The train is filled with passengers. It's the start of the mini vacation and that effect is to be seen all around.
"Lucky to have got a seat", I thought and was happy not to be one among those standing.
Train journeys used to be something that I enjoyed every now and then. But off late, it doesn't give me the same old pleasure . As they say, "As you grow old, your interests may take a back seat". But as far as I am concerned, its too early for me to have such a state of mind.
I was in a mood to listen to good melody songs. But for my fortune, I had forgot to take my earphones in a hurry to catch the train. "That's life for you", I thought. "At times, what you want wont be there with you, you would have to learn to live with what you have". I was thinking it would be the most simple example that one could give for such a complex philosophy and was seriously happy with such fancy thoughts of mine. Nothing much to adore about, I slowly went into a sleep.
"Excuse me", a sweet voice disturbed my sleep. I was trying to open my eyes with a "who the hell is this" attitude. But all that vanished into thin air as I recognized the source of the voice.The beautiful voice that I heard was equally matched with an enthralling visual beauty to the eyes. A beautiful girl in the mid-twenties with dark blue eyes stood near me. For a few seconds I couldn’t take my eyes off her. It seemed like I was staring at her for more than 14 seconds which would be enough to get me to jail. The truth was that for some reason or the other, I was totally into her.
“Can you please move a bit? “, she asked me.
I was always ready to move even before she asked.
I moved enough to make her feel comfortable. I wanted her to realize that I did care about the welfare of women. She gently sat beside me. She had worn a light green anarkali suit which made her look even more gorgeous. She took out a book from her bag and started reading it.
This is something I hate. Why in the world she has to read the book now? Can’t she have a look around and see the charming handsome man sitting beside her? You know, I rate myself very high on these terms. Someway or the other I wanted to get a conversation going with her but she sat like as if she wouldn’t allow one to happen in this century.
“Should I take the initiative?”, I thought.
“No, that would be very awkward. She may feel that I am flirting with her”, other part of my mind said.
"Let her feel so. What's the big deal, even if she think" , again my mind tempted me to talk to her.
In about five minutes we were bound to reach the next station. I knew that most of the passengers would get off at the next station. I was waiting eagerly for the train to reach the next station, so that I could possibly start a conversation going with her.
“What if this is the station in which she also wants to get down? No way! She is still very much intrigued in the book.” It seems that her station is nowhere near.
Finally, train reached the next station and majority of people in my compartment got down. Not much people boarded in from the station. As the seats opposite to me was completely vacant, she moved to that to make herself comfortable. Actually that made it much easier for me to see her. It was difficult to look at her to the sideways. Now she is there, right in front of my eyes.
She is still busy with the book, not even lifting her eyes off it. The train started running again and her hair was swirling in the wind and every time I looked at her, she appeared more and more beautiful to my eyes.
In half an hour, I would reach my station. I was desperate to talk to her, but for some reason I couldn’t. I wanted to apply the five second rule of Mel Robbins here to start off as if I don’t act within those five seconds of my thought, I would never eventually make it happen. But that also didn’t work.
I had a look at the book which she is reading. Till then, I didn’t even care to have a look at it. She was reading the perfect book as far as the name is concerned- “The girl on the train”, one of the best sellers. I’m not fond of reading books at all, else could have taken that as a topic for starting a small talk. I cursed myself for not having such a habit and took an oath that I would develop one from that day.
Finally, somehow I gained some courage or confidence and got ready to ask my first question to her. Before I was about to utter my legendary question, she put aside her book back in the bag and stood up to leave. I was shattered into pieces. All my build up have gone to hell.
“Oh god, why are you doing this to me”, I thought and was left to see her walking off from the train. She didn’t even smile at me when she left. Leave alone smile, did she even notice that I was sitting opposite her. Who knows?
I was struck in a situation not knowing whether to laugh or yell at all my whims as I saw her moving off from the platform.
After all the commotions I created for myself, I got down in the next station and finally reached home. Had a great heavy lunch as if to overcome all that happened for the day. I went to meet my nanny who was sitting in the lawn outside. She was not any ordinary grandma. She’s all updated with the latest technology and trends. I always wondered how she did that. Everyone in our house looks upon her for the latest trends.
“I have a surprise for you Anand.” She said to me.
Whenever she talks about surprises, those would be really great surprises indeed.
“Sit here my boy. I have something to talk to you”. I sat beside her.
How’s this girl.
She showed me photo of a girl in her tablet. She was the same girl in the train whom I met or whom I saw, to be more precise. I was fully astonished and didn’t had a clue about what’s going on
“What is this all about?” I asked her
“Her name is Priya. I got this photo from matrimony and I think she’s a perfect match for you. I showed everyone here and everyone liked her. Family is also good and if you like her, we can go on with the further proceedings.” she said
I was left wonderstruck.
Oh god! You’ve given me a second chance. After all, you are not that bad a person indeed!