The Story of
“A story-teller on a flight”
Prologue:
The day has just ended. I was hanging out with my
colleagues, like hitting roads for a short walk around by my residence.
A horn & a honk, people crowded on busy streets.
We are having the most cheerful conversation ever, filled
with laughter.
I noticed few familiar faces. I’d like to coin that as a known
stranger.
The travel on by foot has ended as we reached the
residence.
The
Happy- Happening
There is something going on at our community. A few of the
families came out and it seems like they are looking forward to receive their
guests.
As we are walking by the corner of an entrance, a car did
silently pass by us.
No sooner did the car stop, on seeing each other the
families hailed with joy as the middle-aged stepped out.
In-seeing those happy faces it all seemed contented and
we slipped off in silence to make them comfortable.
As we walked past from them, an Innova drove in honking
all the way.
The place turned attention-grabbing as people yelled out
“Haaaaaaai..!”
Who could they be when people turn energetic &
naughty?
Obvio.. it would be the bachha-party or the Pilla-Gang. J
Kids & teenagers jumped out from the car. Well-dressed pious women who are in their
late twenties got down from either sides of the doors. Our hearts got skipped when the posh stepped
out.
Undeniably any good looking woman around her twenties
would surely do this.
A desire to eye/stare at them has made me restless, and I
took a step forward.
In a split of second our eyes met and at the same time
looked away from each-other.
Wasn’t that coz of shy? Or isn’t it a way of show-off
which portrays us as ignorably-interested?
But deep-down inside I wanna see as far as the eye
can see.
Back in my room, there were a couple of notification on
my phone.
One was a bank notification and the other was the
un-expected.
“In keeping view of our customer’s safety we had to
postpone your journey by flight UK-512 as the weather conditions for tomorrow
prove to be a
perilous. A refund would be initiated for the opted-out customers.
#Vistara”
Oh..! shit not Again. That was my most awaited trip &
was eagerly excited.
Trust
the Timing
Checked-in, seated at a lobby with a book and music
in-ears. Watching the sun-rise from the
architectural glass in an airport really made me emotional. They say that “People always do find
themselves in others”. I could see a
young lady in matching few steps away.
Hu.. Hu-hu..! Though it took me few seconds, I recognized
her. She turned by my side and I chuckled at her. Every science student respects scientific
laws. So I did get back a chortle from her.
Thanks for the Newtons-3rd law.
“All the passengers who are flying by flight UK-512 are
requested to pass over gate-24.”
So, the little fragrance of rom has ended.
Moved in, seated
and my eyes started looking for my-lady. The plane started its ascent & my
retina-scan failed.
The journey by flights are filled with boredom and
terror. Thank-god, the announcements were limited in vistara.
“Excuse me Sir..!
Would you like to prefer Veg or Non-Veg”. A highly beautiful professional
air-hostess handed me a sealed box with a sticker comprised of a red-dot
inscribed within a square.
“Would you like to prefer coffee or Tea?” I answered
“Coffee Please..!”
I do personally feel Coffee plays a bit of richness when
compared with Tea. Moreover I’m a guy who loves Coffee.
A good meal makes us feel better and this helped me in
passing by time.
“Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to Mumbai. Please have a
pleasant stay at Mumbai and people who are coming back, Welcome-Home. Thanks
for letting us serve you and we would like to see you on board soon.”
Finally it’s Mumbai…!!!!!
I was struggling down in letting know the driver for the
pick-up spot.
Battling from point-to-point and all of sudden a voice
“Hey…. Hi May I help you.” Yah sure please with a weirdo smile. Thank you for
helping me out. “By the way I live close to your dropping point. Is it okay in
sharing the cab?”
Happiness exploded deep inside.
Of-course, why-not, pakka..! I just don’t know why I said
all the terms which end with a similar meaning.
We got into the cab. We sat in peace. Her phone broke the
silence. All I could conclude that she is a Marathi.
We did had a small introductory talk and later she was
dropped by her residence.
I reached my destination which closely took 10min after
hers.
At
The Venue
Kith & Kins, relatives hailed and we did greet
each-other. It was my cousins wedding so his house has been crowded.
Later in the evening I gotten up myself ready and was
asked to visit a house with a guided-map.
As I drove by it seemed like I knew this place. Yah..!
That was the same house where I dropped her.
That moment made me understand the word collywobbles.
Rang the bell at the door-step. I was
asked to come-in & as my uncle did all the talking in making my work ease, I
was directed directly to go up-stairs.
WTFFfff…! Hey… You..! I was overwhelmed
with Joy on seeing her. I could see the same feel being carried by her.
It was her room. “Two minutes please..! “ She said. “Take your
own-time”, I reciprocated. She is giving some finishing touches to her make-up.
And in-order to give women their privacy I started walking out.
“Hey..! Can you take that green saree
out and please place it in the cover beside it. “
Did as requested. She was mesmerizingly
beautiful.
“Are you gonna come like this?”
Yes…! I widend my teeth.
“Okay here it is. Take this clothing and
put it on. Hope you like it. I will be waiting in the lobby down-stairs.” She
said and left in silence with a smile on her face.
It was a fine-finished embroidery brown
kurta-pajama. It is pearl buttoned, outlined with a thin gold colored fabric. I fell in love with the outfit. I wore and
came-down with that clothing.
She was the one who complimented first
and followed by others. I giggled at everyone.
I along with her family drove to Mandap.
We were together all through-out the wedding.
All we had was Jokes, laugh &
gossip.
My soul felt like I made a good friend. I
hope the same feel gets carried through-out my life .
Finally it was 4 in the morning and I
had to drop them back.
At her residence, she tour guided entire
house. The magic of closeness and the bond we developed made me surprised. It
all sounded as if we knew each-other for years together.
With all this freedom & trust I took a dare
step in asking a question without hesitation.
“Hey..! I really loved this outfit. If
it is okay.. I’m planning to keep this as a memory.”
She paused for 10 seconds and said,
“Yah..! Please keep it safe. I’ll convey this to my mom.”
Oh..!. Sorry. Let me go and ask aunty Ji
then.
“Hey..! Wait, I’ll come along.”
Her mom with a smile “This clothing
suited you a lot. Please keep this with you beta.”
I was so amazed by her words and later
we sat at the lounge.
She: “So, when are you heading
back?
Me: Today..! OMG, I forgot the web check-in
and even I’m not sure at what time should I start from here. The flight is at
10.30 hrs.
She: “Oh..! so then you are gonna fly
back today itself then ?”
Me: Hmm..
Our voices became low. We were dragged
into melancholy.
So, as of final-note she bid me a
farewell and “I wish, hoping to see you soon” were my last words.
The Backpacking
The most memorable moments..! It was all that’s buzzing
over my mind. Started off & driving by the cab.
I’m being passed by the same lanes and in-route by her
house. I peeked out of the window to see her by chance. She wasn’t there.
As the car speeded my heart beat increased. It yells out to stay-back and my brain
talks about the practicality and probability. Now it’s no time in getting back
a refund on a cancelled ticket.
Happy hours ended as I reached the airport. I donno what
to do. Paid for the cab and was standing all alone on the service road.
Epilogue
I woke up from my
bed as I was put into a dilemma. Always follow the heart but take the brain
along.
~J