Short story slam day 1
Prompt: Your protagonist finds out they’re on a date with a wanted criminal.
@short-story-slam
(I’ve been working on my main wip for a while so i wanted to write something fun. I hope it makes you laugh.)
Why In A Family Restaurant
“Well,” I said, drumming my fingers on the table. “This is quite lonely.”
“Uh-huh.” He said scratching his neck as he peered through the large french windows.
“The decor is pleasant isn’t it?” I persisted. He looked around as though he just realized where he was.
“A bit posh for a dosa place don’t you think?”
I shrugged, “I think they do pancakes as well.”
“Oh.” He said before turning to look out again.
I slumped a little in my chair. This was ridiculous, maybe I should just give up and ask my mother to find someone for me. How hard is it to find one nice date, Just one!
“It’s great to see how much you’re enjoying this.“
“Oh yes.” He peered in the direction. “Do you think our food should have come by now?”
“I think you’re supposed to order first,” I said sourly.
“I thought you had taken care of that.” He replied as he gingerly picked up the menu.
“Well, you can order now. And pay as well. I’m done.”
He looked up at me, suddenly panicked.
“Uh Roshini, wait! I was distracted.”
I placed my hand against my forehead. “Give me a reason to stay. Just one.”
He cast a panicked look around the room and I could almost see his brain turn to clay. He turned back to me with a strained look. “Roshini. You are here. In this posh restaurant. And your uh eyes gleam like oil.”
I gave a groan. “I give up,” I announced at large. “No more dates for me.”
He looked worried “Do you want to marry me or something?”
“I don’t know why anyone would want to marry you.”
“You don’t know that.” He protested. “Maybe I’m just a bad date?”
I groaned again. “Every single date, every single one has been a failure. I hoped that you would be nice at least.”
“They couldn’t have been that bad.”
“Oh really?” I said, sitting up straight at him. “Well the last guy I went out with, every time I said something he would explain to me how his ex-girlfriend would have said it.”
Oh.“ He said. “I don’t think he’s ready for a new relationship just yet.”
“And before that? Do you know who it was before that? Pradyuman Reddy, the Shaktiman of Kolkata. This city’s favourite hero.”
His eyes lit up, which I felt was rather unfair. “It was terrible.” I snapped. “He led by quoting Churchill! Did he even pass his tenth-grade history exam? And he spent the entire evening informing me how he upholds the proud values of Kolkota. I didn’t know we had values!”
In response, he held out a tiny vial across the table. I stared at him in confusion. “Are you suggesting that I drink my worries away? Because, one, that’s not an effective way to sneak alcohol into a family restaurant. And, two, that’s not enough alcohol to get drunk. I think.”
“Oh no. It’s Arsenic!” He said brightly. “I was hoping you could sneak this into his drink the next time you guys meet.”
After a beat of stunned silence, I clamped my hands around his, hiding the vial from the sight.
“Oh god.” I cursed. “You’re the bloody Zehar. I was praying that your looks and voice were just a coincidence. God, I was so desperate for a date.”
He sniffed. “I prefer to go by Advaith in situations like this.”
I laid my head to rest on the table cloth. “Am I allowed to cry? Is that a thing I can do?”
"You just need to pour it into his drink. It’s not that hard.“
“I don’t want to be a murderer!” I hissed raising my face only two inches off the table.
“Do you want anything?” He asked desperately. “Maybe a farm? Or a dog?”
“All I want is one nice date.”
“That’s doable. My intern is usually free on Saturdays. He’s a cool dude. Or I have this friend who’s very into uh… pyrotechnics? He has Friday evenings off.”
“Are you trying to bribe me… with a DATE?”
“Love is an excellent motivator.” He muttered, looking downcast.
“What the fuck.” I said very eloquently.
“I can book an entire restaurant for you guys.’ He looked down at his watch. "And I’ll text you the rest of the details. Pradyuman will be here in an hour or so. I thought I could drop you home before that.” He reached below the table.
“What are you doing?”
“Turning on my rocket shoes. They’re a new edition. I’m not quite used to them yet.”
“That’s kind of cool,” I admitted reluctantly.
He got up from the table and tucked the vial into his pocket. “Hold on to me.” He said, stretching out his arms, ignoring the dirty looks people were throwing us.
“This is still the first date,” I warn him.
He looked pleasantly surprised as I put an arm around his waist. “Does that mean you’re up for more dates then? I think you’ll really like Revanth.”
I groaned. “Can we leave already?”
He threw something up and with a sizzling noise a huge hole appeared in the roof above us. A middle-aged lad sitting at the table opposite ours gives an outraged gasp. “This is a family restaurant!”
“What was that?” I asked as we are soaring above the city.
“Pyrotechnics?” He said brightly.
“That’s not what pyrotechnics is and you know it.”
“Listen Pradyuman’s going to pay them thrice over for it. Their business is going to go through the roof.”
“They’re going to need it. I’m never eating there again.”
He smiled at me. “You know, comparatively, you’re the most interesting person I’ve met.”
“Why comparatively?”
He looked like he wanted to shrug but didn’t. Which is probably the safe thing to do when you’re floating above the city.
“I don’t really get to spend enough time with people to actually talk to them.”
“Because you’re bloody evil.”
“I don’t have a lot of free time.” He said miffed. But I had a lot of time to think about on the flight home.
“Whatsapp is fine right?” He asked as he put me down.
“I can’t believe you’re so eager to go on another date already.” I said.
“I thought you were interested in Revanth.” He said but there was an embarrassed smile already creeping across his face.
I sigh. “I don’t even know who he is! And comparatively? You’re the best date I’ve had.”
He laughed as he flew back up and winked at me as he pulled the arsenic bottle out of his pocket and shouted loud enough for the whole damn neighbourhood to hear, “I’ll make a villain out of you yet.”
———————————————————————————–
Taglist: @focusdumbass @ohlooksheswriting @velvetlighthouse @madsaialik @purpleshadows1989 @lacklusterswirl
Let me know if you’re interested in being added to my taglist !
