Behind the wheels of a Z4, driving from San Francisco to LA on a crisp sunny morning, we stopped for lunch at a vineyard in Solvang, absorbing all the attention we were getting from the locals. The vineyard received us warmly and gave us privileged seating, annoying other guests who were waiting for a table. I am usually the kind who doesn’t like attention but I didn’t mind this time. Those waiting for a table didn’t know that I had a reservation and I didn’t care to explain. She was wearing a pink floral dress with a white scarf draped across her neck. She had the men’s attention and the envy of the women. This was the first time I was going out with her but it felt like we’d done it once before; not many times but just this once where her actions and reactions gave away a sense of déjà vu. And it brought a smile to the senses knowing I could feel about someone this way.

As the steward brought us our wine and hors d’oeuvres, our eyes exchanged a smile that strangers do when they meet for the first time. We were both unsure of what to say yet knew we had much to say. Meeting of two connected minds can sometimes feel that way. The eagerness to say something to impress the other yet not sounding too eager or unnatural can be a big ask. The undercurrent of palpitation that we both felt was evident but we knew we were in a safe place. It took some time for us to begin a conversation. We nibbled at the food, sipped the wine, looked at each other and then around and then again at each other and then laughed out aloud. And that’s how it began; the comfort and the ease.

Our lives had traversed a similar path, albeit our interpretations of how we viewed those events was very different; perspectives is what we called it at first, experiences next and then we just smiled about it. As we progressed further into our conversation, the universe around us began to fade away. We didn’t realize when the lunch ended and when we got back into the car and began our drive towards Santa Barbara. She spoke at length about the people in her life, how she viewed them and the colours they add to her life. By then, I was overcome by the magnetism of her personality and felt awed by her sheer presence. So, I listened to her with the attention that I normally associate to my own inner voice.      

As we drove through the mountains and beaches, a pervading sense of calm started to prevail upon me. Very rarely does it happen when someone’s presence numbs every other thought or pervading feeling. They make you feel like how love feels for the first time and the feeling stays with you; like it is for keeps. She had that effect on me and she realised it. That’s probably why she smiled more and talked less thereafter. As we entered Santa Barbara, we went to M8RX to share a dance. We didn’t feel the need to plan or talk about it; we just knew. She was good at it while I was clumsy but it didn’t matter. Though we stood at a distance, we felt the distance melt away with every passing moment.     

As we started driving from Santa Barbara towards LA, I asked Alexa to paint the star lit sky with some more music. When Senorita graced the Harmon Kardon speakers, she untied her scarf and held it high in the air and let it dance in the wind. And we hummed along with Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello.