...chalte-chalte...the meeting and the quest...

The Quest

So FALAKNUMA EXP. had been decoded but a lot was yet to be found. On Friday (day b4 leaving for kharagpur) I was at my friend’s place discussing the outfits to be worn next morning and I dint returned hostel that night. I was there in my college uniform so I had to arrange for clothes before going to bed that night. A denim donated by prady and a shirt from sujeet’s bag were chosen for me.
We began our day (Saturday) bit earlier. At 3 am, in morning I was dozing off at bus stop accompanied by Sanat and prady who were finally agreed to come. We reached kharagpur Jn. about more than 1 hr before the schedule departure of FALAK. EXP. We started searching everywhere and searched in each train but result ..........negative.
A futile effort, finally, ‘I thought, but my bouncers were not in a mood to spare. We should check the reservation list, one among them advised and we almost ran on the platform for the Res.list. I found a name similar to her probable name and too it was in the list of FALAK. EXP. The name was K Shandhya. Now, everything was there.........her name.........birth no........but wasn’t there............................ her whereabouts and the surety that we were heading in the right direction. Steel exp was announced and it was our last hope.
I was standing on the foot over bridge when the passengers started getting off. Suddenly I saw her father descending from one of the coach with two ladies. Yeppp...........she was there, carrying her purse and directing her father to the platform side. Her first glimpse gave me a relaxing smile. I thought of myself, yeaaa I am tired and feeling bit sleepy. Sanat was coming towards me, talking with mobile and live telecasting the scenario to the friends back in haldia. We clapped our hands and were about to share many a things when I saw her climbing the stairs of the over bridge. I got blank...........what to do...........and started moving opposite to her. Soon we descended down from the other end of the bridge and were standing near the booking counter. She was coming nearer and nearer to us and I hadn’t yet decided what to do. As she was almost near me I turned my neck. Prady also joined us there and as always full up to neck with confidence, he started dragging me towards the ticket counter, ‘We can talk to her at ticket counter as well’. I dint move. Putting my hands on his shoulder I asked, ‘guys, what next’ and sanat replied, ‘she is coming’. I shifted my balance on my own feet and this time, caught by her eyes. She was looking sad, gloomy.............is it for me............no-no, she is returning today and yes......................... ladies are very fond of making-up with tears whether willingly or unwillingly before leaving. I was about to laugh on my own thought when she exclaimed, “arey! tum yehaaan”.
‘We used to hang here often,’ I replied, ‘but what’s u doing here’.
‘I am returning today, haven’t u seen my tears’, she added. And first time I noticed, corner of her eyes......soaked in tears.
‘Papa has also come, why not u people come with me. He’ll be happy to meet you.’
First time in the day sanat did something which really elated me. ‘We have to pick luggage’, sanat told us and left us alone, almost dragging prady with him. So I was whole alone with her, bit nervous but determined...............this time I have to start with her name. We were on our way to the platform, in subway when my courage softly came through my mouth, ‘last time I dint even ask for your name’. Actually telling her about mine stupidity was a question thrown to her and she dint disappoint me anyway, ‘sandhya’. ‘This is your full name, I asked again ‘or there is something .........from K before sandhya’. It’s Krishnamurthy, my dad’s name. But how u came to know about it and....... ........... .......
He could not hide his delight, arey beta aap? I was just next to her father.
A person ought to be cautious while talking to a girl’s father and so was I. I sensed a hidden question, even in his delight and explained enough to clear his doubts. She introduced me with her elder sister (she was busy with PHOTO ALBUM) and soon I was invited too to see the albums. Prady and sanat joined us almost at the same time. While I was busy with her, identifying her colleagues from the album, both of my friends were whispering in my ear continuously.........kya hua............kuchh baat bani.........naam poochha.........mob no.liya. And just 1 thing struck my mind....mob no.
‘If you find any problem here, u can call us’, I conveyed her. ‘You haven’t given your no. yet, how will I call you......kya yehi se krishna-krishna chillana paregaa..
And what a fast reflex...............almost frantically, in a hurry...... I gave her my no. and she couldn’t help laughing. Sanat returned the courtesy of asking for no. from our side. Really I dint had thought of even doing it and he was done. She waffled for few seconds but dint dismayed us.

Sometimes in life u can feel that on an odd day your luck is favouring you exceptionally. And that was the particular day for me. Her father had to leave for Jamshedpur before the departure of Falaknuma express and like last time we were ready to carry on the responsibilities. It gave me a good half an hour for exchanging our thoughts. We were talking and waiting for the train while sanat pulled my shirt to show something. Almost together we turned to other side............and what we found......prady had advanced good enough with her sister. Train came and half-heartedly I bid good-bye from the platform but sanat pushed me inside the train. After arranging her luggage I sat beside her. This time I was quite and she was blabbering......I asked her slowly, ‘should we talk sometimes later’. Firstly she made her eyes big.....bigger as if sayings......how dare you.......but spoke finally, ‘I’ll call you’. And her response was so much favourable that it made me smile. ‘Your eyes are scary’ and she answered...... ...... a pleasant smile and smiles only. It was the time of departure as train rolled finally. A final handshake........few words.......but not much of facial expressions and I left the train. But this time I was bit happier than the last parting with her and we set for our return journey.