When Jack Met Emma..!! (Or Angels Don't Lie): Part - VI

Jack was, under normal circumstances, a very safe and sound driver. He sound the horn at every given corner, which made him all the more safe. On this particular occasion though the screeching brakes and the swerving tyres made sure the onlookers knew what was coming.
Emma had her heart in her mouth more than once but she was too mad at him to say anything. Jack was angry too. He didn't say a word. He merely floored the gas as hard as he could. This was quite new to the accelerating-pedal of his Austin Martin. In fact, he hadn't said a word after they'd left the restaurant. He gripped the stearing-wheel hard.
"Get A Grip, Will You?", she'd said. He stepped on the gas everytime he recollected her words.
"Will you stop!"
He didn't say a word. He kept driving the car as recklessly as he'd never done, as fast as it would ever go.
They were home before they knew it. Nine minutes and a few seconds it took for Jack to get down.
He got out of the car in a hurry never looking back to see if Emma got down behind him. She stayed in the car. They were on a date.
"What did I ever say to make him so mad?", she thought to herself. Like all her other sane questions this one had very few answers. All her insane questions had lots of answers, but lets not even get there!
About fifteen minutes back they were happily dining at this restaurant that they both loved eating at. This was the place where they'd gone on their first date exactly a year back in time. Which is what had made this date a special one.
Jack had accompanied her to his car. Of course that wasn't much trouble cause they were living together now anyway. Opened it's door for her and drove his favourite car out of the garage.
As soon as they were there, both of them looked in the direction that reminded them of that beautiful evening spent together. Without much hesitation they requested a table for two and inquired politely if that particular table was reserved. It wasn't.
They were escorted to the table. The table was very appropriate for couples on a date. Secluded, decently lit with the most gentle of breezes blowing throughout the day. They looked at each other. Emma smiled at him just as she had a year ago. Their stay together had been really pleasant. Hardly ever had they argued on things they shouldn't have argued on. Most of the arguements they'd had were healthy ones.
Right behind Jack was a newly placed table. It wasn't there the last time they were here. The table had been distracting Emma ever since they got there. Two very pretty ladies had occupied this particular table in question moments before Jack and Emma had been escorted to their table of choice. One of them had been eyeing Jack ever since they got there. Of course, Jack was too madly in love with her to realise.
"Honey? I'm here!? ", Jack gestured with his hands now that he couldn't stop himself from asking her that, after she'd quietly changed her gaze from his face to some distant subject right behind his shoulder.
"That blatant face right behind you! She's been gazing at you since like *ever*!!", she said quietly, obviously feeling awkward now.
"Aah! She can't stop herself from doing that", he said with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.
"Put those yellows where they belong!", she yelled inaudibly.
"Okay Ma'am!"
She felt sorry she'd said what she said. She knew she'd hurt him but she also knew she'd more than make up for it later in the evening.
She didn't talk. Instead she kept gawking at the 'pretty face' behind him. She couldn't help it.
Jack had had enough. He turned around to see who it was.
"My! My! She *is* pretty!"
"Mr. Jack. You're on a date! With me!!", she blurted out. Inaudibly again. Inaudible to others that is.
"Yes. I'm glad I am, darling!"
"Then what was it that you were doing turning around ogling at her?"
"I wasn't ogling. I just said she was pretty, which she is"
"Get A Grip, Will You? And maybe you should go out with her the next time!"
"And you don't even have to wait for the next time. You can go join her right away cause I'm leaving!"
"Emmy? Don't be ridiculous. Sit down"
She didn't pay attention. She got up instead and walked out on him. He got up hurriedly and followed her to the hallway and out the door. She waved at a cab, but he shooed it away.
He grabbed her by the arm, almost as gently as he would grab a child, and took her where the car was parked. She watched him guide her to the car. She couldn't believe he was mad at her and yet wouldn't show it.
She knew he was mad at her because he never spoke even when he grabbed her by the arm to take her to the car-park. And that he was mad at her became too obvious after he turned the ignition. And they were home before she knew it!
Now as she sat there in the car all by herself she pondered over what could've been.

