Pinche Symphony

"Pinche Symphony !", Rick shouted. He always used Spanish slangs when he was angry. It was easy this way to express his anger on Alejandra.

Tears were rolling down Alejandra's eyes. There was a sob every minute or two. She was sitting by the huge glass window of her main room. The room was brightly lit. Outside was dark. Rain drops were hitting the floor with vengeance. The wet evening cast a sorrowful look into her heart.

"You know I don't like concert. Why do you keep asking me ?", an irritated Rick asked.

There was no answer. Alejandra kept looking at the magazine lying on the table. She was sitting on a sofa, wearing a beautiful black dress. Her feet was up and her hands were around her knees.

Rick looked at her and said slowly,"Honey! Don't cry.You know I hate to see you cry.". Rick never knew whether he loved her. But every time she cried, he had felt an inexplicable pain in his heart. Alejandra knew this too.

Moments passed. Her tears has stopped. But she sat on the sofa watching the magazine on the table. She thought about the many concerts she had attended alone while Rick was away with his friends. She never understood why Rick hated symphony and Rick never understood why she loved it.

Rick lit a cigarette. It was the second best thing he needed when he sad, the first being Alejandra. Deep down he hated going to the concert, but today he felt sad. He again looked at her and said slowly,"Ok. Let's go.". Alejandra didn't reply.

Rick came closer and sat on the table. He touched her soft shoulders and said,"Honey ! Let's go." Alejandra just nodded her head.

In half an hour they were at the car. The rain had diminished into a drizzle. The apartments were staring at the roads. The new light posts proudly lit the avenue. They got into the car. Rick drove away from the colony and sped into the highway.

Rick had always compared driving the car with driving his life. He took a U-turn. Every time he took this U-turn, he always had a fear that he was leaving Alejandra behind, forever. The car sped down from the top of the hill. Rick turned to his right. He was not watching Alejandra, who still looked sad. He looked through the window to the brilliant lights glowing far away in the city. Thousands of lights illuminated the otherwise dark night. He loved the view, the view of an outsider. He never felt comfortable when he reached the bottom of the hill. He felt lost in the crowd.

The car rode over the flyover and then turned a sharp left and then a right. He enjoyed the turns. His life never had taken a straight route.

The car got into several boulevards and prolongacion. Rick had forgotten about Alejandra's presence, lost in the maze of his life.

"izquierda", shouted Alejandra.

"Sorry.", and Rick turned left.

"Don't you know where the Concert Hall is ", Alejandra asked.

"My car doesn't like going that way.", smiled Rick.

"Shut up.",replied Alejandra and angrily said, "You and your car !!!"

Rick kept smiling.

It was ten when they reached the concert hall. On a rainy dull night, the building looked alive. The place was crowded. People were running towards the entrance. The rain had started again.

They got out of the car.

"It looks beautiful, doesn't it, Rick?", smiled Alejandra.

Rick looked at the first smile on her face in th elast five hours.

"No lo se. But you look beautiful."

"NO. Look at the place. You see me all the time." And she held him close putting her head on his shoulders.

They hurried towards the entrance, Alejandra watching the building in childlike excitement.

The huge wooden doors of the concert hall was open. People were getting themselves seated. The hugeness of the hall made the people look tiny.

"Hey guide me. It's huge.", Rick said slowly. Alejandra smiled.

They crossed several rows and seats and finally were seated. In a foreign land everything seems hostile; the elegant chairs, the people, the gorgeous lights and the symphony band on the stage.

"Do you like this?", Alejandra asked, with a doubt in her eyes.

"Yes, I think.", came a short answer. His eyes were glued to the stage where a group of musicians were getting ready for the show. There were all kinds of instruments, most of which he dreamed never existed. Alejandra never stopped giving him an introduction on each instrument.

They waited for the symphony to begin, and in half an hour there was an applause.

