’’It was a brisk sunny morning, attired in a neat formal outfit, I was standing one among a fairy herd in Kathipara. I cursed my troubling 180 cc bike which made me wait here and the quickly elapsing office time pissed me a bit. This research engineer of CRLI had no moments to spare then. It was 9 am already and I need to report within 9.30. May be I could have been a software professional, I thought , where I would have got a flexible working time. But certainly I have no patience to spit pages and pages of codes infront of the stupid machine.
As I looked down, a 21 G approaching us gave me a sense of relief. In no time it stopped, I rushed into the already packed stupid bus and managed a foothold in stairs. As 21 G started off with a jerk as the conductor whistled just next to my ears, I could not help myself shouting at him, pulling off few pleasant words in Chennai senthamil from him. Controlling myself I rolled on my eyes over the people inside and as any other typical bus story my eyes fixed at a girl and of course as any other bus story she was beautiful. I took a pause and gazed at her again. Being an engineer in a PSU I could not help my eyes creeping into every possible worth looking girls it comes across. She was only few feet away from me, seated next to window in the second row down me.
It was vivid seeing her that she was on her way to office. And one thing for which I'm very grateful to MTC was for marking left half as the ladies berth which attracts a fair amount of travellers in stairs and even more number of people in the bus stops!. Suddenly the devil in me told that, man you are missing all this on your way to office daily. Failing to take off the gaze from her my eyes blinked in unison with my mind. As she engaged herself in a conversation with the girl next to her, nothing interrupted me except a few stops where I got down leaving way for the passengers and was back on track as soon as possible. And as any other typical bus story my instinct told me that she may be my girl and again my eyes blinked in unison with it. I exorbitantly decided to take some time off from my 180 cc and dedicate some unfeigned time in 21G. She seemed showing no interest about the passing by stops which assured me some nice gazes till CLRI. ‘ CLRI, kotturpuram’, the shout brought my senses back and I moved out of the bus though my eyes were glued into her as far as it could.
The next day as just another story I was well before in time and as every bus passed by, I started checking the windows searching her before the number of the bus i needed to take. And finally found the 21G of the day with her seated in the same place. I rushed in occupied my position of percipient view. And today glued eyes were retreated with a despised frown from her. Feeling quiet ashamed, I took eyes off from her though my heart sizzled to know about her. As days rolled on she got quite used to it and stayed indifferent to all my valiant efforts to attract her. Everyday she was well seated and it amazed me that how come she is getting seated comfortably always in a jam packed stupid bus. Though its been a fortnight then I had no clue about her whereabouts. Also I could never find her in my way back to home, may be due to our unmatching office hours. Finally one day the indolent ticketing of MTC buses came to my rescue. When I just got into the 21G of the day, I saw her giving few coins to the fellow next to her to get her ticket from the conductor next to me. As it passed on to me with a whisper ‘ oru mylapore tank’ I could not control myself giggling and turning to the conductor ‘ oru mylapore tank’. Finally I found that mylapore tank was her stop and the devil in me instantly started working. I decided to meet her the next day when she gets down in mylapore tank , wishing not to wait anymore and moved onto a fictional world where I could hear only the loud songs of Yuvan creeping into my ears!!
The next 22 hours the only thing that flashed in my mind was my well prepared intro to tell her and every possible thing to please her as she knew that im hitting on her.’ Hi, im…. Im from… I work as… I really….. you are so…’ , I was just constructing all these for hours.. Finally the next day morning I gave life to m y 180 cc and almost flew to mylapore tank in no time. I waited for the 21G of the day to see her getting down and meet her, playing rhythms of my crafted intro in my mind.
After 20 minutes or so, Yes, there she was in the 21G of the day. My heart beat rose exponentially and as the bus stopped I could see her moving slowly to the stairs. But it all lasted only for a while. The rhythms playing through my mind stopped abruptly. It was all because of what I witnessd then.. She stumbled and stammered as she got down the stairs. On looking closely I found her right leg falling short. God.. she was physically handicapped. I stood shattered. But she was more stumbling when she was on the last step. I could not stop myself going to her and hold her arms as she got down the bus almost losing her balance.. I held her arms and helped her balance. Our eyes met for the first time. . Ieverything I had for her vanished but my love for her stood a class apart.
Preparing much to speak to her, I just said softly ‘Karthik’., still holding her arm. ‘Shwetha’ she whispered. A momentary silence prevailed. I was able to sense something in her eyes. The world around us paused. Its all upturned now.. It seemed we needed no more info about each other. And magically it has happened, The magic.!’’
”karthik, what are you doing?? Its time.. How much time will you take to finish breakfast?? Are u Dreaming ??” Shwetha grinned at me.. Its really such a bad time to tell this.. I felt angry. She erupted me when I was relishing on the journey of my love..
‘’hey.. shwetha“ I giggled at her getting up from the dining table..
“flashback uh??” she said, with a pleasing smile which took me away..
“yeah” I giggled again..
“Well, Ok., Soon.. its time for office..”
‘’yes.. Just a moment”..
I came back and held her arms and helped her to the door, Where my shining Pulsar 180 cc awaited for a loving couple..
May be, she is not blessed.. but certainly I’m, to hold her arm and walk all along my life.
