Chapter 12 - THE MAN WHO LEARNED TO ASK
Ravi invited Diane to dinner.
Not through Marcus.
Not through a security guard.
He called her himself.
"Diane."
She smiled faintly.
"Mr. Greedy."
"Ravi."
She hesitated.
"All right. Ravi."
He took a breath.
"Would you have dinner with me?"
Diane stared at the phone.
"Why?"
He laughed quietly.
"Because I'd like to know you better."
She considered.
Then said:
"Only if it's somewhere public."
"Of course."
"And no security guards hovering over the table."
Ravi hesitated.
"That may be difficult."
"Then choose somewhere you feel safe enough to relax."
He smiled.
"Fair enough."
They met at a small Italian restaurant.
No chandeliers.
No photographers.
No expensive audience.
Ravi arrived wearing a dark sweater instead of a suit.
Diane wore a simple blue dress.
They talked.
About childhood.
Work.
Family.
And the strange ways people learned to survive.
Ravi told her about his mother.
How she had tried to protect him from his father's world.
How she had died before seeing him build anything different.
Diane told him about her parents.
Her studies.
And Sadi's dream of becoming a doctor.
Ravi listened.
Really listened.
At the end of dinner, he walked her to her car.
"Diane."
She looked up.
"Yes?"
He hesitated.
"May I kiss you?"
She stared.
Then smiled.
"You're asking?"
Ravi nodded.
"I've learned it's important."
Diane laughed.
Then she stepped closer.
"Yes."
This time, the kiss was gentle.
May you like
Unhurried.
And entirely her choice.