He came out the door and rushed towards her after a minute to open the door for her.
"When you gotta go, you gotta go!", he grinned. From ear to ear.
Thrust his hand out for her. She took his hand and made her way out of the car. As soon as she was out of the car she reached over to his ears and said, "And for the record - Those are the pearliest whites I've ever kissed!"
"Right!", he said, quite sarcastically.
She jerked her hand out of his like she'd never hold them again. Pulled him towards her like she'd never let go.
"Or say, *those* are the pearliest whites I'll ever kiss!"
And kissed him like she never had.
"Happy Anniversary Jack!"
"Right! I'm starving here!"
"I have just the thing for you honey!"

When Jack Met Emma..!! (Or Angels Don't Lie): Part - V

Jack waited there impatiently. He felt like that ripe mango hinged to the tree by its slender neck waiting to fall off or be prematurely bumped off by some sudden gush of wind or a nasty stone hurled its way by some impatient kid. The moment of truth was here. And for his sake he hoped it was 'now' not 'never'.
There she was in all her beauty and splendor. Appropriately dressed in a white gown accompanied by her father as the mellifluous wedding song was being played in the background by the band that she'd given her thumbs up to. He'd never heard of the band and given a choice, he'd excuse himself from the agony. If it hadn't been the song's charm, the band would've sound pretty bland. But then again most of the bands in contemporary world he found bland and mildly disgusting! They were the not-so-mute-reminder to the fact that even Emma had her cons, but he'd known of them before he'd popped the question 8 months ago. Funny feeling rain can bring out. He put all the onus of his going down on his knee to the romantic weather and not his bravado. But then Emma had known him for 4 years so it didn't come as a surprise to her. In fact, he'd let her entertain the idea quite a few times.
It was taking ages for her to walk down the aisle. He felt a strong urge to go and shoot the band members in cold-blood. And without second thoughts at that. They'd made the tempo of the song a tad slow. Of course tad is a relative word and Jack knew relativity better than most. Here Comes The Bride, Here Comes The Bride!
"Yeah, well she's been coming for hours now!", he said to himself, loud enough for the Best-Man to hear it. Ralph was dressed smartly in his black tux. He found marriages very boring. When he wasn't standing at the altar waiting for his to-be-wife that is. He'd been married four times and was now seeing a brunette. A beautiful brunette at that. She looked much younger than she was. First look and only an insane would say she was 32. Ralph, of course, was insane. They struck a chord right away. It was hard not to see his charm and her beauty. They looked good together. They'd stay together for how long only time would tell.
"Really?? You're The Man!!!", Ralph quipped.
"Quiet You! This is a Church for God-sake!!"
"And I've seen it from the inside more than you have, you evil minded bull!"
"Bull-Shit"
"Quiet You! This is a Church for God-sake!!"
"Ralph! I appreciate your cheering me up, but SHUT-UP!"
"Excuse Me? But I've hardly said a word!"
"Not you Father! I'm sorry"
The crowd was having a good time by now. The crowd always had a good time for crowds are supposed to be sadists in their own right.
"Do we begin, son?"
"Yes, Father! As soon as you're ready"
"Very well then"
"We gather here to bless this....."
Jack was lost in his own world. He had never imagined in his wildest of dreams that he would fall so hopelessly in love with this really strange girl. She was a decently attractive girl, nothing much to write home about though. But such are circumstances. Men fall where men ought to rise and men rise where they ought to fall. For Jack, the descent had been listless at first and then it plummeted to the unthinkable depths so fast, it made him dizzy. Thankfully for him, Emma was there to hold him just when he was about to crash to the ground.
"Heh Heh"
He realised he'd laughed out too loud. Loud enough for others to hear. Now they were looking at him funny. It was funny, really. The priest had just about managed to ask him what he'd been waiting for to hear ever since he'd popped the Q 8 months ago.
"I, Jack Nicholas, take you, Emma McDonnell, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part."
The answer the priest had been expecting was far more serious than the 'heh heh' that he got instead.
He knew he'd goofed up and Emma would be furious, but he had to cover up. "Heh Heh, I've to actually say all that?" He tried to laugh it off. Of course that made the solemn affair all the more frivolous and trivial which didn't go down well with Emma.
"Of course, I Do!"
Emma had had enough of mockery for a day.
"Go to hell, you swine!", she blurted out as she resisted slapping him hard but failed miserably.
"She went away. Twice as fast as she'd appeared"
"No!!!! You can't run away from me! Bull-Shit!"
"Whats the matter honey? Are you all right? Bad Dream, was it?"
He startled himself and her by leaping straight to her arms.
"Yeah, was. Pretty Bad. Which is why I was wondering if I'd *really* known you for 4 years"
"How bad can it be Jack? I've been here with you all night! It can't get any worse than that, can it?"
He looked at her in the eyes and then kissed her gently.
Actions speak louder than words.