The symphony began in chapters. The composer gave the directions and the players played devotedly. There was beauty in watching the players playing in synchronization, when one stopped, the other began. The flute players were meddling with the air trapped in the flute. The huge violins happily sang to the tunes of their masters. The music rose up, the music fell down. Alejandra's eyes twinkled and she started tapping her fingers on the knees.

She turned to Rick and said, "Hear the chickens are dancing.". Rick listened carefully and probably heard the chickens. Or it could have been any other animal Alejandra had mentioned. The only thing he could feel was the passion in the music, the altering tones, the changing moods, and the dramatic faces of the music players.

"How do you understand all this?", asked Rick.

Alejandra just smiled. She held Rick's palm softly and looked into his eyes. Her face was calm, eyes fixed on him, afraid to think that he may leave her anytime. She turned her eyes away suddenly towards the stage. A tear drop was building in the corner of her eyes.

A new chapter started. The music became grave as if mourning for the lost ones, grieving for the ones who were never ours. The music became sombre, the music grew loud. The flutes cried and the violin gave a loud chill. The molecules in the air became heavy, unwilling to move.

The touch of her palms had a new sensation inside Rick. It seemed that the molecules were dissipating from her into him. The palms became warm and cold with each changing tone. She held him tight one moment and the other left him loose. Rick saw the different shades of life in the music just like he put the shades of life in his stories.

One says a deaf person listen to sounds by feeling them. Rick felt the music through the palms of Alejandra. He forgot the time, he forgot the place. He submitted himself to the touch of Alejandra.

"Honey. It's over.", Alejandra said.

"Hmmm.", Rick shook in his seat.

"Hmmm.", again replied Rick.

"Are you okay ?", a worried Alejandra asked.

"Yeah."

The crowd left the hall amazed and soaked in the pure music. It was already midnight. The rain had stopped. It was cold outside. Alejandra and Rick were walking with their shoulders crossed. Rick was watching the crowd dispersing in the dark. He was not afraid of the crowd anymore. He held her closer.

They came to the car.

"Wait.", Rick said.

"What?"

He gently brought her in front of him. The splendid hall shone bright behind the beautiful face of Alejandra. His heart was beating fast. He puller her closer.

"I may never understand symphony. And I may never hear it again.", he paused. He paused again, and it seemed indefinite to Alejandra. But in the dim light, she saw a different Rick.

"You know I have always wanted to tell you ...."

Alejandra stopped him and said,"I know."

She lay her head on the chest of Rick and was glad to hear the symphony of his heart beats. Rick held her tight looking at the concert hall and wondering whether it was the symphony or just another turn in his life.

The Taste of Coffee

Rick sipped the coffee watching Karen. He then lit his second cigarette in a row. The act of smoking always served as a perfect camouflage for his looking at Karen. And today Karen looked angelic. Her short hair, unpainted lips and the dark t-shirt , everything looked different.

"Another mocha please.", Rick told the waiter.

"How can you drink mocha ? It tastes so bad."

"And you, plain tasteless black coffee ? It sucks !!!"

Both smiled. They had the same argument every time. They placed their orders. Rick put his hand across the chair, stretched himself and looked at Karen.

"Why are you looking at me like that ?", quizzed Karen.
"Nothing. Just looking at those marks on your face."
"Ah! They are from my childhood. The disease left their beauty marks.", giggled Karen. She continued to tell more about the marks, but Rick was not paying attention. His eyes were glued to her lips, which were popping up and down, her head bending sideways while she adjusted the jacket on the chair.

Karen didn't talk what she thought; she talked because that was a diversion for her thoughts. Rick talked what he thought.

Suddenly Karen asked, "You are not talking much today. You want to save your energy for your flight tonight ?"
"Not really. Well, I will not be hearing from you for such a long time that I want to capture the sounds in my pores.", smiled Rick.
"Oh ! Yes !"
There was a twinkle in her eyes, the way women appreciate flirting.

