Kala Dandekar (faithandscience) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2019-04-13 17:15:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, kala dandekar, kyle valenti |
Who: Kyle Valenti & Kala Dandekar
What: Getting coffee
When: Early April
Where: Random coffee shop
Rating/Warnings: Low!
Status: Complete
Kala hadn’t made too many friends since moving to Orange County. When she first arrived she mostly kept to herself. Of course there was Will, but he was more family. Even more than family. He was like part of her in a way. But other than Will she had only met a few people. Kala new if she was going to make a life for herself here, she needed to put herself out there.
Kyle was nice enough. She had only met him a few times when she stopped by Orange Coast Medical Center to help explain a new drug her company had just created. He was nice enough. Certainly her favorite of the doctors there. Kala was going back to his hospital later that day. She reached out to see if he had time to grab some coffee first, relieved that he agreed.
“So how are you doing?” Kala asked taking a sip of her chai latte. “Still working all hours?”
Kyle chuckled softly at the question from Kala and arched his eyebrows before a nod followed. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.” He’d opted for the strongest black coffee the place had to offer as working all hours that God sent did mean he needed something a little extra to keep him alert and aware. And when he wasn’t working at all the different clinics he was with his dad.
He added a further bit of sugar to the coffee and looked up at Kala.
“And you?”
Kala knew that Kyle kept a busy schedule. It meant a lot that he was taking the time to meet with her. Of course she didn’t really know much about his work outside the hospital. But she did know how insane a surgeon’s schedule could be.
“I suppose I should be honored then,” Kala said offering a small smile. She said it lightly, but her statement was true. “Works been keeping me busy as well,” she admitted. “Though I’m sure not quite as busy as you.” Or even half way.
Kyle chuckled and shook his head. “Not really no. I mean if you hadn’t invited me out for coffee then I probably wouldn’t have left the hospital so I think I should be thanking you for asking me out to grab some coffee.” He returned her smile with one of his own. “You know what they say about all work and no play.”
He bit his lower lip as he glanced away before looking back at Kala.
“Have you had the chance to explore Orange County yet?”
“Happy to help,” Kala replied taking another sip of her latte. “You have to get out of there sometimes.” Fresh air was good for a person after all. Or air that smelled like coffee. At least it was a change of scenery. And someone to talk to that wasn’t demanding information about patients.
“A little bit,” she replied. “One of my friends,” Will, the person she shared not only dreams with but a sort of psychic connection. “Took me to the boardwalk. Actually he dragged me out because he thought I was overworked.” Well he knew she was, he could sense it but she left that unsaid. She didn’t know if Kyle would believe her anyway. “It was my first time on a ferris wheel.”
Kyle lifted his eyebrows and smiled over the rim of his cup at Kala. “Yeah? And how did you like it?” Those things were great provided you weren’t scared of heights as they did have that habit of stopping mid turn though admittedly sometimes that was the most fun as in the right company you could have some intense one on one.
He broke into his muffin and popped a piece of it into his mouth.
“It was incredible,” Kala replied her eyes lighting up at the memory. “We didn’t really have anything like that back in Mumbai.” Although she had gone to college in California before returning to Mumbai for work, coming back here was still a bit of a culture shock for Kala. When she was in college all she was so focussed on her studies that she didn’t notice much of anything else, nor did she have time for it.
“Have you ever been?” she asked taking another sip of her latte.
Kyle enjoyed the way that Kala’s face lit up at the memory of the ferris wheel and how she seemed to take genuine joy in her experience. It was nice to see that especially when some days working in a hospital could and did tell to take the wonder out of the world. “Oh yeah, when I was younger, but not so much now that I’m older.”
He sipped at his coffee. “There was a ferris wheel at this pick up and go amusement park that used to come into town every summer and without fail I’d hit up the ferris wheel, with or without company.”
Sometimes it was just nice to be someplace high and not worrying about anything.
