It was a big day for Mayank.He woke up with dreamy eyes and butterflies in his stomach.It was his first
day of training in IBM Kolkata.He being a true delhi ka munda was very apprehensive about how he was
going to adjust in a place which although a metro did not look like one.Still it can't be that bad afterall
it is called the city of joy he said to himself.
With a crisp white shirt and black trousers he was dressed to impress.As he was waiting for his bus to come
he could not help but notice how funny the new dialect sounded.Just then he saw her.She was standing
across the road dressed in a white churidar kurta and a red bandhini chunri.Her long lusturous hair were
left open and strands of hair kept falling on her face.She was not even making any efforts to move them
away .She stood still like the mannequins in the shopping mall.Even though Mayank could not see her
face clearly her silhouette was enough to arouse his interest.Mayank got into his bus and quickly grabbed
a window seat hoping to see her face.Hers was the most beautiful,pristine face he had ever seen.Now he realized all those stories about bong beauties were so true.There was a distant gaze in her eyes and it appeared as if she was smiling at him.His heart skipped a beat he thought of jumping out of the window and talking to her but soon dropped the idea.All throughout the day her face was running through Mayank's mind.
After a long day of classes it was time for him to go home.He stood at the bus stop for some time hoping
to see her again but she was nowhere to be found.With a heavy heart Mayank went back to his room.He
left early the next day hoping to strike up a conversation with her.She looked even more stunning that day
as the bright sunlight shone on her.He could not take his eyes off her.Her milky white skin glowed and
radiated an aura which left him dumbstruck.Mayank could not bring himself to talk to her.He just stood
there looking at her.This time again he grabbed a window seat.She had the same distant gaze and the smile
which made him go weak down in his knees.He cursed himself for being so stupid and not being able to
muster enough courage to talk with her.This continued for almost a week and Mayank had not talked with her even once.One day while returning from office it started raining.Everybody around ran for cover because rain in the month of january that too in kolkata was unexpected.Mayank sought shelter at Bijon da's tea stall.Just as he was trying to dry himself up he saw her.she was dressed in the same white churidar kurta in which he had seen her for the first time.She was completely drenched and the white kurta was clinging to her body which was inviting many prying eyes.Mayank walked up to her and said."Hi i am Mayank,I have seen you at the bus stop.I can see you are wet from head to toe if u don't mind would u like to join me for tea?".She agreed meekly.They ordered Bijon da's special cha and jhal muri."I hope i am not being a pile on but i still don't know what is your and what do you do?asked Mayank."Oh i am sorry i should have introduced myself,i am Roshni and i work for an NGO and it was actually nice of you to ask me to join u for tea."
"Oh wow NGO thats impressive i work for IBM" and then they talked about everything under the sun right from each other's favourite movies,singers,books etc.Mayank was amazed to know how similar thier interests were.Finally the rain stopped and it was time for her to go.On his way back Mayank could not stop smiling to himself.He thanked the rain gods for the thousandth time that night.He started talking with her at the bus stop everyday.He got to know more about her likes and dislikes.One day Mayank told her"Do you know how beautiful you are?"She was silent for a minute then said."No,tell me".Mayank smiled at her and went on to sing praises of her enchanting beauty.She listened intently and after a few seconds said."yeah,maybe,my friends say the same things."Mayank was taken aback he was not expecting such a snobbish reply from Roshni but he did not say anything.They kept on meeting everyday at the bus stop.Mayank invited her for coffee in the evening more than once but Roshni always turned down his offer saying she was preoccupied with a lot of work.It was getting difficult for Mayank.He wanted to be with her all the time.Those 15 minutes of conversation seemed shorter with every passing day.One day he made up his mind to profess his love for her.On friday Mayank asked her if she would accompany him to a boat ride on the hooghly river.She thought for sometime and said "ok if u take me i would like to go".The next evening they met at the bus stop and set out together.Mayank was as nervous as he was on the first day in office.
As the boatman was rowing Roshni suddenly broke into a song.Eventhough Mayank did not understand the lyrics he could know she was singing something about the boatman and found himself swaying to her melodious voice."I have learnt Rabindra sangeet",She said."you have an amazing voice,you should have been a singer"Mayank told her.
They were walking hand in hand on the howrah bridge.The sun was setting down the horizon and the sky was
changing hues.Her glowing face looked mesmerising under the crimson colour of the sky.As he stood there
silently admiring her beauty she seemed to be lost in her own thoughts."Roshni i have been waiting to tell
you something from a long time"Mayank told her."Yes tell me what is it?"
"From the very first day i saw you at the bus stop i fell in love with you and over these few months it has
grown deeper and i just can't get you out of my mind.I want to spend each and every moment with you."
Roshni was silent for a long time ,"How is it possible Mayank,you hardly know me how can you say you
love me"
"Can't you see how desperately i wait for you at the bus stop how much i crave for spending a few moments with you"
"No i can't"
"Please don't do this to me Roshni you have no idea how much i love you.Can you see the river my love is deeper than that
Can you see this bridge i can go to heights greater than this to prove my love for you"
"No i have no idea and i can't see"
"Roshni can you look into my eyes and say that you don't feel anything for me.Look into my eyes"
"I can't"
"why can't you Roshni,Why can't you look into my eyes"
"I can't look at you just as i can't see anything else around me.I am blind Mayank"
"What rubbish is this"
"If you don't believe this let me take out my walking stick".
She took it out.Mayank stood there shocked at what he saw.He could not say anything.She walked away with her stick
Love is blind,It really is Mayank said to himself.
P.S This was my first feeble attempt at fiction.I don't know how much of it makes sense to you if at all it does.Are bhayee if u can spend Rs 300 for watching a farah khan's movie free mein yeh story toh padh hi
sakte ho.BTW you can read some great short stories at
http://buckinfastard.blogspot.com/.(advertising ka keeda is still biting)
