Crime and punishment....

I saw Nemo coming in. I hadn't seen him for last two weeks as I had go rush to Sula Islands for some official work. Nemo was looking a bit fresh today for a change, and I was eager to know the reason.

"How are you....king of Philippines!!!"

"Just great...you're laughing you crybaby??"

It was a welcome grin as I could see read from his face. No symptoms of what happened last time.

"Come-in. I'll have some halo-halo for you"

I was observing his face while he was finishing of that beautiful dessert. May be, I thought, he had forgot her thoughts.

"No, I haven't", he was stubborn, "It was not provocative as I later realized"

"Dude, you look alright today. As I compare your face today with what it was a fortnight before, it is hard to believe in what your stating right now"

"May be I was overreacting on that instance. When you started liking someone, you start thinking too much about that person. It is pretty natural"

Nemo was standing behind my writing desk. Perhaps he felt a bit uneasy so he help a chair for support.

"What is her name by the way?"

"Stangeana. She's from Bonin Trench as I told you earlier"

"Doesn't seem to be a Japanese name. Isn't she a Japanese?"

"How would I know Japanese? She's perhaps of Italian origin, not a Japanese one"

"Hmm...So you are from Mariana and She's from Bonin....quite a distance"

"I really like her. She is quite considerate and sensible. She will understand my feelings"

"It is more about what you both feel together, my friend. When you think of a girl, something that matters is her emotional level. If it matches with yours, it will be a great match."

"And what about rest? She won't certainly entertain my looks. For her, may be I am just a pathetic guy enjoying his miserable life"

Nemo regularly contradicts his own speech. He sometimes does that a lot.

"If she's considerate enough, she'll definitely not be considering you, that's for sure. I know you are not a sad buddy. I have seen you many a times cracking jokes and making fun of your friends. You are always a center of attraction in parties. Besides, you are a very good choral singer. You were never pathetic as long as I know you"

"I am still a happy person. But whenever I see her, I get into a dilemma."

"What dilemma?"

"I cannot express my feelings in front of her. I feel like doing so many a times, but can't do that.
So I get upset every now and then. I wish I could control my thought process some day and stop thinking about her momentarily"

"When did you last meet her??"

"Last week we went to Kamchatka. It was a nice trip."

"Nemo, you need to express your feelings in front of her. There is no alternative."

"But how? What if she breaks the friendship?"

I got it completely. It was out of insecurity. Nemo was going paranoid about her.

May be I have a solution now. Eureka!!!!

Silence increases...

Sitting on the couch, with a mug of hot coffee in your hand and climate is soothing....aren't these the favorable conditions to think of a resolving issue? But somehow, it was not working for me....

"Coffee or cocoa?"I suddenly realized he might need one....

"Neither...." he murmured. Then he stood up again and looked out of the window. It was raining heavily. He then looked at me and I just felt as if he is going to start with his emotional story again.

"Do you have some crab soup by any chance?", I was surprised. "Why soup dude?"

"Donno...feel like having one...."

Since Nemo started coming to my place, i used to keep that stuff in my kitchen.

"And a seaweed salad to...."

"Seaweed is out. Will fried herring do?"

"No...No...not the fried one....get a baked one instead..." he insisted, with a bit caution.

After finishing his delicacies, he again sat on the same laminated chair of mine.

"Dude, I really feel sad about you. Why don't you talk to her."

"What should I talk? That what's wrong with her? "Why are you so upset? Can I help you someway?" No.....I don't want her to get hurt....she must've got hurt already by something..."

Silence.....one min......two mins....ten mins....

"May be she's not sad at all and it's your illusion"I gathered some courage to say these words.

"My friend....I'll be happy to know she's not, but what if she is?"

"Does she use any communicator" I carelessly said.

"What??" loud cry was obvious.

"Sorry....I forgot..."Stupid was I to ask this question. But if there was any, did Nemo dare to talk to her on a communicator?

Perhaps no.

Nemo should approach her through some means. What could it be??

Turnaround

"....hmm....so?"

I can't understand Nemo's emotions perfectly. As far i know nemo, he never used to be so extrovert.....At times, he used to chew his own words and I used to think, "Am i really so harmful to this naive fella?"

Today's scene was a complete a turnaround. Nemo was upset, so was I...he was upset because she was upset.

"Now, who is she?" i reluctantly asked before he could start crying again.

"The same i told you about. She lives near bonin trench....we went for scuba diving 4-5 times...and i made a record of 11 kms under water!!"

Guy suddenly gathered some enthusiasm for a second and continued "It was second time when we met, I started liking her....."

Shouldn't I expect some joy on Nemo's face?? But he had lost it already....

"So you like her, hnnnn?", I knew Nemo for 5 years now. This was not a unique dialogue for me. Story was different though...

"Yeah, but i can't see her upset. The way she behaves is her proxy feeling. I know she's not happy..."

Hmm....sounds strange....met her just few times....and he's getting her feelings....pretty strange...

"...hmm....so?"

"So what? I can't see her that upset. I just want to bring joy to her face now..." Nemo really looked disturbed.

Excavation was evident. "But why she's upset?"

"I really don't know. Saddest part is I can't ask her that....we never talked on a personal level that much...she may feel offended"

Now it's tough for me. She wont entertain her e-motions, and he's anyways too shy to talk to her.

Mondai desu ne!!!