This is a sequel to my short story Meeting Mira. If you haven't read that yet. Scroll Down to read Chapter 1 and 2. Else: Read On!
I rubbed my eyes and pulled myself out of the rug. I looked at the timepiece in disbelieve. It clocked 7:56 am. I had to skip breakfast to get to college on time. It was a pleasant morning. I could see a huge gathering of clouds in the sky as if they had come together for a tea party. I was looking out of our lecture room's windowpane. I was scribbling on the white sheet of paper pretending to write. It was quite unusual of me not focusing on the lecture. I blamed the weather for it.
"It's a pleasant day today, isn't?" I asked Arjun who seemed rather dull. We shared a plate of Samosa and bought two cups of tea for accompaniment. "Pleasant? I have been grinded down by my professor all the while" replied Arjun. He had had a tough day completing his project to the finest detail, thanks to the uncanny feedback of his professor on his well done project. "They point out unnecessary details which would never make a difference" sighed Arjun. "But that project will be done once and for all by today? Correct?" I asked Arjun hoping a positive response. We decided to go out for lunch after college. Arjun wanted a break and I wanted to enjoy the weather further.
"Take the next right" directed Arjun. We were about to discover a new continental restaurant he had heard of. We found the restaurant located at the end of the road. We spotted a corner table and started peeping into the menu card. Both of us were hungry. "Arjun, there is hardly anything vegetarian on the menu" I whispered. Arjun noticed it and we decided to walk out of the restaurant. "What choice do we have?" I asked Arjun. Arjun looked back at me with raised eyebrows; he was wondering if we actually had any choice. "I know an expensive Chinese restaurant close by; we can afford it for the moment" exclaimed Arjun. He felt that he had given out a million dollar idea. We walked into the Chinese restaurant. It surely looked very neat with great interior. The walls were painted blue and each table had a lamp hanging over it. We placed an order quickly.
"Vish, I should have got my digi-cam today, this blue wall is perfect for a picture" Arjun said while looking at the wall behind me. I turned around to see what he liked so much about it. The wall had a rough texture and was casually painted with uneven shade running around. It was very attractive indeed. We had the food served within 15 minutes of order. Arjun was telling me how bad the scene at college was for others who were struggling to impress the professor.
"So how pleasant the day has been for you" asked Arjun with a grin on his face. I would have answered that but meanwhile my eye spotted a young lady sitting on the other side of the restaurant. She was reading a book, probably a novel, while she sipped the green mango and kiwi punch. I guessed that as the Menu had very few beverages to offer. She was sitting in front of the blue wall. Arjun repeated his question, this time he was also looking at me. I quickly replied "Beautiful, it's been beautiful today". Arjun laughed. "I have been day dreaming since morning" I added. He laughed even louder this time. The lady on the opposite table had put down her book; she was holding the spoon and the fork. She had long beautiful hair falling down her shoulder.
"Day dreaming of...?" asked Arjun. "Arjun, you know when I met Mira" I paused to take a sip of water. Arjun seemed perplexed, wondering what I had to say ahead. "She showed me one of her painting; it portrayed a beautiful evening. A calm lake with land on the other end and moon above the lake; the lake was blue; the sky was blue and the moon - just like a pinch of salt on a blue canvas." I completed. The lady sipped some more of the green fluid. It contrasted the blue wall quite well. She spotted me looking at her with her next sip. She paused and smiled at me. Arjun was looking at me expecting me to look at him while he replied. He had abruptly paused even before beginning. I smiled back at the lady.
Arjun turned back to see what I was smiling at. He spotted the lady smiling. He turned back to me almost immediately. "Vish, I hope you aren't day dreaming now!" commented Arjun. "No I am just admiring the blue paint; I think that blue wall looks better." I replied instantly. We laughed until we were interrupted by the waiter. We skipped the dessert and drove back to the college. Arjun wanted to catch up with his classmates. "Vish, Mira will be on your mind for a long time I think, don't get lost with the ‘thinking of you' bubble" said Arjun.
He always droped an advice for me every time we met. I drove back home with Mira on my mind. It was an unusually pleasant day with clouds painted in blue.
