Pinakini Express: via Paradise

Not many things in life are perfect. I’m well aware of this fact. But when it comes to this particular incident, I wouldn’t ask for more. I left it where it ended because it was all so perfect and I had no intension of spoiling what was perfect.

So here goes…..

“As we came nearer to our destination, we both kept looking at the display machine every few seconds. I wasn’t worried that I’m gonna miss her. I was sad coz all that happened was going to end.”

It was 6 ‘O’ clock in the morning when the train arrived at the station. I was waiting with my mother at the station. We were on our way to Chennai. The Pinakini express hardly ever came late. As we did not have reservation, we got into some compartment hoping that the TC wud give us some seats. It wasn’t long before we found out that it was difficult to keep up with the crowd. I some how managed to find a seat for my mom and I preferred standing.

After sometime I was asked by the TC to wait at the end of the compartment and that he’d come to me after checking the tickets of the other passengers. I stood there looking out at the October sky…

The train stopped at a station called Chirala where a family entered through the door I was standing near to. There were about 8-9 of them. In all that crowd, what caught my eye was pretty clearly a young girl, probably a year or two younger than me. She was wearing a mask(There was a swine flu threat back then) and had glasses.

Our eyes met as she walked past me and I could see through the glasses that she had a pair of sharp eyes. I was unable to picture her face beneath the mask.But I really wanted to.

After settling issues with the TC I came back and stood in position2. I noticed the girl was sitting facing me a few seats behind my moms. She was still having the mask on but noticed me peeping at her. Our eyes met each time I tried to look at her. That felt kind of awkward especially when my mom was right there having no idea what I was upto. So I stopped looking at her and started listening to some music, looking out the door as the train went by.

When I saw her the next time, she did not have the mask on. She had a pretty clean face that matched with the gentle and sharp pair of eyes that she had. She had this wonderfully innocent look that kind of caught me. It was not long before she understood that I was staring at her but to my surprise she kept looking right back at me. We both were pretty sure what was happening and so began my journey via paradise.

Within minutes, what actually began as a simple look for a couple of seconds turned into a stare contest. Each time I tried to look at her and turn away I failed miserably. My eyes froze as soon as our eyes met and I just couldn’t take my eyes off her. It was I who eventually won every contest coz she was the one who finally had to turn away.

Time was flying by and we were almost half way through our journey. I wasn’t even having any trouble standing all the time. It was then things started to get interesting. The guy sitting near her was a junior from my school and he recognized me. He said that they were getting down in the next station and offered us their seats. I was more than happy to accept. There was nothing I cud’ve asked for except ofcourse sitiing beside her. I gave the window seat to my mom and I sat to the edge( in position3 ) having no idea that the rest of the journey is gonna be a memory that I’d remember for the rest of my life.

So now the stage is set for me to make the most out of the rest of the journey. She was sitting beside her relative (a short, fat girl who’s been following everything from the beginning.) she knew I was watching her and she started giving long and anticipating looks this time. When I smiled at her for the first time, it was like I hit the panic button. She looked away pretending as if nothing happned. I looked away and thought for a second if I was going too far.

But when I saw her the next time she was already looking at me this time with a smile that brought butterflies all over the place. I couldn’t stop but give her back a smile. This was the first time we both smiled at each other. I wasn’t gonna stop it right there. We kept smiling at each other and even shared a few laughs when ever the fat girl is made fun of by their relatives.

I tried to talk to her but it was impossible coz her entire family was sitting in the back seats and few of them stood near the door.Besides my mom was sleeping beside me.

All of a sudden she stood up to bring her bag down from the top. I thought that, that was it and they’re stop has come.But to my surprise that did not get down. I was relieved. She noticed the changes in my expressions and looked at me rising her eyebrows as if to say what happened??

I shook my said and enquired as to where they’re headed. She said Chennai in a low whisper but I was able to make sense out of it. She smiled back at me as if she understood that it made me happy and then asked me where I was going to.. I gave her a wicked smile and winked at her and she started blushing with a huge smile.( more butter flies) My heart was pounding. Some voice inside me was sreaming  “Dude you have any idea what you are doing???” but no I didn’t and neither am I going to stop.

As we crossed the last station before Chennai things were beginning to get a little serious. I knew that it would take just over an hour for us to reach Chennai. The led display board kept showing the next station and the distance remaining. I wanted to atleast know the name of the girl that was making my journey all so memorable. I knew that this should happen in the train itself coz there is no way we can talk once we are in Chennai. I could see the same feelings in her face too. It was getting a little suffocating now not being able to talk to her.

It was then she did something that gave me the thunder bolts (that surya says in the movie). She took out a small notepad and a pen. She looked at me and asked what I wanted her to write. It was impossible to believe what was happening.

Am I going too far?? is this supposed to happen?? What if my mom sees this?? What if the relatives catch me taking the slip??

“Pass it to me!!” I said not sure why!!

She smiled and quietly passed me the book without anybody watching. My mom was fast asleep and I did not want to take long. I wrote down my name and no. and passed it back.

OH FUCK!!!!! WHAT HAVE I DONE???!!!!!!!

She quickly kept it inside her bag and they both started hugging each other and celebrating as if we both just got married.

I couldn’t help but laugh. She asked me if I was a Christian!! I knew that she was one. That kind of took me back

“Is this getting serious??”

I gave her a huge smile nodding my head as if yes 😉

She smiled back with a blush.It was now time for the display machine. We were both looking at the display machine that was melting the distance remaining.

“As we came nearer to our destination, we both kept looking at the display machine every few seconds. I wasn’t worried that I’m gonna miss her. I was sad coz all that happened was going to end.”

The train almost reached Chennai central and the crowd started to stand up and to get their luggage ready. I took my backpack and stood right infront her smiling at her. She was a little afraid but smiled back.

“We’re going back on Tuesday aren’t we??” she asked her relative and then looked at me. She was just telling me when they were leaving. Too bad we were to leave on Monday itself.but that was not important now. I need to know the name of that girl before I go. As we bagan walking out the compartment I asked her what her name was.

She said something that I couldn’t make sense of. I asked her again but this time her mom called out to her she went a few feet away whispering again but still I couldn’t make any sense out of it.

They got down onto the platform and we followed them in the crowd. They still kept arranging and checking their luggage as me and my mom started to walk away. We turned back and looked at each other for as long as it was visible and later I just walked away with a memory of a beautiful journey made possible by a girl whose name I did not know.

So this is the little story that I was a part of. I wouldn’t call it a love story because there was no love in it. But it surely had a lot of joy, wonder and celebration…everything that I wish to see in a love story. A story about a girl and my journey in the Pinakini xpress: from Vijayawada to Chennai via Paradise.