19 Dates

Chapter 53

Following day Dev booked his tickets for New Jersey & also applied for leave from work, to Amelie he said that he was travelling for work. All of these very unusual things that he was doing, was to see this one person. From the airport he called his dad:

Dev, "dad I found her."

Mr. Sinha, "what? Dev this is fantastic new son. Has she agreed to meet you?"

Dev, "no dad but I am going anyways, I want to try, I cannot let go. I know deep down in my heart that I will convince her."

Mr. Sinha, "but where is she?"

Dev, "I will tell you everything dad, just give me a couple of days & do pray for me. You know what it means for me to have her respect & friendship back."

Mr. Sinha, "sure son, because your heart is true, I know you will succeed. God is with you Dev, call me as soon as you can. TC."

Dev, "TC dad, I will call you."

Dev reached New Jersey & checked into his hotel room, he waited for the evening. He had booked a table at Elements (a fine dining restaurant) at 8:00 p.m. This seemed to be a part of a plan that he was following, everything perfectly as per the information shared by Brook. In the evening when he was getting ready he had a short call made to his wife & daughter, he told Amelie that he had to go out for dinner with his new business associates. Amelie was a very humble person & even after being from a rich family with her dad owning a business empire she never really was inclined towards the business or ever interfered in Dev's professional life. All she ever wanted in life was to raise a family along with a loving husband.

Dev reached the restaurant and took his seat at sharp 8:00, in minutes he noticed that the person he was here for took the seat which was reserved for her. She was alone sitting on her table & likewise Dev on his. This is exactly what he wanted so he quickly got up to call out her name but then he noticed a few other men walking towards her table & he took his seat again. He was waiting for their dinner to get over. When it did the lady left her seat & preceded towards the valet, Dev was quick to follow her. She was waiting outside the restaurant for her car to arrive from the parking. Dev stood right behind her & tried to gather his courage to call out her name. He could not do it but then he had to for this opportunity had come after years of waiting. The lady's car arrived & she headed towards it to be seated when Dev called out to her:

Dev (in a mildly loud tone), "Shalini."