The Favorite Food

"What the heck, Arjun! Why is this Aparajita calling you over and over?" Nikki was exceedingly exasperated when she saw Aparajita's name flashing on Arjun's Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge's screen for the sixth consecutive time in merely ten minutes she had been with him.

"Errr.. It's nothing baby. She is a new appointee. Boss has put her under my supervision." Arjun replied before switching his phone off. Casually, he threw a cursory glance at the menu he was holding in his right hand and continued "I'll have Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon. What about you? Decided?"

Nikki was fuming with rage. She looked like a 6-year-old kid who had just been told that Santa Claus does not exist. Her eyes squinted, lips puckered and fingernails dug in the table cloth.

"Whaaa-aat?" Arjun exclaimed, totally clueless.

"You tell me whaa-aat! This new girl has repeatedly been calling you that too when you are on a date with me, YOUR GIRLFRIEND! Oh, let me guess, she doesn't know you have a girlfriend, a serious one. I know you have deliberately not told her just because you won't want to miss your opportunity to hit on the HOT NEW APPOINTEE! All men are-"

"Oh hello Madam Daenerys! Slow down, slow down." Arjun interrupted her soliloquy. "What do you think? You'll assume anything and start babbling and I will just sit here and listen like Barfi? Of all the guys, you are incriminating your boyfriend, boyfriend of two loo-oong years, madam. This woman is new in the office and seriously needs to learn a lot. Is it my fault that boss has put me in charge of educating her? Never in my dream did I ever expect you to become so paranoid. Never."

"Bbb-but she called you six times."

"I switched my phone off for you. Don't you see?" Arjun gestured at his Samsung Galaxy 6 Edge that was touching the table edge, about to fall and commit suicide.

Nikki sat speechless and embarrassed, staring at her lap.

For two long minutes there was no exchange of words or glances between them.

"Tell me Nikki, what is your favorite dish?" Finally Arjun broke the silence.

"I don't feel like eating anythi-" Nikki hesitated.

"Just answer the question, Nikki."

"You know it, Arjun. I love Linguine with Shrimp. Why are you asking me now?"

"No. It is not, Nikki. You cannot eat too much of it. Think. Dig deeper. What is that one food you can eat any number of times and not get bored of? Your absolute favorite."

"Umm.. Yes! ALOO KA PARATHA! How could I forget it! It is my all time favorite, especially the one Mumma makes."

"Absolutely!" Arjun's face radiated with ecstasy.

"But why do you ask me now, after all this altercation?"

"Because silly, I want you to know that YOU ARE MY ALOO PARATHA. I am never going to get tired of you, ever. No amount of Linguine, Ravioli, Lasagna or Pizza can ever replace my ALOO PARATHA."

It was time for Nikki to blush. She mouthed 'I Love You' at Arjun and smiled like a 6-year-old kid who had just received a birthday present.

Smiling back, Arjun mouthed 'I Love You Too' at her before signaling the waiter to finally attend to them.