"Yeah, flying tonight to Columbia. Two weeks there and then off to Argentina for another two weeks.", Rick said changing his posture.
The evening wind in downtown Vancouver was getting cold. Rick rubbed his palms. He hated wearing a jacket.

"And what are you doing in the vacation ?", asked Rick.
"Nothing as always. I don't know. May be will go to Victoria to see my friend. You know her right ? But mostly here.", she stopped and then continued,"I hope you have a good time.", rather pensively.

"Thanks.', replied Rick.

Karen gave a deep sigh, and then looking at Rick said, "Owen asked me out for dinner this weekend.", she paused and then asked, "Do you think I should go ?"

Rick thought for a moment and then replied,"I think you should. He is a nice guy. Haven't spoken to him much though.'

There was a sudden waft of warm air.
"Oooooo ....", shouted both of them simultaneously.

"That was strange; like a warm chill.", gasped Karen.

It was strange for sure, Rick also thought. The downtown would no more be the same, nor the Coffee Beans cafe shop nor the beautiful lady who sat in front of him.

He looked around the coffee shop. The beautiful waitress was serving at the tables. She had an elegant figure and an eternal smile.

"She is beautiful, isn't she ?", asked Rick.

"Yeah. She is beautiful. You should have asked her out long time back. You waste a lot of time.", spurted Karen and then glanced away towards the street where a bunch of guys were playing jazz music. Rick looked back at Karen and sipped his coffee.

"You think so ? I waste a lot of time ?"

"What?", and then Karen continued, "They are playing good. I wonder if they are stage artists."

There eyes met for a second and then Karen said, "When is your flight ?"

"At 2 a.m."

'Okay.', and then with a naughty smile she said ,"How is Jenifer ?"

"Ha Ha Ha !', Rick laughed. "She is doing good. She got a promotion and will be going to Montreal for a month."

"You didn't ask her to join you for vacation ", giggled Karen.

"Okay enough ! Stop it !", Rick looked away to the music band.

Karen didn't talk about Jenifer anymore, just looked at Rick. Rick turned his face and starred into the eyes of Karen.

Rick thought - Never had she looked so beautiful before, and never had he felt so peaceful.

Rick's cell phone rang. He saw the number, but didn't answer. It rang again, he didn't pick.

"Who's that ? Jenifer ?", mocked Karen.

"No. This was from the travel agency. They want to confirm the tickets.

"So why don't you answer ?"

" 'You take a long time.' ", echoed in Rick's ear.

"Another coffee ?", Rick asked.

"Don't you have to leave early ? It's already nine now."

"Yes, I know.", Rick said. He probably wanted to say more, but the waitress came too soon.

It was getting dark outside. The downtown was getting crowded on the Friday night. It looked pretty with the people walking across the glittering high rise buildings. Rick thought about the several downtowns he had visited. All of them are beautiful in their unique way. May be the people make the place beautiful. perhaps the families and the couples make the atmosphere cheerful. Rick had his chances too. He always blamed the weather for not having taken the chances.

"So, are you seeing someone yet ? I guess its been a long time I have known you and never heard anyone in your life ?", inquired Karen.

Words , by themselves, do not have any meaning. When they are spoken with a changed tone, quizzing eyes, and a reluctant moving lips, they breathe life.

"No. Not really."

"Why not ? Jenifer is nice. And you know her."

"Yeah. Dorothy and Susana are also nice.", smiled Rick.

"Choose one ...", replied Karen taking her eyes away from Rick.

"I will do a lucky draw sometime to pick up one.", smiled Rick.

He turned around and watched the kids playing roller blade on the pavement.

The cell phone rang again. Rick didn't pick.

"Why are you not picking the call ? Something wrong ?"

"No. Nothing.". Rick looked into Karen's face. His face straightened and eyebrows drew in. The adrenaline rose. He lit another cigarette. Karen too.

The waiters had started putting the chairs back in. It was signal for the customers to leave. Karen looked around.

"I guess, we have to leave now. And see you after a month.", she paused and then said smilingly, "If you still drink coffee ..."

"Even if I don't, I can still bear your company ....", Rick replied looking at Karen.

"That's sweet ... Now let's go. You need to leave now."

They paid the bill, got up an walked across the street. Over the next few minutes, they talked about Vancouver and Bogota. They talked about life in general, past exes and would be exes.

They walked slowly side by side, walking leisurely. They crossed the huge malls and the small ones. People crossed them on the left and the right. But when people crossed in between, Rick had always felt uneasy. Why ? He didn't know. He did't want to know. He was never lucky in the crowd.

They kept walking, watching people. They knew so much about each other, that there were moments they didn't need to talk. Karen was slower than usual.

"Let's watch the juggler show.", said Karen.

"Sweetie ! You will be late.", smiled Rick.

"No, it's okay. Anyways vacation from tomorrow.", Karen replied watching the juggler playing with the five balls in his two palms.

They stood there watching the show. They stood close to each other, oblivious of the fact that there was plenty of space around. It is when the mind is not willing to accept, the body takes the lead. The only vacation that Rick wanted was to stay here with her.

The juggler finished his show. Everybody clapped. Some of them left few coins in the box. Karen and Rick stood there for some more time. The cold breeze swept across their faces.

They turned round to the street and kept walking. Streaks of light was falling on their faces from the tall street lights. Rick looked at Karen and turned his face away.

"What ?", asked Karen.

"Do you know why I had gone to Victoria the other day ?"
"Yeah, to see the place."
"No. I went to see you. I couldn't wait till Monday."

They started to walk even slower.

"Oh ! Is it ?', naughtily said Karen.

"Oh yes !", laughed Rick.

They walked a little farther, without speaking. Then Rick said," Lets call a taxi. We have been walking for a long time."

"Yeah. But I kind of liked today."

"Because there won't be anyone to waste your time from tomorrow."

There are moments in life that one needs to tell the thing that he needs to tell. He is left with no option, but to tell.The words come naturally, like the baby comes from the mother's womb. And then the person feels newly born.

"So you are leaving tonight ?", asked Karen hesitantly.

Rick gave a final glance to Karen, the glance of a lifetime.

"Wh..a...t ?"

"Nothing.", he paused, he sighed, and then his lips moved and he barely uttered the words, "I feel like kissing you."

There was a silence. Karen didn't move. Her lips didn't move.

Rick took his cell phone and dialed a number.

"Hey Julie ! It's Rick. Please book the tickets.", he waited,"Yeah, that's right. Yeah. Okay.". He waited for some more time."Okay, good. Thanks Julie. Good night."

Rick kept the phone and shouted "Hey Taxi !!!"

The taxi came.

"Okay. See you then after a month. You have a great vacation.", Rick smiled.

Karen was starring at Rick's face.

"Now what ?", Rick asked.

"You say kiss me, and the next thing I know you are calling a taxi and sending me off."

"What am I supposed to do ?"

"You know what you really take a lot of time. Even for booking your tickets."

There was a silence. The taxi driver shouted," Hey guys! Don't waste my time.'

Rick stood there with his head down, like a school kid stands after being punished by the teacher for not completing his homework. Karen sternly looked at him.

"I booked two tickets.", Rick said slowly. "If you want to come ..."

Karen cut short Rick, "Fuck you ! That's why you were not answering the call."

Rick didn't answer anything.

"Now get into the taxi. We don't have time." She gave the directions to her house and then to Rick's house. In moments the taxi sped on the freeway. It was dark inside, occasionally lit up with the passing cars.

Karen came closer to Rick and placed her lips on his. Their hearts were racing faster than the car. Rick could taste the black coffee inside her mouth. He pulled himself away and said, " Does black coffee taste so good, or is it because of your lips?". Karen pulled him back," Stop talking."

The taxi driver smiled as he watched them through the rear view mirror.