Bus station...
My name is Arnav Singh Raizada, I'm 26 years old, I'm architect…still a new employee, the company hired me – 8 months ago …since a week, my car gets broken and to come back to home, I should wait every day for the bus…finding a taxi in the zone I work is a miracle, so ….FOR SEVEN DAYS, I have to suffer till my car gets ready…one week without my car…this was simply the hell!
Day1:
After a long day of work…yes! I have to wait in the station of the bus to come back home! Yes, it take, practically, two hours maybe more…and everyone wish one thing, we have all one dream…see the bus approaching…after 45 minutes of waiting, focusing only on the road, I decided to look at the people who are waiting with me, my mates in this suffering task (waiting)…I look at them…some are silent, most of the women are dreaming or lost in their thoughts, men are desperate, most of them are nervous and just want to kill the first one trying to disturb them…then…a red dupatta catches my attention…I want to look at the face of whom she's wearing that dupatta but I couldn't, there are a lot of people…I should move a little bit forward to see, so, I approach…I hear a laugh…her laugh…she was talking to her friend…I thought…I should make an effort to see her…but I can only see her braided hair…I come a little forward and then I can look at her smile and then eyes…she's shining in the midst of all this sad and boring station…finally, the black and white scene I was observing became on colors…I just stand there…at least, it can help to not have a depression, there…but, the bus come…Everyone wants to just pick that bus…so, without make a description to you for what can happen then, when the doors of the bus get opened, it was like a war movie…she was trying to get on the bus, when suddenly, a man, by mistake pushes her…I was about to help but her friend holds her hand:
-Khushi! Be careful!
In the bus, she was standing too far, but I can see her, from my place…
''Khushi'' , her name is Khushi mean happiness…and yes! The name suits her…
She stands far away…sometimes, I look at her, from my place…and when she was about to decend, arriving on the station, she turns towards me and at that moment, the moment, our eyes meet…I don't know what happened, something happened…It was just magic…that moment…when she was smiling…about to descend the few stairs of the bus…some extra power makes her turn, she turns and her eyes meet mines…the smile disappears slowly and she keeps looking at me…I spend all the night, thinking about that moment…of that red dupatta…her brown, beautiful eyes and the way she keeps looking at me…
Day2:
Going to the station wasn't a punishment anymore, maybe, also, today, I will find her again…but why, I'm thinking like that…I should just get ready to the worst…because, it's raining, don't have an umbrella and I will go back to home, surely, all damp…
She was there, but alone, she's not smiling like yesterday, but her face was enough to make me feel better…she was holding her books…playing with her dupatta, even if she seems bored…she have a cute way to be bored…she plays with all she have…she played with her book firstly…open then close…close, open…then her dupatta in different ways…and seems like everything attract her attention now… billboards, the shoes of the woman standing on the left and then the big belly of the man, eating a sandwich…behind her…and then her phone rings…I couldn't hear what she was saying but she seems really worried and then she cuts the call…she looks alll around and then at her watch…it seems like she decides something and walks forward…now, without paying attention to any one or thing, she was about to cross the road…a car was coming on her direction, so fast, seems like she didn't mention that and continues walking…what a crazy! Without hesitation, I just run and catches her…seeing the car passing from where she was walking and getting conscious of the situation, she holds me, hiding her face, on my chest and I can feel her heavy breath but I was so damn angry…is she blind? Why she didn't just walk properly? And look what happen around her? Damn it!, she, slowly, looks up to me, I met her worried eyes and I just can't scream on her face how much she is crazy and stupid but I was silent and she was silent too and we keep just looking at each others, staring at each other, she was crying silently and I was just angry…she finally, talks, but with a weak voice:
-th…thank you!
I can't bear my angriness anymore, I scream:
-thank you? Are you crazy? You? You want to die? Can't you look forward you? What do you think you're doing?
She keeps looking at me and seems like her tears won't to stop…she stares at me, she still on my arms, I still holding her and I continue:
-tell me, you didn't saw the car coming??
I was too much, but she was too much too! What's the benefice of crying if we did big mistakes, like she did…
But she wipes her tears and pushes me, aggressively:
-it's ok! Why you're screaming, I'm fine!
-Oh really ? why am I screaming?
A lady comes to us, holding the books of Miss. Trouble!
-it's enough! Your fiance is right! Girl! You shouldn't walk without paying attention!
-Fiance? oh please! This man? My fiance? I will for sure throw myself on the road!
The lady: - Oh! And you did it! He betrayed you?
I give a killer look to the curious lady but…
What she have against me? Why she's hating me and I just save her life, I have to talk too:
-oh! Her? This girl? Even in dreams, she can't have me!
-oh! Really than Thanks Devi maya! (she looks at the sky, She joins her hands together and she murmured closing her eyes)
And she just went from there…I want to…to…but many people are now watching the scene, and watching me losing my honor before that little girl….she have what 20, 21years old and she dares talk to me like that and went away before I finished my words! What the…!