“Oh,” Kala said a large smile on her face. “I hadn’t even thought of that.” As in going alone. It was a pretty good idea actually. Especially considering how much she enjoyed it. And really if she wanted to she could always reach out to Will have have him ‘visit’ as well. No one would see her talking to herself if she was alone on the ferris wheel. But it would be nice to just be alone too.
“I’ll have to try it sometime,” a pause as she took another sip of her drink. “But if you’re ever feeling overwhelmed you should really try the one at that boardwalk. The view is incredible. And if you want someone to go with please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“It’s a great place to think,” Kyle supplied with a further smile. “And I’d like that so next time I’m feeling like I need to just get away from it all I’ll drop you a text and we’ll hit up the ferris wheel together. Sound like a plan?”
He broke off another piece of muffin before gesturing towards it so that if Kala wanted she could help herself to some.
“The beach is pretty awesome as well.”
“Yes,” Kala replied with a large smile. “Sounds like a great plan.” It would probably be good for Kyle too. To get away from all things work. Get some fresh air and all that. Everyone needed something like that once in awhile.
“Thank you,” Kala said taking a small piece of his muffin. She probably should have thought about getting a pastry or something herself. Oh well. Too late now.
As for the beach… “Do you go often?”
“When I can,” he shared with a nod of his head. “On the weekends mostly. First thing in the morning. I have a softness for surfing.” Which might have seemed like an unusual hobby but he’d always been a very physical person and surfing, well, it was both sporty but also meant a full escape from the rest of the world where it was just you, the board, and more importantly the ocean. “It’s nice that time of morning. Not really super busy.”
He took a sip of his drink.
“I’m guessing you’ve never been surfing?”
“I’m surprised you have the time,” Kala replied honestly. Though she certainly thought it was a good thing. With all the time Kyle spent working he needed a hobby. Something that could help him destress.
“No,” Kala replied shaking her head. “I’ve never been.” She wasn’t particularly sure it was something she wanted to try either. Not because she had anything against it. She was just scared. “When did you learn?”
“I make time,” Kyle shared with a lift of his shoulders as he idly turned the spoon in his coffee. “Even if it’s an hour here and there.”
He smiled over at Kala. “Mostly during the summer. My dad, he was- well, he used to surf and he taught me. It was like our father and son bonding activity.” Of course all of that seemed like a long distant memory given that his dad struggled to remember who he was half the time these days.
“You should try it.”
Kala noticed the look on his face. Although there was a smile there was also something else there. Nostalgia clearly, but it wasn’t just that. Kala couldn’t quite place her finger on it. And anyway it wasn’t like it was her place to ask.
“That sounds like a great way to spend the summer,” Kala replied returning his smile. “Did you grow up around here?” He had to have at least grown up near a beach.
“Oh I don’t know about that,” Kala replied a bit shyly. “I don’t think I’m coordinated enough.”
“Yeah, born and raised,” he shared with a nod and an accompanying piece of muffin. “And I’m sure that you could. I’d be happy to show you if you’re willing to give it a shot?” He gave her a warm reassuring smile. “And even if you’re not it doesn’t matter it’s for fun and you still get an amazing day in the ocean.”
He sipped at his drink and regarded her over the rim of his cup.
Kala chewed on her lower lip for a moment as she contemplated Kyle’s offer. Really, what did she have to lose? “Alright,” Kala finally agreed. “I suppose I could try it.” Another pause as she took a sip of her latte. “If you don’t mind?”
Kyle’s lips pulled into another easy relaxed smile. “Not at all.” It would be good for him as well, to keep him away from work and actually spending time with a friend. He knew he was working too hard but there had always been something driving him from a young age and work helped keep his mind off his dad.
“We’ll go on a weekend.”
Though she didn’t work quite as much as Kyle, she did work a lot. Weekends though, she always had off. “Perfect,” Kala agreed with a small smile. And just like that Kala was going to learn how to surf.