’t want this to be the last time they met. But they didn’t know a lot about each other. Of course he knew her life story, but they were still relative strangers. They didn’t even know in which cities either lived. She wanted this to be a pleasant memory if it was the last memory she had of him.
“Rick, I…” said Betty in response, paused and then continued, “I have a flight tonight. I am leaving Rio. I…” She could not continue further. She looked down dejectedly.
Rick was distressed.
Betty was leaving. Well so am I. Does this mean we will never meet each other ever again? Should I ask her contact details or let this remain a pleasant interlude in my life? Wondered Rick.
“I too have a flight tonight. At 10” said Rick. Betty looked up at him.
“When were you planning to tell me?” asked Betty with a spark of irritation.
“I was waiting for you to tell me first,” answered Rick annoyed.
Betty’s face burst into a smile.
“Sorry. I did not know how to bring that up,” said Betty contritely.
“Me either,” smiled Rick wistfully. “Listen, I have to get going,” continued Rick hurriedly.
“So do I,” said Betty petutantly.
Rick ignored her. “Should we go to the airport in the same cab. I presume you have an international flight out of GIG?” asked Rick instead.
Betty smiled at being given the chance of spending some more time with Rick. “Meet you downstairs at the reception in fifteen minutes,” said she.
“Reception?” asked Rick coming closer to Betty. “Or here?” said he looking up at the door where the Room No. was written.
Betty pushed him away saying, “Downstairs!” She gave him a quick peck on his lips and with that she turned her key and walked inside the room, shutting the door on Rick’s gaping face. Rick smiled and left for his own room.
Thirty minutes later they had checked out of their rooms, cleared their bills and were seated in a cab heading for the airport.
“When is your flight?” asked Rick once they were in the cab.
“At ten,” answered Betty quietly. She was still thinking of whether they would ever meet again.
“Would you like to keep in touch?” asked Rick casually.
“Would you?” countered Betty.
“If you would like me to. After all you never know when you need me again,” said Rick a little too flippantly. He wanted to keep in touch, but did not want to seem too eager if that is not what Betty wanted.
Betty was a little flustered with his responses. “What’s the point? It was just chance that brought us together on this holiday. I don’t think I am ever going to cross Dave, Sam or you again,” said Betty crossly as she looked out of the cab to control the tears that threatened to spill out.
Rick got infuriated to hear Betty club his name along with Dave and Sam. He too looked out the window on his side to avoid showing his true emotions. They both remained quiet for the rest of the journey.
They got off and Rick paid the cabbie even though Betty insisting on paying her share.
Once they had loaded their luggage on individual trolleys they walked in the airport without talking to or looking at each other.
“Where is home?” asked Rick suddenly while still not looking at Betty.
Betty who herself was looking straight ahead, turned to look at him abruptly and said, “Chicago. I work for Élan’s head office.”
Rick’s heart skipped a beat on knowing that Betty would be going to the same city where he was headed.
Now I can meet her again. This does not have to be our last meeting.
He smiled a bit with that thought. Betty saw him smile and wondered about the change in his moods. “Why are you smiling?” asked Betty.
“Just like that,” replied Rick grinning fully now.
“Umm… okay. So may I ask now where is home?” asked Betty trying to be civil.
Rick was about to answer when Betty’s cell phone rang. “Excuse me. Friend,” said Betty as she moved to pick Sarah’s call. Rick went ahead to the bookstore to look through some magazines. He always bought some at the airport to while away his time on the flight. Although he doubted he would be reading any on this flight, but old habits die hard. So he went through the shelves.
“How was the holiday? Reached the airport? Is the flight on time? What time do you reach back?” came a barrage of questions from the other end.
“Yes, it was fine. Yes, I have reached the airport. Yes, the flight is on time. I will be there by noon. Will come after lunch to office. How is James?” answered Betty smiling as she thought about Sarah’s take charge attitude and the worry she could sense underlying in all those questions. She also missed James, Sarah’s son who was a bundle of joy to his single mother.
