From Delhi to Bangalore

One compartment away from each other they sat , complete strangers ,on their way to Bangalore . Oblivious to everyone around  engaged in a silent conversation of their own.  She was surprised at how  effortlessly he brought a smile to her face  . Words were but a luxury . She would at times laugh out loud inviting reproving glances from her own parents .

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Three hours earlier she was at Delhi railway station waiting to catch a train to Bangalore . Her mother clearly disapproved of her   haircut . She wasn’t happy herself ,  a recent visit to the parlour had proved disastrous for her long tresses . She stood staring into the  tracks hoping  for the train to be on time .

He was with his friends waiting for the train to embark on a journey that would get him one step closer to his dream he  nourished since childhood .

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The train was on time .

Her parents were busy settling down while she got in . Not wanting to put her bag down which almost equalled  half  her weight she stood unable to open the door . He was  seated comfortably next to the door when he saw the silhoutte of a girl outside the cabin . Getting up , he opened it for her . A moment passed by as if in a trance , that was when they first met .

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Three hours later they sat totally smitten . There was something about him , she could sense his vibes . The way he looked at her , it was  electrifying . His gestures , they made her laugh .

She is so beautiful he thought , her eyes , smile everything about her portraying innocence . He loved the way she adjusted her cropped hair every now and then . He longed to be with her ,  to tell her she was beautiful nevertheless . The connection seemed so strong. There was no way he could have his feelings conveyed . He knew they would never meet again .

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It was time to sleep .  Reluctantly she tucked her sheet under the berth  , one last glance and the lights went off . She lay awake , her thoughts flooded by the man she just met . She knew nothing of him not even his name yet he was the only one she could think of . She was ambitious enough to not get herself  distracted from her dream .But he had done just that .

He wanted to sit up all night talking to her , getting to know that stranger who had his heart beating at a different pace . He did not want the journey to end .  He never knew when he drifted off to seep.

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It was quarter past six when she woke up . She passed him on her way to the washroom . He was still asleep . She got back to her seat and waited for him to wake up . And when he did his eyes searched for her . It made her happy .  Time was running out .

Waking up with a start he turned to where she sat  . The relief he felt did not last long for he realised they had only two hours left . At a distance  he saw Bangalore railway station approach . His heart sank . It was time to get down .

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She saw him wait at the door keeping it open for her . Her heart felt so heavy that she couldn’t look up . There was a paper folded in his hand . Why wasn’t he giving it to her ?, she thought  . She knew it was for her . She was waiting .

He saw her walk towards the door ,her eyes carefully avoiding  him .  He felt sad . But when she did reach him he saw the same yearning in her eyes that was present in his  . He wanted  to know his name ,give her his phone number and also know her’s  . He had it all written in the little paper neatly folded in his hand  . He was about to give it to her when her father called . She got down .

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They plodded towards the exit with memories that would last for a lifetime. He saw her waiting  in the queue for taxi . She wasn’t looking . He thought she would cry . It was only when the taxi arrived that she turned around to see him . He couldn’t fathom the amazement in her eyes . She smiled . The taxi drove away . ‘ If we were meant to be , we will ‘ he thought and rolled up the window immersing himself  in the probabilities of a beautiful forever .

She could not muster enough courage to turn around. She thought she would break down . As she was getting in a sudden sense of despair set in and she turned around . It was then she saw him sitting in a bus not just any bus , the bus that belonged to the Indian Air Force . Her dream ! She smiled . Maybe it wasn’t over yet …..