The lady, still looking at me:
-Men are the same! You should make her forgive you!
Without even looking at her, I walk away…
Day3:
Sunday…
Day4:
Ok! All the day I was convincing myself to never thought about that incident, about that girl and even, if I saw her, I will ignore her…
And, yes, I saw her…standing with that same girl of the day one…I ignore her but stand in a position to that she can see me, from there…she noticed my presence in two minutes and she gives me, simply an angry look, (seems like I was the one driving and not the one saving her)…I keep looking at her, giving the same look…but she dares, left her friend and comes to me:
-you !? Why are you looking at me?
-Excuse me!
-Excuse me, you!...you screamed on me! Why? What do you think you are?...you was angry like a member of my family and you didn't even accept my thank you?...me too, I was worried!
-Not my problem!
-what a manner to talk to people!
I take a deep breath and ignore her, looking at the other side, but I feel her finger on my shoulder:
-you!
I look at her:
-I'm talking to you!
-and I'm not interested!
-Ok! Listen! I want just to say thank you, again and…sorry, if I disturbed you!
She faked a smile and then go back to her friend…she was talking to her friend but looking at me…and I was looking at her too…laughing, smiling, talking, eating candies and then looking, every time at me!
And the bus come!...and yes; we spend all the way looking at each other…she was sitting and I was standing near the window of the bus…far from her…and when an obstacle come between us…I avoid it…she smiles but act like she's smiling at her friend…and she does the same…she wants to keep me under her look…but all was discrete…like it was a secret only between her and me
Day5:
I couldn't concentrate at my project, damn it! I need some concentration, this morning, after two mugs of black coffee…I still not able to do anything…come on! It's just a girl! Why should I spend all my day thinking about her and so in the night, it's just unreasonable, I should just not go to that station, today and walks to the house…what a craziness?...why should I do this? …I just have to go and ignores her, I will not look at her, even if she comes and talks to, I will just walk away…I'm Arnav Singh Raizada…and that girl ''kushi'' don't exist! Just two days and I will never saw her again, in all my life… Ok! But when 6 p.m will come??
In the station, same faces, the same people are waiting…and the old lady (who thinks that that girl is her fiance), the lady of that raining evening too was there, I ignore her, but she was looking at me…I stand next to her…scanning with my eyes every face…searching her between the mass of people standing…the lady keeps looking at me…
The lady: -Are you searching your fiance?
I look at her angrily, she ignores it and continues:
-she is standing behind us!
-she's not my fiance!
-yes but she was telling her friend that she finds you…(she stops)
-find me what?
-if she's not your fiance than why should I tell you?
I keep silent…what now? What will happen now? Why I'm like this, all of a sudden? Why I'm dying just to know, what she can thinks about me? How she finds me? … I look to the lady…I hate her already…I will try to know from her:
-listen…
-you can call me Nani!
-what?
-Nani!
-Ok! Listen… Nani! You should tell me, what she was talking about me! It's my right to know!
She looks at me, indifferent:
-why you don't go and ask her?
I look at the lady and then turn my head to find an angel…khushi was wearing white dupatta, white kurta and salwar, her hair was down…she looks like an angel... mind-blowing!...I could hardly breathe…I'm…lost!
The lady: -What happens? Are you sick?
-what ? no! no…
-your face turned yellow! Let me check if you have fever?
-No! I'm ok! Now tell me!
-Ok! She tells that you're harsh…
-what?...me? harsh?
I was about to go toward her but the lady stops me…
-wait! Wait! I didn't finish!
-I know what she said also…I'm sure that she said I'm brutal and rough, violent, savage, brusque …
-but Cute!
I look at her surprised…
The lady: -she said all this and also said that you're cute!...you should go and prove to her that you're only cute and no the other adjectives!
I left the lady after throwing a killer angry look at her…and walk toward the angel…she's not an angel anymore, she thinks that I'm rude? Me?
She was with her friend, I stands in front of them, look at her eyes…she looks at me, surprised, I ask:
-May I talk to you! But alone! (I look at her friend)
-No! she's my sister! You can talk to me everything, in front of her!
I turn to the sister:
-Hi!
-Namaste! Payal!
(she's polite and calm, not like her sister)
-Nice to meet you! Arnav!
-Nice to meet you too!
-Payalji! May I talk to her, just for a minute!
She smiles:
-yes! Of course!
I look to the angel…she was angry, she almost screamed at her sister:
-What? Diii! (She was like a little girl)
I hold her arm:
-Come!
Shocked, she was looking at my hand on her arm and at her sister to save her from me…we stand just next to her sister but enough away to talk to her without that anyone hear us…:
I look in the bottom of her eyes and ask her:
-you! How dare you do this in front of my sister!
