Page 8 of Tiger's Dream
“Are you okay?” the young girl asked as she peered at me over the pages of her book.
“Yes,” I replied irritably. “I’m just looking for someone.”
“Who?”
“I’m looking for my…my friend.”
“What does your friend look like?”
“Long brown hair, brown eyes, beautiful smile.”
Her eyes widened as she peered at me over the rim of the book and she giggled. “I’m guessing it’s a girl. Is she your girlfriend?”
“She was.” I spun in my chair, scanning the people walking out the door, worried that she’d passed me and already left. I didn’t see her, but her scent was still strong, so I relaxed and let out a sigh, reminding myself I should trust in Kadam. Still I kept my eyes peeled.
“And you’re here to win her back, right?”
“Something like that,” I mumbled distractedly as I picked up my cocoa and sipped.
“That’s so romantic,” she said.
I grunted and gave the girl a wry smile. “At leastyouthink so.”
“Oh, I do. Your cocoa smells good. Is there cinnamon in it?” She was now peeping at me from the left side of her book so I could only see half her face.
When I tilted my head to see her better, she sucked in a breath and hid her eyes again.
“Would you like one?” I offered.
“Umm…I’m not really supposed to take gifts from strangers.”
“Then I’ll introduce myself. My name is Kishan.”
“That’s a strange name. Where are you from?”
“India. Where are you from?”
“Salem.”
I smiled. “I’m familiar with the town.” When she snuck a brief look at me from the right side of her pages, I said, “You don’t need to be afraid of me.”
“I’m not afraid,” she insisted. “I’m just being…cautious.”
“As you should be,” I said with a serious nod.
I summoned the waitress, who soon brought a second chocolate for the girl, and we sat quietly for a few minutes, me watching the steam waft into the air and her pretending to ignore my gesture. Finally, I said, “Aren’t you going to even try it? It’s very good.”
Slowly she shifted her book, still keeping her face hidden, and her gloved hand snuck out and grabbed the handle. After a few noisy sips, she deposited the half-empty mug back on the table.
Laughing, I said, “It’s nice to see a girl who enjoys her chocolate again. My girlfriend loved hot chocolate.”
“It’s delicious,” she said shyly. “Thank you.” At last she lowered the book and smiled at me. Happy at my small victory, I was about to tease her about being a bookworm when I looked in her eyes. Familiar chocolate orbs gleamed in a charmingly chubby, red-cheeked face. I trembled and my heart stopped.
“What’s the matter?” she asked, forming the words around a mouthful of wire brackets attached to her teeth.
“I…I…I’m not sure.” I swallowed, barely able to speak.
I stared at her in what I was sure was a frightening way, and she tossed her book aside. “Are you having a heart attack, Mr. Kishan? Why aren’t you moving?”
