Coach A1 berth no 9

6 months, it was after 6 months I was to going to my home. India had witnessed one of the worst summers in past 10 years, and finally the rain god gave in, monsoon had arrived. Unlike others, who chose to fly home, I chose to go by train. The whole train route from Mumbai to Ernakulum is one of the greenest routes one can ever travel through. Lush green mountains lost in clouds, long tunnels, and waterfalls, what more one could ask for. I reached station in time, checked for the platform number. During early morning hours traffic was less in Mumbai, but rain had started to show its effects, few place were already water logged. I reached the platform, started to search for my coach. A1 7, finally I sighed as I dropped my backpack on the seat. There was someone already, sitting right opposite to me. I couldn’t see her face completely; engrossed in her book she didn’t notice that i was there. Superman t-shirt, neatly tied hair, no makeup and big round eyes scanning her two smart phones. “Two smart phones?, aaj kal ek smart phone hi manage karna muhskil hai aur yaha do-do”, I thought in my mind. “From Kerala?” I asked her trying to break the ice. “Yes”, she nodded in reply. Since I studied in NIT Calicut, I could understand bit of Malayalam. I kept asking her questions, where she was going to, what she was doing, etc. She would reply and get back to her mobile or look outside. At times I felt I was acting like a jerk. I got up and went out. Standing by the door, I looked at a small kid selling wadapav. He had no proper footwear, but still nothing stopped him. I felt ashamed. Whole life we keep complaining about things which we don’t get, but some people without any regrets lead life with whatever they have. Engine whistle brought me back from my thoughts, train slowly started to move, and picking up speed, it rushed like a mad machine, leaving trees, vehicles, people and the city behind. I came back to my seat. I decided not to bother her and started to read my novel. “So where are you from?” she asked surprising me. I told her that I was originally from Mangalore and but then parents stay in Calicut. From then our conversation picked up. We talked about what professional problems we had, how much we felt were stuck in wrong professions, our childhood days, the national issues which were going on .In short span of time, we became good friends sharing almost everything which came to our mind. She was a perfect tomboy, but insanely pretty at times, especially when she smiled. I liked the fact that she was bold and that we shared common interests. They say time flies when you have a companion and it did. “Sir lunch order?” pantry boy asked interrupting our conversation. I looked at my watch it was already 12 in the afternoon. I ordered for lunch and went outside; sun was no-where to be seen. Dark clouds had turned day into night, making it difficult for one to guess the time. We sat down for lunch, she prefer the food she got it packed from home. Later from our conversation I learnt that even though she was a malayali, she was born and brought up in Mumbai, her Hindi was nothing less than perfect. She said she was travelling on duty and would get down at Madgaon. I looked at my watch; Madgaon was just 5 hours away. After lunch, we set our beds. I told her to wake me up before she gets down. I kept looking outside the window, it had started raining. The sound of rain droplets hitting the window plane was musical. I looked at her, she had already slept. I kept thinking about our conversation. I don’t know when I slept. Sudden rush of vendors woke me up. Train had stopped at a station. I looked at my watch, it was 5. She had gotten up and was busy on call. I went out and washed my face. Cold breeze hit me, almost vaporising the water on my face. 20 minutes, that’s all I had. After 20 minutes my life would be same again. Same old movies on laptop, novels to read. Yes, for first time I felt reading would be boring. Train started and soon picked up speed, gushing through tunnels. 20 minutes passed in a blink of an eye. Train had slowed down, indicating that next station was nearing. “To ask or not to ask” kept running in my mind. I wanted to be in touch with her, I wanted to ask her, her number. May be I would never find such good companion again. I kept trying guess what she was thinking looking at her face. She got down the train, we shook hands and bid ourselves goodbye. In matter of seconds, she disappeared in the crowd. Next day Early morning suprabhatam from temple broke my sleep. I got up and looked outside, sun was just rising. I looked at phone to check out messages. Company had already booked my return ticket. I opened the message and it read- A1 9 A broad smile spread over my face. I looked outside again, it had started to rain.