When Jack Met Emma..!! (Or Angels Don't Lie): Part - IV

"Hey Jack! I'm sorry I had to rush, but you know how irritable kids can be when they wake up from sleep at mid-night!"
"Oh My God! I didn't realise it was mid-night! I'm sorry. Really am!"
"Oh, don't be ridiculous Jack! You know a call from you is always welcome. And I wasn't sleeping anyway"
"And what was it that you were doing?"
"Well, I was trying to pour some ideas into this cauldron that should eventually help me design this 'shopping complex', but apparently the pot isn't hot yet - lack of hot ideas!"
"Hot ideas, eh?"
"Oh, shut-up Jack! You have a one-track mind!"
"Well, I'm just glad you think I have a mind! The girl who left me 5 years ago thought I had none."
"It's ok J. We know who's loss that was."
"Yeah, I think I know better than you!"
"No Jack, really! I mean it. She must have been short-sighted!"
"You don't have to be nice to me just because you're my friend. You might as well be frank!"
"No, I'd rather be Emma McDonnell than be Frank McDonnell. Frank was the name of the guy I was betrothed to a month ago!"
"What? You never told me that?"
"Yeah, its something I try to forget."
"Why? What happened? You thought he was frivolous and bland?"
"It was the other way round J. He asked me if I was a virgin. I couldn't just lie to him - so I told him the truth"
"Yeah? And what did he have to say?"
"And you know what they say about being honest? They drum in this vagary that Honesty Is The Best Policy and all that crap! But I've learnt honesty just screws things up for you."
"Yeah, I know! There was this teacher in my school. Everyday at school she'd say - "Everyone who hasn't done their homeworks - please stand up!" And no one would stand. Then she'd keep yapping about the whole honesty and the best policy line over and over again and she'd eventually 'convince' the guys to stand up. Then she'd beat them up like crazy!"
"It's a pity, Jackie. It is such a pity!"
"Anyway, Em.... your story, please?"
"Are you sure you wanna know?"
"If you intend to tell me, why not!"
"So he asked me how did that losing my virginity come about and I had to tell him I'd been sexually abused once when I was a teen."
"Huh? I don't know what to say!"
"Its ok J, you don't have to say much. He said enough already." She stifled a sob.
"M? Are you all right?"
"Hmmm.." Her voice was now a lot heavier than it had been when he heard her first.
"I'm sorry I brought this up. I didn't know you'd feel badly about it"
"It's ok. Am all right now!" She wiped her tears away and it just showed in the way she spoke now.
"But tell me Jack, is telling the truth a bad thing?", she asked as she now moved to the kitchen to get her something to munch. Sobbing always made her feel hungry. It was no surprise then that she'd put on a few pounds in the past month.
"No, honey! How can it be? It's just the way people perceive the truth. Some just suck it up when others seem to throw up!"
"Well, a month or so with you and I might just get back to shape, Jack! I was just gonna get me something to munch and now I've lost all my appetite!"
"Awww, I'm sorry. Just a figure of speech!"
"Heh heh"
"I'll talk to you later Emma! I've got a friend waiting on the other line, ok?"
"Yes, Jack. I'll be waiting for your call. Apparently only three things can hog my thinking today!"
"Yeah, Right! Bbye M!"
"Bye Jack, Take Care"

