It was a busy day at office. Tina left for the day. Fred called her, 'Hey Tina, where are you' she said,'I am on the way home, near Starbucks, ' he said, 'can you wait at Starbucks, I want to see you' she agreed. She parked her car, walked up the road to Starbucks. Ordered her large double cappuccino and waited for Fred.

He reached in fifteen minutes, 'I am starving, want to eat something? 'she said, 'I just had a coffee, you go on, ' he took a coffee and some cookies. He ravenously ate the cookies and Tina took one too.

Once he finished eating, Tina asked, 'what is it? ' he said, 'Tina, Jason wants to promote me, ' she said, 'wow, that's good, are you not happy? '

'I have to relocate to Shanghai, I am happy here in Delhi, and I have another reason to stay, ' Tina was looking at him, he said, 'I have a confession, I really like you, I wish to get to know you better,.. I am not a romantic person, you never gave me a chance to speak to you in that way.. only after the party last week I could draw some courage.. please don't mind.. if you don't like me, We can just be friends.. '

Tina didn't know what to say. She didn't feel like Fred. She said, 'Fred, I don't know what to say, I don't want to get into a relationship at this point of time, I want to be focused on my career, atleast for two years, even my parents are asking me to get married, but I asked them to give me time for two years, as you said we can continue being friends, but if I am the only reason for you to stay back, I don't know what to say, I need time to think,.. ' she paused. Fred was unhappy. But he was also happy to know that there was no one in her heart for now.

She is not ready to settle down for now. Atleast she was honest. He said, 'ok then, I will think over it, hope nothing changed between us and we can continue being friends'

She smiled softly and said, 'yes, we can,. '

They stepped out and parted ways. Fred reached home and watsapped Tina.

'Hi' she replied 'hey'

'are you busy'

'no'

'you know you should talk more'

'yeah I know, but you talk a lot, so you can compensate for me'

'wow really, tell me what is your favorite food "

'I like home cooked vegetarian food'

'boring, I like Italian cuisine'

'hmm.. good for you.. I used to eat lot of junk food in college'

'why did you stop? '

'I got severe food poisoning once, I was hospitalized for a week, it left me scared, even now I only eat if I feel that it is a hygienic place'

'bitter experience, but how about we go and eat some Italian food for dinner tomorrow? '

'is that a date'

'... '

'????? '

'can't two friends go out and have dinner? its my treat.. no need to call it a date.. '

'ok, we will go, I have a field visit tomorrow,I will call you once I am done, bye for now, good night'

'ok good night, tc'