Chapter 288

He woke up when the captain announced that they would be landing soon. He turned around and looked at the couple and smiled to himself and straightened his seat and buckled his seatbelt. He looked out the window and it looked nice and calm outside. He knew not to be deceived as Chicago was famous for its wind, hence the name "Windy City". He went back to his past memories, he had dated her for about three months and that had changed him forever. He had learnt so many things from her both about intimacy and life. He remembered reading somewhere that a guy should date someone older, younger, smart and sexy. He had done all that in his life and from every experience he had learned something about it. When he had dated someone younger he realized that he had to be more responsible in life. She also brought out the kid in him. It had been quiet an exhausting experience hence ending the relationship. When he dated someone who was way smarter than he was he struggled with his ego and self-respect but cultivated a passion for various things in life and acquired a thirst for knowledge. But in the end when he realized that he can't deal with it anymore, and was exhausted of competing with her he had ended it. He had an opportunity to date a girl who looked like a "Playboy" model. He was the most famous guy in his neighborhood and among his piers and his friends. Every guy wanted to be in his shoes and he was extremely proud and she had an enormous appetite for sex. But that didn't lost long as the attraction eventually diminished and he came to the realization that it was more than sex that he was looking for and there was nothing between them other than that. But a lot had changed when he dated an older woman. She had made a big impact on his life. He always thought of love as sex and never really was interested in anyone as he looked at life in such a way. But she had taught him sensitivity and with her experience in life he learnt that love is more than that. Love is about sacrifices, compromises, patience and understanding.

He had seen her struggle through her separation, especially when she could let go of her love for her husband. He remembered the very first time when they were together and she had cried the very next day apologizing to him that she had used him as she thought that if she slept with him she would get over her husband, which didn't really work. He remembered the one occasion when he overheard the conversation between her and her husband and realized the connection between them. He knew that she had tried very hard to save their marriage but in the end things didn't really work out. It had ended when she took a job somewhere else and didn't want to continue the relationship. He was not quiet sad that the relationship ended, but was upset that she was leaving. He had a very high respect for her and for then on his interest towards the women he dated changed completely. He didn't look for just physical beauty anymore, but with the realization of many things he wanted someone who had a zest for life. The plane landed with a jerk and gently glided down and came to a complete halt. He didn't bother to wait for the seatbelt sign to turn off and neither did others on the flight. He picked up his luggage from the overhead cabin and joined the others in the line, ready to alight the flight. He thought about Carissa, she was everything he had wanted and now there is a huge mystery surrounding her and he wanted to solve it and with that compulsion he was there in Chicago. He looked at the couple, and the guy and thought about how the older woman from his past had been contributed to him being who he was today and thought to himself that he also learns such good things. He walked out of the vestibule and in a few minutes he was out of the airport and in a cab on his way to the hotel, still contemplating if he should first check in or directly go over to see her.