When Jack Met Emma..!! (Or Angels Don't Lie): Part - III

"Hello?"
"Hi!"
"Jack? Hiiiiiiii!!!"
"So, angels do use phones!!"
"Heh heh. How've you been, Jackie?"
"Decent, I suppose!"
"You Suppose? Why? What's the matter?"
"I don't know, Em. I really don't. Wish I did though!"
"Yeah, I suppose thats a real let-down. When you don't know whats pulling you down and it just keeps doing it!"
"Hmmm. But anyway, tell me about you? Whats up with you? You've been out of touch for *some* time now!"
"Yeah, Jack. Have been keeping really busy. There's this project coming up. I'm designing a Shopping Complex at this really posh location!"
"All Right!! So when is this Mall coming up?"
"It's not a Mall, Jack. Its a 'Shopping Complex'."
"And there's a difference?"
"No, not really. But I like to call mine a shopping complex anyway."
"Hehehe!"
"What's up with you?"
"Nothing much, M. Same old same old!"
"No!! Don't say that. Life's always got to get better. How can it be same old?"
"Yeah, I suppose life has got to change. For the better or for the worse is another matter though."
"I'll call you later Jack, my daughter's up! Will get her to sleep. You Take Care, Jackie!"
"Yeah, I'll...."
"Jack?"
(beep, beep, beep)

When Jack Met Emma..!! (Or Angels Don't Lie): Part - II

"Emma? You promised you'd be there for me!"
"You never called, my dear! And its 'Em' for you!"
"Yknow, Em, I was thinking.."
"Yeah, one must do that too, once in a while!"
"Shut-up and listen to me. Ummm...what was I saying? Dang it, I forgot!!"
"You were wondering how different people perceive things in a different way. And yet..."
"You're an Angel, aren't you?"
"Perception, my love! My neighbour thinks I'm just another girl next door. My milkmaid thinks I'm just an ordinary miserly lady. To someone I don't know, I'm just one of those dime-a-dozen people that you bump into every day, every walk of your life and not think even once that I might be someone they know, for I'm not someone they know anyway."
"Don't be such a smart-ass! You know what I meant!"
"No, am not an Angel. Far from it."
"How do you know *every* thing? You're not just one of those dime-a-dozen people that you say you are!"
"Do we really want to talk about this?"
"Not if you don't want me to!"
"Good. Then we will talk about it"
"Then let me correct you. I don't know *every* thing. I just know a lot about *you*. You're Jack McDonald. You turned 25 last December. You've been working at this place for a little over two years now - although you're already getting a feel you should be working elsewhere! You have two really good pals that you can count on any day, any moment! One of them I've known for 9 years now."
She'd been noticing Jack (and virtually stalking him) for almost 4 years now! She was studying architecture back then. And he was a student of Engineering in the same college.
"No!! Don't tell me!"
"What?"
"You're not Emma McDonnell, are you?"
"Mmmm... Yes, that would be me!"
"Always wanted to know you! Heard so much about your histrionic prowess.."
"All good I hope!", she grinned. Her teeth were the perfect pearly whites Jack had ever seen. Although her grin made her nose stoop a little to the left, but she looked better when she grinned. And she looked awesome when she didn't!
"You played Juliet in the college play, didn't you?"
"As a matter of fact, I did"
"Its a pity I was sick for a month then. Pox, you know!"
"Well, good thing you were sick. Or all that illusion about my histrionic prowess would've been shattered that very day!", she managed a giggle.
"I'm sure it wouldn't have been that way", he remarked matter of factly. She blushed and her pink cheeks turned a shade deeper.
"But I'm still a little confused! How can you know when I'm calling you?"
"Oh! I can. I'm gifted."
"Hmmm!" He didn't know what she meant, but he didn't want to. If it was anything important, she'd tell her if she felt like it anyway.
She gazed at her watch and winced. "Ouch! Its nearly half past nine. I'll need to rush!"
"Can I drop you off at your place?"
"Yeah, why not!"
They walked to her place enjoying each others company like they had ever since they'd met 3 days, 16 hours, 45 minutes and 38 seconds ago!