Still talking to Sarah, Betty moved in the check-in queue and completed her formalities, Rick left behind. Rick wondered who she was talking to.
Seems like a close friend. Wish I knew who. I know so much about her and there is still so much I want to know.
Rick moved on to the check-in counter and completed his paperwork as well and arranged for a seat right next to her on the flight.
She still doesn’t know that I am going to Chicago as well. Will she be pleasantly surprised to see me next to her on the flight?
Mused Rick as he went through Customs check and on to the flight boarding gate.
Betty disconnected her call and turned to look around for Rick. But he wasn’t there. She felt a stab of disappointment course through her.
He could have at least waited to say ‘Goodbye!’ Perhaps he tried. I was too busy talking to Sarah. Probably his flight was announced. I wish…
Betty just went through the motions at the check-in counter and customs. She didn’t even care which seat she was given. Generally on a flight she insisted on a window seat so that she could look out at the stormy clouds in the sky. But today she only wanted to look at eyes the same color of those clouds.
She was also running a little late as her call had lasted too long. So by the time she reached the boarding gate most of the passengers had left. She just walked on as instructed by the flight ground personnel. She entered the plane and followed down the aisle to find her seat – 12B. Definitely middle seat. She sighed. Today she would not be able to see either the stormy grey clouds or stormy grey eyes anymore. Should I request the person on 12A to exchange seats with me?
She reached her seat. 12A was occupied by someone reading a newspaper. Betty placed her hand bag in the overhead luggage space and sat on her seat.
“Excuse me?” said Betty to the stranger.
“Yes,” said a known voice as the newspaper lowered to stormy grey eyes. Betty’s face split into a grin on seeing Rick next to her.
“Rick! Couldn’t you have told me you too were onboard for Chicago?!!?” exclaimed Betty.
“Where is the fun in that?” answered Rick right back with an unrepentant grin.
Betty hit him on his arm at that. “Ouch!” exclaimed Rick in mock pain, rubbing the spot where Betty had hit.
“Serves you right!” said Betty as she straightened herself smiling.
Rick smiled and looked on at her. She looked right ahead.
“So are you going to talk to me? Or remain angry for this entire flight?” asked Rick. He knew very well Betty was false playing her anger.
Betty was trying to fight back a smile. But she kept mum. But both Rick and Betty were oblivious to the announcement for the take off that was going on somewhere in the background.
“Is this the way to treat your Valentine?” said Rick on a sigh.
Betty looked up at him. This was the first he had said that he was her Valentine. Her heart skipped a beat to hear him say that. There was a mischievous smile lurking at the corners of his mouth. But his grey eyes had darkened considerably as he moved his head towards hers. Her pupils dilated and she closed her eyes as her lips parted in anticipation of his kiss.
Rick felt an uncontrollable urge to kiss Betty as he moved closer. Her reaction told him that she was very receptive to him kissing her. And he prepared himself for the jolt he felt whenever he acted on his attraction to her.
“Excuse me Sir, Ma’am. May I request you to please tie your seat belts as the flight is about to take off,” said a pleasant voice. Betty jerked back as Rick raised his head to see the air hostess look repentantly at them. Betty put her phone in flight mode and tied the seat belt without looking up at the air hostess or Rick.
He too straightened himself and tied the seat belt on. After serving some light refreshments they were left to their devices.
“Betty, I’m gonna ask you again. Would you like to keep in touch?” asked Rick and then after a pause added, “For I would love to.” He looked at her entreatingly.
Betty’s expressions changed from apprehension to delight by the time he finished speaking.
“More than you” said she smiling shyly.
Rick gave her a wide grin and took out his phone to note her number. He gave her his as well.
“So,” said Betty.
“So?” responded Rick.
“So tell me more about yourself. I know practically next to nothing where as you know my entire life story,” lamented Betty with a frown.
“Like I said before. Nothing much to tell,” replied Rick.
“I have lovely parents who have been married to each other since the past 36 years,” he said fondly. Betty smiled along with him. It must be so fortunate to live your entire life with the one you love.
He added, “Two brothers. I am the middle one.” He gave her a smile and she returned it wanting to know more about him.
“Non-smoker. Drink occasionally” said Rick as if ticking points in his head.
“Play racquet ball with my elder brother in my spare time, which is rare,” mused Rick. Betty smiled at that. She could just imagine him working through the week forgetting to take a break. She wondered if his brothers were like him too.
Rick was saying, “That brings us to the point. I am a workaholic. I work for ‘Qahwah’. Like my two brothers, I am single...” Betty looked up at that. “currently,” he added after a pause. She stared into his face to see if he was hinting at something.
He continued with a mysterious smile, “No girl-friend. But have a Valentine.” He winked at Betty and she blushed.
“Betty?” said Rick a moment later.
“Hmm?” replied Betty.
“Thanks,” said Rick.
“For?” asked Betty.
“I had the best Valentine Day today” he said with a smile. Betty blushed some more.
“So did I” added Betty after a slight pause.
Rick smiled and leaned back on his chair. “I didn’t give you any gift for Valentine’s Day,” mused Rick.
“I don’t need any,” said Betty with a smile. You have already given me the best gift possible. A semblance of a perfect life in a single day.
“But I do need one,” said Rick insistingly.
“Umm… I don’t have anything to give you,” said a hesitant Betty. Oh God! I didn’t think of this. I don’t know what to give him.
“I can suggest something,” said Rick mischievously bending his head closer to her.
“Hmm?” said Betty nervously.
“Will you do it for me?” asked Rick beseeching. His stormy grey eyes boring into her baby blue ones and then staring at her lips and then at her nape.
“Yes” replied she. She could not have said no to him when he looked at her like that.
He brought a hand forward and slid his index finger below the chain on her neck which still carried his ring. Betty let out a slight gasp as he pulled it lightly and brought her closer to him. He touched the ring and rolled it between his fingers as he looked at it thoughtfully.
“Will you wear this for me? On your finger?” said Rick again looking into her eyes. His fingers still playing with the ring.
“Hmm” said Betty, not knowing what she was agreeing to. A smile split on Rick’s face and Betty decided whatever he had asked for, she would gladly give to him.
Rick hugged her and bent over her shoulder. Betty could feel his breath fan over the nape of her neck. Her breathing hitched as she braced herself for one of his drugging kisses. But Rick didn’t kiss her, instead he released the chain, took out the ring and handed the chain to Betty. She dumbly took it from his hand.
He then took her left hand and made her wear the ring again. Betty let him do it. He brought her hand up and gave it a kiss where the ring now lay.
“There. Now it is lying where it belongs,” said Rick with a smile.
“Where it belongs?” repeated Betty with a question in her eyes.
“Yes” said Rick affirmatively as he clasped her left hand between his two large ones, “And rings are meant for fingers, not chains.” He gave a pointed look to Betty. Then he continued, “I gave it to you, didn’t I? It’s yours. To be worn on your hand” said he assertively.
Betty gave him a smile and decided to let the ring be where he had placed it. It was not an engagement ring after all, just a pawn shop ring!
Rick felt good when Betty accepted willingly to wear his ring. Although I dunno why I am insisting her to wear it. Its an engagement ring after all. And I haven’t even told her its worth. She thinks it has been bought at a street hawker’s stall.
Rick let out a heavy sigh and looked down at Betty. She was peacefully sleeping resting her head on his shoulder, a small smile playing on her lips, her hand still clasped between his. One lock of her hair had fallen on her face. He raised his left hand to remove it and tuck it behind her ear. Then he bent and kissed her forehead and said softly, “Goodnight, Betty Cooper. Happy Valentine’s Day!” Betty just snuggled more close to him. Rick smiled and then closed his eyes and went off to sleep for a while as well.
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