.jpg)
There was time- enough time for them both before the sun rose. This night was theirs. He had traveled more than half the country's length to see her and she had sneaked out of her home after midnight to see him.
She was a bit nervous as she waited. Someone walked in from the darkness. Anxious eyes searched the other's face. The joy of recognition - a sudden twinkle in their eyes. A smile broke on their faces which narrowed a bit as if to ask: "how are you?", but then it grew wider unrestrained like the gushing flood water. Yes it was flood indeed - of emotions - never had they imagined they would meet like this! They were thrilled! Absolutely overjoyed!
For a split second they couldn't decide what to say for they had so many things to say all at once.
He was the first who spoke:
"Miss Nautanki - "
"Haat! I am not talking. Is this a time to meet?"
"Theek hai. I am going back then."
"Oyee - ruk toh! Mein to awevi bol diya.."
"Mein itney dur sey aya - tujhe awevi lagta hai?"
"Arey nehein..."
Before she could say anything: "Ab chup! Pata hi hoga tera naam nautanki kyun rakha hai?".
More smiles. They weren't those sophisticated lovers, you know, who need to present expensive gifts to profess love. For them just being together was enough!
Smiles grew to laughs that reverberated the silent night. At first she was a bit like: "Don't you laugh so loud - others might listen". But eventually his charm did the trick - she was laughing uncontrollably at his silly "useless" jokes. Useless is in quotes because that’s what she called them.
Talks were varied. It hardly had anything to do with love. They talked about the coffee shop, the drying lake, the traffic, their classes, their frustrations, their joys, their lives... Far away the city lights twinkled. Nothing had changed except that two people now were no more two.
They walked, in silence. For not always they needed words to talk. A smile would suddenly creep their face like a flash illuminating their pretty faces as they would have remembered something very embarrassing that had happened to them. And they continued to walk weighing the words carefully before speaking. One of them was a poet you know!
They seemed to be mesmerized. Life was enchanting. Life seemed like spirit inside a bottle - intoxicating, volatile. They wanted to enjoy every minute as dawn approached. Yet like spirit in the bottle time was vaporizing fast and they tried but in vain to catch falling sand with their hands.
Train at 8:30. He has to leave. Never had he felt more helpless - he wished time would freeze.
Byes are indeed a difficult thing.
-X-X-X-
As the train speed past the forests he stood at the door, air gushing past him, his eyes cast leeward. She walked home in disbelieve - she actually met him and he left already! She was shaken.
PS: This comes from a special friend and my favorite blogger- Abhishek.I’m so glad that he dedicated this post to me. A real life fairy tale that shows his eloquence at powerful and vivid expression of sentiments. Best Story I’ve ever read.
Worthy of all praise, can’t thank him enough.
He and She talk about their dreams, their most cherished desires in life, and their spirit to aim the wild blue yonder.
She says,” I want to see myself at a book launch, signing personal copies for the readers. And I want to see dad look at me and smile.”
He continues,” You know what I dream of?”
“What?”
He says, “I am riding the super sports bike and its handling like a dream and after the long straight, it screeches to a halt and then I dismount the bike, remove my helmet and say,
"Pretty nice thing I created."
PS: For those who relished "He & She" in Jab We Met [Link to Post] and asked for more...
Let me introduce you all to a guy called “Brat.”
When Brat was 4, he was sent to Convent.
Curiosity to light a matchstick and study how a flame works, Brat ended up burning away the curtains of his class teacher’s room.
He was expelled.
Another school, Brat now 6, while playing he pushed a fellow mate into the well. The child was later rescued.
He was now sent to government school.
In desperation to be able to wear spectacles, for he found them so smart, he looked through a magnifying lens to the sun to weaken his eye sight.
Dangerously smart!
Always up to some mischief, he would purposely bump into people standing by the verandah. Scornful and disgusted they would be seen cursing him ceaselessly.
A decade later, Brat was already part of communist movement while his fellow mates sat mugging for matric exams.
Another decade passes, Brat, a 9 pointer came as a gold medalist from one of
Brat is now a happily married guy, father of two and an erudite.
___________________________________________________
PS: Brat is my Dad.
PPS: Brat is called “Genius” now.
