Will they, won't they?

"Happiness is power!" Owen told himself, as his sister checked his threads and hair gel for this vital first date. It was only ten minutes away, moments before everything could change for him. Owen was trying to look casual, clad in a new blue shirt, his best trousers, and his latest loafers. At the age of 25, he normally looked like the career-focused rising cadet financier he was. Compared to Primrose, his sister, Owen was the shy boy, reserved, goal orienteed, a virtual workaholic at that age.

One evening, he had expressed a slight yearning to become more social and meet a sweetheart. Primrose had taken this on as a project. She had created him an online profile on Kismet. This was quite an expensive online dating website, where true soulmates were matched up with compatible potential lovers, so long as their stars aligned in the star charts. Owen had rolled his eyes when Primrose had used a photo of her golden retriever, Miss Daisy, as his bait for a fur lover. Someone who could tolerate fluffy pet hair, and hopefully be a mysterious woman who would please Primrose. Not to mention the siblings' mother, who also cast her days by first reading her horoscope and daily tarot prediction.

Owen was well used to Primrose by now, but was slightly astounded by a tick of approval from an online lassie, who lived quite nearby. That was convenient, due to the cost of petrol, and the effort involved in having a long distance love interest. His date tonight was Ria, her profile picture had been a photo of the moon. Her code name was Moonbeam. After more than a few texts and a couple of nervous phone chats, this pair of wannabes decided to break the ice and meet in person.

Now Owen was off to the Jazz Bar, in the central district of the night life in their suburb. "I'll wear something purple, meet you at the table by the door."

Owen entered, glancing round. At the designated table, there was indeed a very attractive, but much older woman, wearing a purple jacket. Her impressive cleavage was on full display. He gulped, "How can I let her down lightly?"he asked himself.

Just then, a handsome older man raced in and smooched this woman in purple right on the lips. Owen was embarrassed, he had nearly bowled up to this stranger, to see if sparks could fly. Mistaken identity, or was that really Ria? The Jazz Club band started to play. There was a laid back piano, and slow, hazy horn, accompanied by a snare drum. Everything here was invoking a mood, glasses tinkled, chit chats among the patrons, toes tapped along in the subued lighting.

Owen proceeded to sidle up to the bar. He was definitely not in his comfort zone of digital mulitasking. He ordered a cocktail for himself, and nearlly fainted when it cost him $30. He started fiddling with his swizzle stick for half an hour, occasionally disguising his discreet checking of all the lady customers there.

"She stood my up!" he texted Primrose, "Now what?"

"Give her an hour. Maybe her stars were not in a sync orbit." Owen read that, and wondered how he was ever going to meet his one. His drink dwindled, very nice. The bar had everything, even the aromatic fragrance of excellent coffee, also very dear in dollar terms.

An hour later, he finally resolved to put Ria and her promisese behind him. He turned to wander home, disillusioned by this approach to love. Just then, the frosty glass door of the Jazz Club was pushed open, and a chaotic looking red headed young woman bumped right into Owen. She had a purple feather boa draped round her.

"Can't stop! "I'm late to meet my date. Flat tyre, and ran out of petrol. Is he in here?"

"Are you Ria, by any chance?"

"How lucky, you're Owen."

"I agree with you. I was just leaving."

"This is truly Kismet."

Owen took command, and guided Ria to the bar. All the tables were occupied.

Ria sat down and inhaled for four beats, then exhaled. "You might get used to my mistakes, part of my charm. Oh, charming!" she exclaimed, as the bartender produced a very sweet and potent cocktail in front of each of them.

Owen was overawed. He thought Ria was absolutely stunning. Ria too was fiddling with her swizzle stick. The jazz band played on. The atmosphere was ripe for romance between soulmates whose stars aligned. But will they, or won't they fall in love? Owen found the slightly erotic feather boa trailing over his hand, as he leaned in a bit closer. His wallet would definitely be very empty in the morning. Ria's conversation openers involved her voice dropping into a husky lower octave, as she peeped at Owen, side by side at the bar.

Owen did not know how to react, so he was honest.

Ria giggled, "I'm trying to look deep and meaningful here. I'm so nervous. My horoscope told me to accept Kismet as part of destiny. Was that an omen?"

Owen could only nod, wisely. He was so conditioned by Primrose, maybe there was some foundation in astrology after all. Ria and he overcame some very gauche repartee, but then ventured beyond the Jazz Bar. It was late at night, Ria was shivering in the mystic moonlight shining above. Owen had been brought up to be a gentleman, so he draped his jacket around his date. Ria muttered, "I can feel your body heat. Lucky night for me."

Owen flushed, and commented, "Good luck brings us happiness, an inside job."

The Jazz Bar band kicked back for the night, and the soulmates were feeling their mutual attraction. Lips met under the stars, lovers were always going to love. Owen and Ria both enjoyed this initial interlude. The Jazz Bar soon became a popular haunt favoured by the newly found couple. Ria's haphazard lifestyle, governed by the moon and stars did contrast with Owen's staid, stoic methods and workaholic attitudes.

Ria tempered Owen with her laughs and fun plans. Even hermits can fall in love and enjoy romance. So, who meets who tonight, and will they, won't they fall in love? It is all in the stars.....