What Next?

Most likely I know her! But without being sure if I approach her, I could be misunderstood for playing a trick as well. It’s been almost 8 years since I last saw her – on our final day at school. So, this familiarity I am strongly feeling could even be misleading. After all it’s said that there are around 9 look alike in this entire world for any person.

But what if it is really ‘her’, what if God has brought ‘her’ in front of me for a reason, what if God has finally decided to pay back my lost happiness… As though fed me with Boost, these thoughts gave me a push not to think too much and just go ahead boldly and talk to her. She was sitting in the very next compartment, facing opposite to me in the side lower berth. Being a long weekend, the train was unusually packed today. And approaching her for confirming my doubt could mean that my seat will be attacked and occupied by the enemy intruders (standing) the very next moment. But at this moment, even standing all the way down until my station for 6 hours seemed a simple thing in front of the ‘greater calling’!

Muttering a silent prayer, I got up from my seat and had taken half a step forward that a pompous heavily built person noticed his opportunity to put to rest his lavishly fed body. But in a hurry when he fitted himself within the seat, my comparatively tiny self  had an unfortunate strike against him and was almost thrown out of balance. In the attempt to find a hold and balance myself – I took a big leap on top of the suitcases spread in front aiming my hand to get a hold of the bar in front.  As if God was in his naughty best, as a result of few more merciless pushes I got from the bystanders (as though they wanted to either spit their fury of missing the seat I left unoccupied or to avoid my falling on top of them) alas – I ended up toppling above ‘her’. When I quickly got myself up and gathered courage to look at her, my heart missed a beat seeing the fury in her eyes. Strangely enough, I heard a loud laughter echoing from somewhere distant – as if God was having a gala time making me look like a fool in front of ‘her’. To show my protest, I looked towards the ceiling with burning eyes, when I heard a familiar voice saying – ‘ Don’t you have the minimum manners to even say a SORRY?’ And at that very instant I got the very answer I was seeking for – few moments ago. It was indeed ‘her’…the same very sharp and mature voice, with the element of boldness that is not common among all girls. And this realization almost brought a slight smile to my face – instead of what she was expecting from me. And quite expectedly, I got the next missile attack straight on my head – ‘Shameless guy! How dare you smile at me like this when you should be feeling sorry for what you did? If you intentionally fell on top of me, I will teach you a lesson, you idiot!’ Wiping off the untimely smile, I fumbled a quick SORRY and looked away from her as I could not bear the intensity of her fury and looks.

Within my mind, I had a quick conversation with God scolding him for creating this stupid situation along with what looked like a blessing. ‘Was this really necessary for you? I cancel your ‘Palpayasam’ (Rice Kheer) offering planned during this weekend’s temple visit’! With that, I felt as though the distant laughter also stopped ringing within my ears.

Having settled scores with Him, I came back to my senses and started contemplating on what to do next. Knowing her, I dinn dare to start a conversation immediately. I knew that if I even looked at her again, she was very much capable of pouncing at me with her furious looks – scolding!

In the midst of the confusion about my next action plan, I involuntarily drifted to those old times. It all seem like happened just yesterday!  It was in my Class XI that she had joined us. My otherwise forgetful brain however seems to have captured eternally each and every moment of that day – leaving no small details.

Our Physics teacher – with the reputation of being the synonym of ‘Strictness’ had begun his class and as though none dared to provoke his fury, were sitting with pin-drop silence – pretending to be grasping each and every word falling out of his mouth! He was busy drawing some complicated Vector diagram on the green-board, when suddenly few loud knocks were heard at the door. Since he has a habit of shutting off our connection with the outside world before starting with his classes, we were unable to find out who was giving these impatient knocks. Clearly irritated, Sir shouted from inside – ‘COME IN!!’ The whole class had got a sudden spur of energy as though watching the climax of some suspense thriller movie. After all, not every day do we get such entertainment in between this monotonously boring class.  

All eyes were glued to the door, when the door was opened with a quick push. And there stood a girl with an unusual charm and a sternness that clearly gave the message that she is not to be messed with! Distracting my gaze fixed on her, Sir let his fury known by calling out – ‘WHAT DO YOU WANT?’ Her eyes suddenly bulged out as if in surprise at his rudeness. But to everyone’s surprise, with unshaken voice she answered him in a sharp tone – ‘My name is Lavanya and am joining this class from today’. Hearing this, a gush of whispers sprouted from the class. Throwing a stern glance at the class, Sir asked her to take her seat. She took the side seat in the second row and quickly got settled. I could feel that most of class – except the first row, was facing towards the board with the eyes sneaking in her direction!

‘MOVE ASIDE’, a loud command was heard from just behind and I came back to present. The train was slowing down to stop at the nearby station and a big family lined up with their entire luggage to get down, was being blocked by my lost self. I quickly gave way and in between from the corner of my eyes, tried to figure out what Lavanya was doing then. I was literally petrified since she was nowhere seen. Was she also getting down in this station? Maybe she took the other side to get down. In a hurry, I walked towards the other exit pushing away all the blocking crowds. All the irritated mutterings and pushes were totally ignored and forgiven, in the aim of spotting her again.

….. To be continued

 NOTE: This short story was written on 2012/08/20, but still it is unfinished. :) When I find the rare combination of free time n mood, will definitely be sitting to write the climax of the story!