It was already 3:30 in the morning and I was working on a project deadline. I was packing my baggage simultaneously. I had a train few hours later. Of course, I couldn't have done anything any earlier. Last minute packing, having an important deadline or two and forgetting plenty of essentials is customary. I finally decided to catch some sleep. I had two hours of precious sleep awaiting me.
I boarded Chennai Express at 6:30 am. My cousin was there to accompany me for the journey. He was traveling to Mumbai. I had to get down at Lonavala at 3:20 am next morning. We made ourselves comfortable and placed the entire luggage to the place it deserved. Brainy (my lappy) was hibernating in the big gray suitcase.
"Can you get me some tea" asked a woman to the pantry staff. She was sitting on the opposite side of the compartment. She reminded me of some one I knew in Mumbai. "Shalin, tea" my cousin handed over a cup of hot tea. He was also holding a packet of Lays potato chips. I thought it was a weird combination but in fact it tasted pretty cool. I had a sip or two and realized that I had forgotten to brush my teeth. My cousin commented "by now all the germs are already in your stomach, so forget it". We were just four in our compartment and the train was about to leave Chennai central. I was glad, less people, calmer. There was another guy in our compartment. I later learnt that he was a network administrator/engineer.
The lady got up after a cup of tea, she was limping. She indeed had a fracture on her left leg. No wonder she was in pain. She requested the T.T.E to allot her a lower berth. "They will board at Renniguntta, you can ask them." T.T.E told her that it would be easier if she would simply request a co-passenger to adjust. We had our tickets checked and decided to get some sleep. I badly needed some sleep.
"What is your seat Number?" asked an elderly man. His voice woke me up. He was asking the lady who had stretched her leg on the seat. She gently replied "37" and folded her legs. "Why don't you sit where you have your seat" asked the old man. He was sounding a bit harsh to her. I was watching the conversation from an aerial view. I was still a bit sleepy. We had reached Renniguntta, my cousin was not to be seen. He probably must have got down getting to buy some breakfast. The lady managed to shift herself to her seat without an argument. A coolie followed into the compartment with good amount of luggage. Old man's wife, daughter and son-in-law followed. Family with a year old kid, I muttered. "Who's luggage is this?" asked the old man. The lady claimed it was her luggage and requested him to use the space under her seat instead. The old man refused. Well the old man must have been in his early 50's and the lady should have been her in late 30's. She humbly moved her luggage under her seat. The old man went on arranging his luggage in a hurry as if he was setting up a Limca Record. He asked the lady to remove her small hand baggage which was probably a bit under this guy's seat. She gave her an uneasy stare and asked him if he would mind adjusting a bit. He could indeed have easily placed the luggage with the amount of space he had. The old man shamelessly replied "remove it or I'll have to throw it out".
My cousin handed me a plate of Pongal with chutney on it. I thought it was mashed idly and started eating it. My cousin didn't have an idea about the happenings. He coolly sat on his seat.
The lady had lost her cool. It was really preposterous of a man of that age behaving in that manner. "Do you think you own this Train?" replied the lady on top her voice. "Why are you screaming, are you trying to attract people?" asked the old man. The old man passed few useless comments to his wife and daughter in Tamil convincing them that he had been very generous and now this lady is taking advantage of it. "Why can't I scream when you can behave the way you like?" asked the lady. The old man acted as if he didn't hear it. He pulled another luggage and tried to squeeze it in the area he had. In the bargain he hurt the lady's leg. The lady cried out "Don't you see uncle my leg is injured and you are hurting my leg?" I thought the old man really deserved to be thrown out by then. The lady then went on giving a lecture to the old man. She really made him feel shameful of his act. But he was still shamelessly smiling. But by now he knew if he really spoke a word ahead he would be thrown out of the train by the brave, bold lady.
I got down and sat besides my cousin, I told him what happened in the beginning. He replied "She is sure from Mumbai and can handle 10 tamiliyans like him". That was true. I have noticed that people in Mumbai are generally bold and don't give up. She then managed to change her compartment and get a lower berth in the same coach.
I felt like walking up to her to tell her that I really liked the way she defended herself and make the old man keep mum for the rest of the journey. I was already getting to experience the Mumbai Flavor before even getting to Mumbai.
Mumbai was on my travel schedule during this 11 days long trip. There is so much to learn every time I visit Mumbai. Let's see how Mumbai treats me this time!