Pinakini Express 2: A Sequel

Before I begin with the story let me make it clear that everything written here is true and that not even a tiny part of it is made up. I’m pointing this out again and again coz when things were happening that day even I found them to be unbelievable..Sudhams

After a couple of exciting days in Chennai, me and my mother were on our way back. This time my brother was coming home with us. That makes three of us. So when the Pinakini express arrived at the station me and my brother went and sat inside the compartment. My mother was way behind us as she’s a slow walker. Nyway we sat inside the compartment which was totally empty except for me and my brother. As we started to talk.. something truly amazing happened. The girl, that very girl who made my journey via paradise possible walked right past us. I only looked at her for 2 seconds and recognized it was her. My heart sank into my stomach. That was impossible!!She was supposed to return on Tuesday and it was only Monday!! I was like….OMFG!!

She did not notice me though. The next half an hour before the train started was really exciting. A million thoughts ran through my mind. I kept smiling and laughing the whole time. I wanted to go check all the compartments that are behind us and atleast tell her that I’m in the same train. I wanted to see her reaction.I sumhow knew there would be some chance seeing her again. I just needed to wait.

The train started.My mother and me sat next to each other and my brother sat in the seat ahead of ours.Even after an hour of the journey all I could think of was that girl. I knew that the ending was perfect but this came as a real surprise. I cannot end it like this.It wud’ve been ok if I hadn’t seen her but now that I knew she was in the same train I had to do something.I decided to go and search for her. There were only three more compartments that lie behind ours and as she walked that way I was pretty sure that they would be somewhere in those three compartments.And the best part is that all those are interconnected.

Visit No1:

After almost one hour I told my mom that I needed to pee and went running back to the next compartment searching for her. I had no clue what I’d do if I found her but nevertheless I began looking for her.

May be I’ll just look at her and wait till she sees me.. smile at her.. and then walk back before my mom gets suspicious. That did not seem like a very good idea for a perfect finish though.With all these thoughts I almost got to the end of the next compartment.It was there I saw her once again. Her face seemed so familiar as if I’ve known her pretty well.But i Could not look into her eyes. She was sleeping.

Awww… now that was not something that I was hoping for. I didn’t knew what to do next except to go further back and just wash my face in the sink. I stood there for a couple of mins and decided to go back as I did not want any complications with my mom.

As I almost reached the end of their compartment, I looked back and my eyes met with hers. It was not the girl I was hoping to see. It was that fat girl(her relative who was in the last journey). She seemed to be really surprised. We silently smiled at each other.She wanted wake her up but she was a couple of seats behind hers and there were even more relatives and friends this time.So I just smiled at her and came back to my seat.

Visit No2:

I have this strange habit of trying to give a proper ending to things. I want those perfect moments to be remembered. And what I so far had was no where close to a good ending to the story that happened so far. I had to go back again to see her. She had to know I was on the same train. I was determined to make a move of some sort. So after a couple of hours I once again went to pee( by that I mean to try out my next move) .

By the tym I reached her seat shez awake but was looking out the window. She couldn’t see me unless she turned entirely my way. I went and stood right infront of her seat.The compartment was crowded enuf and no one cud suspect me.All that is left was her to turn back and there I was standing infront of her waiting for her reaction.(Position1)

The fat girl saw everything that I was doing and she came and stood right inbetween me and the girl. She was kind of teasing her. After a few seconds of butterflies in the compartment.., she finally moved aside and we looked at each other. I never had any idea that anybody in this world wud be that excited for just having seen me.Even today if I ever remember that girl, that very look on her face when she saw me.. that very smile.. that innocent excitement is all I remember.

After that look, she gave me so many different kinds of looks that even I found kind of confusing. She was happy, desperate, confused, surprised all at the same time. Just like I was.

But it was getting late now and I could possibly do nothing else because of the super big family she had. So I started to walk back to my seat. I kept looking back for as far as I can see and no prizes for guessing.. she kept looking at me too.

Visit No3:

For most part of the remaining journey I kept picturing how everything happened just out of coincidence and yet seemed like it was prewritten. I was sure that it needed a better finishing than what just happened.

So after a long gap.. When there is just half an hour journey remaining for the train to reach Chirala(Her stop) I decided to give it a shot and make the minutes count. I probably wont be seeing her once again and this will be my own version of a Ruskin Bond story if only I could give it a better ending. Clearly now I wasn’t gonna stop.I told my mom I met an old school friend in the next compartment(that wud give me extra time) and within minutes I found myself rushing back to the next compartment for one last time.

By the time I reached their compartment most of their family members got up from their seats and stood near the entrance with all their bags. I somehow managed to pass through the crowd and stood right infront of her. We were almost near the entrance of the train only a feet or so away from each other standing there right in the middle of the crowd looking at each other. We were only exchanging smiles and even that was hard because we were literally surrounded by all her relatives.(Position3)

“Can you move aside.We need to get down in the next station..” one of the relatives asked me.

“I’m gonna get down here too..” I said. Not ready to give up my position there.

It was time once again for the led display board.We kept looking at it once again as the distance melted and so did the time we had left.But this time the machine cheated us.It was showing 18kms left but we almost reached Chirala station as the train became slower. We both were disappointed and clearly she was trying to tell me her name but was hesitant coz of the relatives factor.

As the train entered the Chirala station I asked her name once again but her mom called for her and took the baggage they were carrying on to the platform. I got down too and went near her and asked her name with out her mom seeing. It was getting desperate and confusing. She said something but I couldn’t make sense out of it.

Then it struck to me how wonderful it would be if I did not know her name at all.Before my mind could analyze this I came back and got onto the train and stood near the entrance while they were counting their luggage.She told her name now but I was a little too far to hear her in that crowd.But I wasn’t worried anymore. I kept smiling at her and said bye.She smiled back at me and gestured that she would call me.I did not even think about that.

Just before the train could start it started to rain(Seriously… I am not making this up)

They started to walk away as the train started.She turned back and waved a good bye to me pretending as if she was waving to someone in the train.I waved back at her with a smile.The Pinakini express left the platform with me standing near the door.. with the girl waving at me..and with a timely rain as well…

Aaahhh how perfect was that… something just happened in my life that is gonna make a wonderful story.Everything that happened right from when I first saw her with the mask and when I finally waved her good bye was so perfect and wonderful.I dont even know what her name is either but I did not wish for a better ending than this.

The Aftermath:

Just a couple of days after my return from chennai,I got a call from an unknown number.I hesitantly answered and a voice from the other end said,

“Hi…Is it Sudhams??” I knew who it was and said, “Ya..Who is this??” She said “Guess who??”

I immediately disconnected the call and never answered any other call from that number.

I got several calls from her even after a couple of months. I never answered any of them coz I just did not think it was right to mislead such an innocent and gentle girl.

If she takes things seriously I’d be in trouble and eventually she would be upset.

One more thing is that it would ruin this perfect story that not many would ever be a part of..coz once if we keep in touch things get spoiled.I knew she would curse me and eventually forget everything or atleast she will also remember it as a wonderful story that both of us are a part of.No matter what, I have no regrets wat so ever and it was indeed my own version of a Ruskin Bond story.

P.s…The most important reason for not answering her calls was that I already had a girlfriend back then!!!