Ek choti si Love story…

It was one of those ordinary evenings.. I was in the office bus, waiting for it to push off thinking about the traffic and generally bored.

I dont know why she caught my eye, but soon as she boarded, I started hoping that she would come and sit next to me. As usual, it was one of those out of bounds wishes, She found a seat somewhere up front.

After that day, I caught sight of her a couple other times and was found myself pleased with that . She somehow seemed different, somewhat special, kind of a person who would stand out in a crowd.. Looking Confident, with impeccable dressing sense and all that…

As I board the bus at one of the early stops, I get to chose my seat. And I usually sit in third row,  aisle seat of the long 3 seater on the right.  It was a normal Monday morning, me running to the stop and catching the bus at the signal… I got in short of breath, and completely lost it seeing her next to the window of my 3 seater. I sat down, very pleased but without a clue of what I am gonna do now that she’s next to me.

“Are you at Dell?…” I turned, scarcely able to believe my ears… “No, am at ….. ” I managed. Started chatting a bit… She said she had done her MS in US, and returned recently. After the introduction and profile exchange, having had a tough night, I dozed off…

The next morning, she was there. In the same place… Again… Bit more chatting, me dozing off… Was the same thing for a couple of days. On the Friday morning, I was losing my head. After getting down, I just wanted to be with her the whole day. All day at work I was distracted, kicking myself for not asking her number, and thinking about what all to talk in the evening… with the remotest chance of her being on the same bus as me, and even remotest chance of getting to sit together. Hope is strange.. it makes you look forward to things, build skyscrapers floating on paper basements. One logical thought is all it takes to crumple the basements. Alright, enough of psychology preaching.

There I was, in the two seater, hoping she would take the same bus. With all the expectation built up through the day, waiting in anticipation, as the moment came close. Then he came… One of my colleagues, with a perfect mood to chat. Ever heard of water being splashed on plans… This was worse… He was completely oblivious to the fact that I was not on earth. Started blabbing abt his work, his manager.. and what not… God who cares. Anyways, you got the message. I started hoping that she would be busy today and miss the bus… Atleast its better than having to sit next to this guy and look at her sitting across the aisle… Swalpa, uriyodu kadime aagutte anta.  But, as usual,  the basement collapsed and there she was, walked in looked at me, chose a seat couple of rows front of me. My friend here was going non stop, completely ignorant of the skyscraper demotion that just happened… I couldnt stand it anymore, told him that I was expecting someone to join me, to please shift. The journey was over in brooding about all the things I had working against me… As my stop came close, I decided, to get down wherever she does. I started feeling hopeful once again, and patted myself on the back for my quick mind . One stop went, No sign from her… Two went, nothing… by the fourth stop I was feeling foolish, so decided to get down anyways. I got up as the bus slowed and started walking towards the front door. I turned only to find my ‘dear’ friend right behind, surprised that I didnt get down at my stop… and to my complete surpise, saw her standing behind him… Meanwhile the bus stopped and I got down awkwardly and could only look at her walking away, me left to explain to this guy that I had to buy something near that stop.

Couple of days later, I boarded my evening bus with a lot less expectation(things had settled down and I was back to terra firma)… Walking in, saw her in exactly the same 2 seater where I had previously witnessed the skyscraper demolition happening. Said Hi, with  a big smile, got one in return too, she shifted her bag from the seat to her lap, and I sat down on Cloud 9 thanking the fate and everyone She was having some Hide n seek biscuits.. and offered me. I blurted no thanks for the first time to Hide n seek, and we started chatting. After a few minutes, she had stopped eating but still had the pack in her hand. I couldnt control anymore, and said that I would have a couple if the offer was still open.

She offered the pack, and said… ‘I knew you would ask…..’….

Ufff… As you guessed, I was already on Cloud #99 by now. We chatted about this and that, at one point I said I was looking forward to gorging on chats after getting down…  She said she was feeling like eating maggi, and would cook it at home. We discussed about all the best chaat places in the neighbourhood… and this and that.. the journey was over in a jiffy…

The next evening, I walked into the bus… saw her in exactly the same seat, same routine… I sat down direct on Cloud #101 this time.

Started talking… this and that… me already thinking on how to take it further,… I was sure this was it.. by the way I was zooming up to the clouds and changing seats there each time I bumped into her…

I asked…

‘Hey how was the maggi yesterday evening…? Relished it?…’

‘Oh.. I didn’t have maggi yesterday….’ she explained… ‘my mother-in-law had prepared pulao…’

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