Hina looked at him and smiled. Asrar realized that he had asked the wrong question in a wrong tone. He immediately corrected himself, ‘No, I mean what do you like eating at McDonald’s.’

Hina was looking at him as usual. Asrar fumbled a little and made a mistake. He said, ‘This is McDonald’s. You do not get samosa and vada pav here. This place sells burgers!’

It became increasingly difficult for Hina to control her laughter. Her eyes were focused on Asrar. In fact, she was continuously looking into his eyes.

Asrar said, ‘You’ll have to eat something or the other. There’s no need to be so formal.’

Hina bent towards him and said, ‘I want to eat vada pav.’ After saying this, she sat back to notice Asrar’s expressions. Asrar looked at the people sitting around them and whispered, ‘Everyone’s eating a burger here; nevertheless, I’ll still go and inquire at the counter.’

Hina smiled at his answer and said, ‘There’s no need to ask here, let us go out and eat.’

Asrar gave her proposal a thought and said, ‘Okay!’ In that way he could also hide his confusion.

Both exited the mall. There was a street stall nearby where people were having freshly made vada paav. Asrar bought four. They ate while walking down Peddar Road. On either side of the road were huge buildings and glittering shops. Cars rushed down the road. The ambience of the area was pleasant and clean. The crowd walking on the footpath seemed decent. Many college-going boys and girls were chatting and giggling in front of the shops. A boy kissed his lover in the middle of the road. Asrar kept looking at them while Hina turned away her gaze. When they had moved a few steps ahead, he said, ‘People in Mumbai are so casual.’ Hina knew the context of Asrar’s remark, and so she replied, ‘They’re not casual, they’re shameless.’

‘Yes, absolutely shameless.’ Asrar agreed.

‘Why do people do this? I just don’t understand.’

‘They love each other. It happens when you are in love,’ Asrar justified.

‘Pathetic people!’ Hina said after a silent pause.

‘What’s wrong with it?’ Asrar asked.

‘Isn’t it pathetic to do all this in public?’

‘Love is blind,’ Asrar said.

Hina smiled at this philosophical rendering by Asrar. She wanted to enjoy the conversation further and so she asked, ‘Why is love blind?’

He had said it out of the filmi wisdom he had acquired, but he had not anticipated such a question. He started thinking. He spoke what his mind had just explained to him, in his own words, ‘It’s the heart which is the decision-maker when you’re in love, not your eyes. And that’s why we call love blind.’ Hina did not expect this answer. It was as much a surprise for Asrar. He could not understand if he had said something meaningful. Or was it just a fine attempt at answering her question? After this answer, Hina had no option left but to continue the conversation, so she asked, ‘Why does the heart take decisions?’