"Lovely dress Jyothi" James grinned at me as he did everyday.

"Thanks James, this is a new one from this weekend". I've been shopping a lot lately. Knowing that someone observes me everyday is refreshing. More so when it has been years.

"Yellow suits you. And it goes very well with your red nails". That was the first time he held my hand, for a quick few seconds which seemed to stretch forever that fit a lot running on my mind ranging from what if someone sees him holding my hand to the new feeling of another man's touch.

It's been two weeks since our chance encounter and there is a sense of familiarity with James. I recognize his voice, look forward to his attention every morning. And he notices something about me, everyday. Something that my husband, sometimes even I never did. We sometimes miss a train to take the next one, knowing each other's schedules. It feels nice, to know someone....again.

"How was your weekend?" I ask him breaking out of my stream of thoughts.

"Excellent", he proceeds to tell me about a bar he went to, a speakeasy. And then about his date. I don't ask for more details, maybe I should have to be polite.

"I'll have to show you the bar, sometime" he pauses. "How about now? Let's be spontaneous". "It's 9am James, see everyone going to work. I am not drinking in the morning" I laugh.

"I know exactly what you need now. Come with me" he takes my hand again and walks towards the exit. I duly follow, with any of my objection not falling in his ears or mine.

Missing trains, coffee or pretty much anything before work becomes a norm. "I don't have to read anything into this" I tell myself. James never has asked me out since the first time we met. This is just two friends having a conversation.

James even tells me about his dates every week and sometimes shows me their texts which portray a side of him that I've never seen but leaves me flustered. "I can't believe they text you in such explicit manner", subconsciously noting a couple of Indian names. "Are you not going to be in a relationship with them?". "This is different Jyothi. It's beyond relationships. Something carnal". I feel a crawling sensation on my skin, the goosebumps apparent, my mind blank without words and throat blocked unable to find my voice. Something in his voice and his intentions that were different just for a second. And the effect it had on me. I look away hoping he didn't notice anything.

James always wanted to do something new, something more and different. "Let me take you to a karaoke bar this evening." We exchange numbers as we go our separate ways.

"Jyothi, 6pm at the train station. Don't be late". I see his text in the middle of a meeting.

That was my first time at karaoke, nervous to begin with and finding my confidence and my voice after a drink. He introduces me to his friend, the woman who's texts I had read the previous week. I get to know her, a PhD student from the same part of India that I am from. We become friends, yet I cannot believe this girl would have such explicit exchanges with James.

I text him to let him know I got home and thank him for the evening. It was the most fun that I've had in a long time. And the first time I've done something outside of the weekend dinners me and Venkat go to.

"I should take Venkat to karaoke, perhaps introduce James to him". I immediately decide against it, both of it. "Karaoke will make Venkat uncomfortable. And likely introducing him to James will too. And will likely make me awkward too. That's for another time...or never".

I brush the thought aside, as I sit next to Venkat browsing for a new watch on Netflix.