Monday, September 10, 2007

Lovely Evening

I was rather out of sorts this weekend, with a bad cold and PMS. I was eager to go dancing on Friday night, but with the Guy’s back bothering him, we gave up the idea. We moped at home most of Saturday and Sunday. By Sunday evening, not only was I feeling weak and glassy-eyed after my nap, but also rather dull from inactivity. So the Guy’s offer of a drive was more than welcome.

We went wandering around narrow roads on slopes not far from our house. It was the time for sunset, when the hills around were bathed in a golden glow. The cool breeze ruffled my hair. I reiterated how lucky we are to live in such an area, in such a city.

As we drove back from the hills, the Guy steered the car onto the road where we live. “Are we going home?” I asked, reluctant to let this lovely evening end. “I’m not,” rejoined the Guy, “but I can drop you home if you want to.”

The evening had only just begun. We parked by the field nearby and talked for a long time, talked in a way that still seems new and special even when we talk for hours every day.

And then I wanted a drink. We rarely drink alcohol, but we both decided a small drink would be good for my cold. But the nearest lounge was reserved for the evening, so we ventured further.

With me clad in my homely skirt and top and most-worn sandals, we made it to a posh hotel whose roof-top restaurant came highly recommended from a friend. Deservedly so. Aptly called “Smoke on the Water” and set by the pool, it had homely furniture, delicious food and drinks, and excellent service.

We had a lovely lazy time, looking out on the city, with our office building in clear view right ahead. It felt magical, to have found a quiet terrace to sit in on a Sunday evening, when every public place is teeming with crowds. (Not to say that the place was deserted; and the men at the nearest table were making rather more noise than we would have liked, but it was easy enough to ignore them.) It felt like we had taken a wrong turn and magically found ourselves in a new world, very different from and yet so near to our own. Of course, we had to pay for the experience (there goes our goal of frugality!), but the price was not too high for such a lovely evening.

7 comments:

Pallavi Sharma said...

I loved the talked-in-a-way-that-it-still-seems-new part :)
And it feels so nice to even hear about others' beautiful-evening kind of experiences... I almost felt like I was there!

Unmana said...

It's at the Central Park hotel, by the way, if you want to check it out!

Pallavi Sharma said...

Oh, that reminds me of this other place that I visited for a team lunch... I'm guessing it will an even better place for a private dinner... a restaurant called All-Stir-Fry. It's on the top floor of the ESquare building.. entrance is through the Gordon House hotel lobby. It's an enclosed space, but the ceiling is a translucent glass/fibre with water flowing over it, and some cute little gardening around the floor.

Unmana said...

It sounds lovely - will check it out soon!

anumita said...

It's the company, the moment, the mood that is more special and a beautiful setting can only add to the magic! Glad you feel the way you do.

SeeTina said...

ahh .. so u finally did venture into that place.. lovely isn't it

Unmana said...

Contemplator: Finally? This was over two months ago, girl! you're late! :-)