When Jack Met Emma..!! (Or Angels Don't Lie)

"And she would be?"
"Oh! Am terribly sorry. Jack, meet Emma! Em, this is Jack!"
"Hey Emma!"
"Please, call me Em! My friends call me that, and something tells me you're going to be one."
Her smile was truly genuine. It had a sparkle to it that a solitaire would've been proud of. She was a true gem.
Fair, smart, apparently of the verbose sort and definitely weird in a wonderfully unique way!
"So, Em. You're a..?"
"An Architect. I've been one for what, three years now?"
Her voice had that peculiar feel to it. It felt familiar. A familiar voice is the best voice there is!
"Oooh!! An architect, eh?" Suddenly a little depressed after having let the feeling sink. "You know, I always wanted to be a Pilot. Architect would've been my second choice. Instead I'm stuck doing *this*!"
"And what is this *this*?"
"Oh, let's not even talk about it!", he said shrugging it off like a really bad dream.
"Emma?"
"Yes, Jack?"
"Why does life treat us with such indifference?"
He was reminded of all his prayers that weren't answered.
"Our prayers are not all answered Jack, so we're glad when they *are*!"
Contemplating now, for he feared his emotions were totally obvious to all.
"No, no, Jack! They're not. Relax"
Totally freaked out now, but choosing to ignore - "But Em! Wouldn't we be a lot happier if all are prayers were answered?"
"It's not that simple, Jack. Sometimes your prayers, although unknowingly, can be detrimental to someone else's prayers. Although that doesn't make you a bad person, it kinda puts The Almighty in a fix."
"So, that's what its all about? A toss of the coin?? You mean my prayers are answered if i call a head a head?? You know how ridiculous that sounds?"
"Relax, Jack! Take it easy." She smiled. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her, now!
"I didn't mean to be all excited, Em. I'm sorry."
"No, no. Don't be apologetic. Thats what humans are here for. They make mistakes and they ought to be forgotten. Its something as natural as animals wanting to eat, or vegetables rotting eventually! So its okay."
"But still, am sorry!" He really meant it this time. And she knew, he did.
"I was saying its not the right call that decides if your prayers are answered. Its just the right intentions."
"But, I've never had bad intentions! Really I mean it!"
"Yes, I know darling. I do!" Her smile assured him, she knew.
"Who are you?" Jack couldn't help himself from asking.
"I thought we'd been introduced a while back", she retorted.
"Not in totality, I think"
"Hehehe. Very funny"
"But you know what I wanted to say, right?"
"Not really!" He still wasn't sure why all his prayers were not being answered.
"You see, if all your prayers were to be answered, you *think* you'd be happy. But would you really be?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"You know, its human tendency to always want things he doesn't have."
"You want a decent school, decent college. You want a good workplace when you work, you expect a charming life-partner when you're looking for one. Cutest kids and smart ones too! You name it, you want it."
"But whats your point?"
"The point is - after a while, the charm's all gone. Your friend is just a friend, your job is just another job, your wife is a pain in the ass most of the times, your kids get on your nerves too often for your liking!"
He became visibly sad. He knew she was making some sense.
"So, no matter how good a life you have - you invariably spoil it yourself by wanting more! Other people's wives are always more attractive, their kids are more well-behaved, their job offers more satisfaction and all that jazz."
"So you're trying to say, I shouldn't be expecting happiness?"
"No, Jack. You don't see the point, do you? The trick is to be happy with what you have!"
"But that is absurd! How I can just learn to be happy with what I have? Its like accepting what I'm being given, no matter how petty it is. And surely, the world would just stagnate if that were the case."
"Thats the trick, boy! The lesser you expect, the more you're given. The more you expect, the more you're given."
"Eh? And how is it different then?"
"Because you don't expect much, you're given a lot. Meaning - you think you're being given a *lot*, cause you never expect it in the first place! And because you expect more out of life, your prayers *are* answered."
"So, I win regardless of whether its a 'head' or a 'tail'?"
"Not, really Jack. Not really!! You see, when your expectations are high, no matter what you're given - you feel its meager and thats why you're not satisfied."
"Ahaan!"
"You know how it is? Your wife and other women!"
"I'm not married, Em!"
"Oh, I know. I Know Everything, Jack. Everything About You!"
He tried not to look in her eyes for he didn't want to see that truthfulness in her eyes. He *knew* she knew everything about him. How?
"It's getting late, Jack. I've to go someplace else too. And don't worry. All your secrets are safe with me, I Promise!"
"But..."
"No, Jack. Can't tell you who I am. But I can give you my number so you can call me whenever you feel like it"
"Oh, please do!"
He stood patiently, wondering if she'd been the victim of the foot-in-one's-mouth-syndrome!
"All you have to do, is call, Jack! Just Call Me!"
He stood there, speechless, not knowing what to say for he'd never seen an Angel before. She went away.