“Cute profile picture” he said. “I know, that’s why I put it” was her reply. “Arrogant much?” He thought to himself. “Ha-ha I like your spirit” was all he replied. She forgot about him until she got a friend request from him two weeks later. Sure they had interacted before. But that was in a Facebook community group.  She accepted his request anyway and thus began one of those friendships we all are familiar with. Or so we thought.

After weeks of chatting on FB messenger, it was her who first asked for his phone number. Their conversations moved to WhatsApp. Then progressed to FaceTime. Their common friends urged them to meet. After all they were curious too. In today’s world of two minute noodles & relationships, how long would these two last?

A time and place was set. He arrived 30 minutes early on the designated day. He was nervous and he had his reasons. Love had spurned him once. And today he sat in that small cafe questioning himself if this meeting was a good idea. He would be lucky if he doesn’t end up being the subject of the next WhatsApp joke.

He was finishing his second cup of coffee when he noticed her entering the cafe. Wiping his sweaty palms he greeted her. It was awkward. After a few nervous glances, she spoke first. “Do you have an iPhone charger by any chance?” Certainly that was not what he expected to be the opening sentence. He got up suddenly and headed out the door without a word or glance back. Stunned to even stop him all she could do was stare at his retreating back. Struggling to maintain composure, she hid her face behind the menu.

“Here Madam” she heard a voice and dropped the menu down to dismiss the waiter, but was surprised to see him instead. He was back in his chair with the familiar white cord in his outstretched hand. “I had it in my car” he grinned sheepishly. “Oh” was all that she could say with relief.

Conversations on WhatsApp were effortless. But here as they sat barely two feet from each other, neither knew what to say. They might as well have been two strangers in an otherwise empty waiting room at the doctor’s office. Each observing the other person’s actions and yet avoiding eye contact.

After what seemed like who-knows-how-much-time, he pulled out a handwritten note from his pocket and placed it in front of her. She read the note all the while struggling to maintain a neutral expression on her face. He expected her to say something now at least. But instead she took out her phone and started typing fervently at a speed that made him giddy. He pulled out his phone as he heard the familiar ping. Now it was her turn to watch him with bated breath.

At last he placed the phone back into his pocket, looked straight into her eyes and asked, “Do you believe in love, in the time of WhatsApp?”  A smile broke out on her face and she replied “I want to!!”

And that was the beginning. A beginning to an unconventional love story. A new chapter in the life of a 52 year old woman who had escaped an abusive relationship 20 years back. And a new chapter for that 48 year old man who was shunned by love when his fiancée left him waiting at the altar 15 years back.

PS: What was in that note and what was her reply you ask? That we may never know…. Unless one of them shows it to a “close” friend and says don’t share this with anybody. At that moment will be born another WhatsApp top secret forward 🙂

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Hello friends!!   I have been a long time reader of author Kiran Manral’s blog. This fictional short story is based on her post “Love in the time of Whatsapp.” Do visit her lovely blog!!