This world is not an easy place to live. Its full of people who are going to crush you down their feet while you forcefully try to advance. They will befriend you, and break your trust. They come and leave in packages of disbelief and hatred. That was the only thing I realized during my stay of first four months in Bombay. People here work almost all the time. Be it any 'pan wala' or the struggling model, everyone who had ever entered the city were busy chasing their dreams and as for me , I never had any. I received a scholarship from the TIFR and got admitted to complete my masters on physics. It was nothing, but more pressure added on my back. As it is I had nothing else to do with my life so I kept minding my study business. Among the hustle and bustle of daily life , certain evenings used to bring in respite when I would chill with myself along the seaside. The breeze was calm and cold. I did not have any friends, rather didnt make any - while they would spend their leisure time discussing about the coming workshops, I would run back here to get some fresh air.
That day too I was chilling out there when our paths crossed once again. She was sitting there on one corner of a blue bench. I instantly recognised her and while I advanced towards her , she did too.
Me: Hi, remember me?
Her: Oh my God, you? I forgot your name.
Me: But I do, Meghna right?
Her: What a coincidence!
Me: Yeah, I thought we were never gonna meet again.
Her: So what are you doing in Bombay?
Me: Got admission in TIFR, completing my masters, you?
Her: Well, me too for my masters in Xaviers. Kolkata was fine but things changed.
Me: I didnt get you.
Her: My father passed away few months back. And now I am here living with my aunt.
Me: I am so sorry, but what happened?
Her: It was a brain stroke, a fatal one. Now that he is gone I am an orphan. Anyway , dont want to bring out my sad story now, we can talk about that some other day. After all I dint have anyone to talk with here and judging you on the basis of our first introduction I must say you are a very good talker.
Me: Yeah, I am hilarious.
Her: And as far as I remember , you rushed to catch the metro. You were trying to say something, what was that?
Me: I dont know. That was awkward, but...........
Her: But?
Me: Maybe I was going to tell you to stay.
Her: I didnt get you.
Me: Anyway its getting dark, I have to return back to the campus. It was nice meeting you once again Meghna.
Her: Maybe we can meet again if you can spare some time from your busy schedule.
Me: Sure, when and where?
Her: Tomorrow, same time, same place.
Me: Here?
Her: Isnt this a lovely place?
Me: Yes it is. Infact the only place in Bombay where I can revive myself.
Her: This place has got so many memories. You know when we used to visit aunts place on vacations, dad often used to take me here.
Me: You must be missing your dad.
Her: A lot. He was my only support. I could never imagine a world without him and now that I have to, surprisingly I am getting used to it.
I dont know for how long , but we talked a lot. There was so much to share, with someone I haven't known for long, yet who felt like a friend I could turn to in a city full of unknowns.
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Eventually we started meeting everyday. We would sit on that bench and have our bit of fun, criticizing the whole world and their stupid rules. But then we would get bored and I would bring for us some fried 'pakoras' from the roadside shop. Some days when it rained I hated the sky so much. Rains in Bombay are everlasting, it would continue for days and weeks until the roads turn into swimming pools. I would call her at the dead of the night for no reason and would somehow try to keep the conversation going by some silly jokes of mine until she would plead and hang up. I doubted if this was something more than friendship but academics kept me busy enough to think of anything beyond that.
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