Rey and Shyra were loafing around for long. Their little trip had exhausted them and despite their frequent snacking Shyra seemed to be hungry. But since she wasn't saying anything pretending that stomach growls were not happening, Rey realized it's time he should propose to eat.
"Let's grab a bite! I am hungry!"
"Sure," Shyra replied.
After wandering a while, they found a decent place. As Rey ordered a Sunday Roast, Shyra opted for a Shepherd's Pie. As they waited for their food, Shyra seemed sleepy.
"You alright?" Rey asked softly.
"Yes, just a bit tired. It's weird," Shyra sighed.
"Well...not at all. We walked a lot. I am tired as well."
"Well, I am used to much more work yet somehow I got really tired really early today."
"Am I that exhausting?" Rey teased.
"No...not at all. I didn't mean that," she panicked.
"I know," he smiled. As he glanced at her pouting face, he chuckled, "What?"
"At first you couldn't talk now you are teasing me!" She hmphed.
"I could say the same you know! At first you had a dead set face now you are smiling, pouting, getting annoyed."
"Is it irritating?"
"No, it's rather amusing."
"Free entertainment?" She remarked.
Rey laughed heartily as he replied, "You are cute."
It seemed this remark was very new to her as their was no visible reaction. By this time, Rey had a realization that whenever it was overbearing for her, she would turn into an emotionless stone for a moment. Rey smiled. He was starting to get this woman little by little.
"You have a good appetite," he smiled at her rather red face gently. She could barely react with food stuffed in her. It was a long day, yet for Rey, it felt like moments before the date over. It seemed as if he could walk with her for ages and not be exhausted. Watching her like this all his life would be a delightful treat to him. He could not believe how fast time went by and it was already time for her to leave.
"Alright, bye, I guess," she said gently before preparing to enter the building.
"Hold on," Rey spoke softly holding her hands.
Slowly, he pulled her a little closer and bent down. Bringing her hands closer to his lips, he kissed them gently as if he was holding delicate flowers. As he looked up to see her reaction, he saw tears streaming down her smiling face.
He was unable to understand whether she was hurt, sad, happy or angry. "I am sorry-"
"Thank you," she said gently before running off inside.
Rey watched her walk away through the glass door. If he could he would probably take her in his embrace, kiss her forehead, peck her teary eyes and let her break into fragility while he held her in love all eternity! He stretched his arm to the way she had run off as if to promise her, 'I will be here all eternity to meet you the same way!'
"So so, did you confess? No no first tell me do we need tissues?" Rajiv was looking at Rey like a grandma enquiring about her future granddaughter-in-law.
"Um no-wait what? Why would we need tissues?" Rey was perplexed.
"You didn't?" screamed Rajiv at the top of his voice. "What's the matter with you?"
"What's the matter with you? And again why would we need tissues?" Rey snapped back.
"In case it was an emotional confession you dumb roach!" Rajiv screamed again. "But clearly the dumb roach doesn't possess enough emotions to even make a mild confession!"
"What are you? A teenager reading smut?" Rey was thoroughly annoyed. "And the dumb roach didn't get a chance."
"Oh you will never get a chance."
"Huh? Come on! I am being serious."
"Me too. I shouldn't have arranged that date. I am too soft on you." Rey pouted.
"Come on now, Rajiv, don't be upset. I do appreciate you going great lengths and almost getting your face carved up to arrange a date for me." Rey chuckled.
"Is that sarcasm?"
"Not really. But you can laugh if you want to."
"You are hopeless." Rajiv sighed.
"I really am." Rey admittedly sighed.
"You both are equally hopeless," added Charles who was just enjoying the charade up until now.
"Excuse me?" asked Rey looking irritated.
"Do not converse in such rude manner Mr. Roychowdhury. It's unattractive." Charles smiled.
"Who is this rundown British aristocrat?" Rey asked Rajiv.
"Charles Adams. He works with Shyra in the department of Investigative Journalism," Rajiv replied with a smile.
