Saturday, February 04, 2006

A Chance Encounter...

4 am--I'm a useless insomniac.

I blamed it on the fluorescent lighting.

Or perhaps it was the unflattering shade of slime green coating the walls. Whatever it was, I stared, fascinated, at my reflection in a cramped, dark, downtown restroom wondering how the pallor, dark bags, and drainage came to be my own. Were those dark smudges along my lash line from this morning.. or the remnants of last night's outing? ..
eh, either way, it contributed to the effect. Staring back at me could have easily been a psych ward escapee.

The lights flickered , and I almost laughed... it was like a scene in my favorite book back from those self-proclaimed teen angst years; Elizabeth Wurtzel's Prozac Nation.
".. at least my hair looks decent" I thought. The disheveled look is the thing these days.

After a quick splash of cold water to keep me semi-conscious on the drive back home, I picked up my bag and went out into the rainy night. 45 minutes and 7 blocks later, I couldn't remember where I parked.
Nothing fazes me anymore, my threshold for anything from a minor nuisance to a calamity is constantly being forced to expand. I know futility when it starts raining on me... I spot a Bar and Grill across the road and decide that nourishment, shelter from the rain, and a few minutes of a break may coerce my brain into functioning after 7 hours of abuse.

Upon entering the establishment, I was accosted with a loud ruckus, crowds of loungers, and after-work munchers. I opt for take-out. A hostess takes my order and motions me towards the bar for the wait.

Isn't it amazing? a person's ability to sense when they're being watched.. it is the infamous sixth sense. I squint up to find a lone, dark haired, svelte and crisply attired, 20-something year-old leering my way. Knowing I have just enough energy to get me home and maybe to bed, I took a seat at the farthest corner to avoid the urge to spar with him if he continues to look at me.. that way. Can he not see that the psych wardens are after me?

He sipped his drink and adjusted his seat to face me. Here it comes..
"Hiya there! awful weather out there" he says with an English accent and a slight slur.
I give the merest nod of acknowledgment and turn towards the window. After a few undisturbed minutes, thinking I've won the undeclared battle, I forget all about him .. outside thunder rumbles and I flinch, turn, and find him a seat away with his head cocked to one side, staring at me as if I was a lab specimen. Just as I was taking a breath to unload my shitty day on him,

"il i5t 3arabiyya?" he asks in one brazen self-assured breath.


To be continued...

| 10 CoMmEnTs| -- Posted by [[ On My Own ]]--|Permanent Link|

10 Comments:

Ok so if medicine bores you one day, you can always fall back on this amazing talent that you have and write a book.

Mashalla, you've got what it takes Leen.

By  Sedna, at 05 February, 2006 03:49  

JS:
By the end of the night, I don't think he was trying to pick me up per se.. you'll see.

Try replying to "il e5t 3arabiyya?" with a yes.. they'll just stare at you dumbfounded..


Sedna:
Lets hope Medicine takes me.
Thanks hun.. but the only thing I have, is what it takes to procrastinate.. endlessly.


Meesh:
You? hate a pick up line? come oon ;)
When's the "HAHA" phase ending?

By  Trevelyana, at 05 February, 2006 17:59  

Or you can try replying,"No, and I don't speak Arabic either." :p

By  Sami, at 05 February, 2006 18:41  

Oh, god. He's one of those.

By  f_, at 05 February, 2006 19:47  

He sounds sweet with his "Hiya there".

By  N.A., at 06 February, 2006 05:18  

Sami:
I was a little startled.. couldn't come up with anything witty.


Fedo:
Those?


Sammzz:
Refer to JS's comment


JS:
heh.. Lets see Sam get out of this one.

Don't think you guys'll like the rest.. I think I might have skewed the first part. eh.. we'll see.


NA:
heh.. not the way he looked while saying it though.

By  Trevelyana, at 06 February, 2006 12:12  

you need to take it a little easier, I don't want to have to be your psych warden. what did you say to the guy?

By  Anonymous, at 07 February, 2006 10:45  

I am ..
I'd still like you to be my warden though :)

I didn't say anything tp him, I just took him to vegas and married him. didn't you get the invitation?

By  Trevelyana, at 07 February, 2006 12:30  

Leeno, have I ever told you how entertaining your posts are?
Well, now I have, so post the 2nd part already! :P

By  Anonymous, at 07 February, 2006 22:01  

Thank you sweetheart.. You guys are all great.

By  Trevelyana, at 08 February, 2006 07:21  

Post a Comment