She points with her index:
-Who do you think you are, you? You saved my life I thanked you! What do you want now? tell me! (she screams at me, it was strange…but I loved it, I still silent and she continues talking, fixing me by her angry look, pointing with that finger)
-First! You're really making me uncomfortable looking to me like that! Stop looking at me like that!
-like what? (I answer calmly)
-stop it! Just stop…Now! tell me what do you want!
-Nothing!
Shocked, she forms with her mouth a perfect O:
-what? Nothing? You're strange, you're just…
-cute?
-yes, I mean no! absolutely Not!
(She was confused, she blushed, and her first spontaneous answer makes her finally silent, looking everywhere to not meet my eyes even for once, I didn't speak also, I was looking at her, searching a way to tease her more, because she was really irresistible when she's angry and confused)
She asks:
-What?
-what?
-why are you looking at me and smirking like that?
-let's do something… Let's be friends! (I tend my hand to her) peace!
She looks at me, surprised:
-why should we be friends?
-because I don't want to be your enemy anymore!
-you're not my enemy!
-Ok! Then…
My hand was tended to her…she tends, finally, her hand too, and check mine…she looks at me still confused and she doesn't understand am I the prince or the beast…
-Ok! Now! I'm going to my sister!
Without waiting my answer, she left, turning, every second to see me, while walking to her sister that she pushed a man, on her way and that man screams at her, holding her arm:
-Hey! Are you blind?
I can't retain myself; I jumped on him and punched him hard on his face:
-Are you dump? How dare you?
Defending his self, he beats me too…and yes, we fight, I was like a fool because it wasn't her fault, she doesn't do anything to this savage to holds her hand that way and to hurt her…
People there make us stop…difficultly, I was about to kill him…
Kh:-Arnav! Ar…Are you ok! Oh my god! You're bleeding! Oh Payal! Let's do something!
Payal:-oh! Yes! But what? Should we call a doctor!
To calm them, I said difficultly as my mouth and nose were bleeding:
-No! it's ok! I'm fi…ne! see the bus come! Should go…
-No way that we take that bus and you're bleeding badly like this, I refused!
She was worried, she goanna cry…
Payal:-Sister listen! We will miss this bus! I will go to the pharmacy; it's near from here to buy something to stop the blood, ok? …let him sit there! I will come soon!
-No…no need! Please, you two take the bus…khushii
Kh:-Relax! Go Payal! I'm here!
Khushi makes me sit on a public bench…she was standing in front of me, checking me with her worried eyes…:
Kh:-Really, you shouldn't do all that for a stupid matter like that!
I was about to speak when I saw her taking the end of her dupatta and wipe the blood on my nose:
-Awwwchhh!
-sorry! Sorry! (She stops) does it hurt?
-mmm (I said in pain)
-but, there is so much blood, I should stop it!
She looks at me…same worried and nervous eyes….she puts her palm on my nose and press on it…she's soft but how am I supposed to breath like this?...I was looking at her…it seems like she remembers something, she let off my nose and opens her purse, she gets out a little bottle of water, she hesitates and then, she tears a piece from her dupatta, and wetted it with the water and cleaned all the blood on my face, gently…I stares on the angel…seems like god sends her to me…I feel that moment, that I know her since many years…that she's so close to me…the dupatta smells the Lavender…yes!...I feel that all the pain go away…
-here! Khushi! We should apply this on his wound!
Payal comes with the medicine and my angelic nurse apply it, delicately…
After one hour, another bus comes, by magic and we take it…all together…I thank Payal a lot and of course her…
Those worried eyes…I can't forget them...the smell of the Lavender…She forgets the piece of her white dupatta, with me…''Khushi''…how beautiful, she is!...she doesn't Know that!...she looks like an angel, she asked me, I kept looking at her in a strange way…how can I look in a different way!...the beauty inside her is reflected on her face, behaviors, manners…
Day7:
I'm really tired after yesterday! My nose still paining but it was necessary to see her that day…as I will get my car tomorrow and I will not take the bus anymore!
After working…I went there…but she wasn't present…I wait but no trace…I search for her but no…the lady ''nani'' who waits with us every day told me that she doesn't come yet!
I missed the bus…I have to meet her, today! I need to see her, to thank her…but she will not come! I'm feeling it, it's all ready too late…I was desperate when I saw her running toward the station…my heart beats so fast…I can see her but she can't…she looks on all the ways, desperately…maybe she was searching me…and she was certain that I left, she keeps looking with her worried eyes…I stay in my place…not moving…till she finally, find my eyes…she smiles…she approaches:
-Arnav!
-you're late!
(she wasn't surprised, it was like we have a date and that she should be present in time)
-It's because…because…I don't have lessons today but I came from the house…especially here…to see if you're fine! Are you fine?
It is me who was surprised…I kept looking at her
-you're not fine?
I hug her…yes! There is no need to talk, I just hugged…that's it…before all the people waiting…after seconds, I feel her arms hugging me back…
That hug was a promise…she will never have to wait for the bus anymore…
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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