"And what investigation is he running here?" Rey asked as he scornfully scanned Charles.
"I wished to evaluate your worth myself you see. I can not merely take the word of your friend since he might be an accomplish," stated Charles as he tidied himself up. "You see Sir, there are some definite unwritten rule we must follow while we evaluate an individual for their qualities. And one of those rules are that you must never fully believe the words of those who are close to them without crosschecking. Otherwise, it leaves space for bias. As Investigative Journalists, we must be fully neutral and free of bias while reporting any case! I am sure you will agree as well..."
As Charles went on blabbing, Rajiv was beaming like a proud father at his son's graduation ceremony while Rey was looking at them like the student who was about faint at the prayer hall.
"So tell me Sir, are you ready?" Charles asked eagerly.
"Huh? Ready? For what?" Rey had only regained his absent conscience that had taken a field trip for a few hours.
"Beg your finest pardon Sir, but didn't you follow?"
"Follow what?"
"The conversation Sir," Charles replied with a hint of confusion and despair in his voice. "I understand Sir you must be quite distressed. No worries Sir, I shall start from the beginning. Now please try to listen carefully this time otherwise we will be wasting our time and energy." Suddenly he was bursting with energy again.
Weren't they already wasting time and energy? Rey thought. As Charles went on again with full energy, Rajiv looked at Rey to see whether or not he was paying attention. However, his observation turned out to be much more amusing than he thought.
Rey was sometimes clicking his tongue or shaking his feet as if to show that he felt anxious and restless. Then he would occasionally put his head down as he if he had an information overload and needed time to reload. Then when he seemed like he was on the verge bursting out in tears like a child forced to study, Rajiv finally interrupted, "Charlie, I think it would be better to show him. Practical explanation would surely be better! Don't you think?"
"Of course, of course. Oh I am so sorry I wasted away so much time and energy with words. Boy you should have suggested that early on!" Charles exclaimed.
"Huh?" It seemed that Rey's braincells had went on to their occasional field trip leaving him completely confused yet again.
"Ways of a gentleman?" screamed Rey.
"Yes" replied Rajiv politely. "When I explained the situation to Charlie earlier he agreed that we need to teach you properly about the ways of a gentleman so that you don't end up screwing it up."
Rey was at loss for words. These people would now teach him ways of a gentleman? What a joke! Him? Reyansh Roychowdhury? As he silently got up to leave, he felt a tug on his shirt. He looked down, indeed, it was Rajiv. They were glancing at each other when Rajiv finally broke the silence, "Did you just think that you, Reyansh Roychowdhury, did not need to learn this, since you, Reyansh Roychowdhury, had previously successfully managed to seduce women and take advantage of them?"
Rey was stunned by the words that Rajiv spoke. He had been indeed thinking this way all this time.
"Surely you must see the problem there," Charles said putting his coffee mug back down.
Rey sat back down as silently as he had gotten up. Surely he could see the problem. The way he had been behaving with women all this time was not very gentlemanly. Not only he would use every possible method of manipulation and seduction and take advantage of them when they were entrapped, but, he would also abandon them right away once he felt he no longer fancied them. His behavior and reputation with women, in which he used to take great pride in, now made him feel ashamed and remorseful.
"Do you guys really feel that you or even Shyra can change me?" Rey asked gently. His voice felt distressful and somewhat lost.
"No," replied Rajiv promptly. "We do not feel us or even Shyra can change you."
Rajiv's words struck Rey like the cold breeze of winter. He could not utter another word.
"However, there is one person who can surely change you and make you into a perfectly nice and proper human being if that is what you wish," replied Charles with a smile.
"Who?" Rey felt a glimmer of hope.
"You." Rajiv continued, "No one other than you yourself can change you. Also, just to be clear, we are not attempting this just for Shyra. She is good motivation but won't you like to look at yourself in mirror and feel confident and worthful of that man that you are?"