He looked up at the clock on the Rajabhai Tower. Almost four. If she had left college by now, she would be here soon. Looking around him, he saw a number of students. Hungry ones. Crowding around Rajubhai, Sandwich Wala. Had the tower been named after him, he thought sardonically. Most of the students were his age. Clad in jeans, tees, the hip ones exuding attitude. The boys, eyeing the girls, clandestinely or openly. The girls, preening, some talking too loudly to draw attention, some just eating hungrily. He was both. Hungry and seeking attention. None of the girls around, interested him. His girl. She was yet to come.
The car rounded the corner from Churchgate. It was a Honda, no less. Seeing it, he hurriedly rose to his feet, dusted off the back of his jeans, and stood waiting for her to alight. Waving off the driver, she walked towards the stall. Towards him. He stood, heart pounding, his eyes seeing only her. As if the rest of the world, had faded out. Long hair swinging, the rays of the sun playing hide and seek in it, she came. Clad in jeans, that highlighted her lovely long legs, she came. Swinging the satchel, onto her shoulders, dark, chinky eyes on the oncoming traffic, she came. In his mind, she was walking towards him, straight into his arms. The whiff of her perfume as she brushed past him, took his breath away. He walked alongside her, a little distance away, his eyes glued to her. Maybe it was her exotic looks, that captivated him. Or the perfect hair, not a single one out of place, or the perfect rose hued skin. Her very presence made all the rest seem drab to him.
Since the day, he had set eyes on her, he had dreamed of her. Waiting for a sandwich, he had seen her car first. Then she alighted from it.. A sudden gust of wind, blew her hair every which way, covering her face. With a firm movement of the hand, she collected it all, then held it back. As she strode off, it swung behind her, every perfect strand, adding to the sensousness she exuded. He had stood, mesmerised. Since that day, he had been smitten. The fact that she refused to allow her car near the her friends, spoke of her modesty, her need to blend. After having her sandwich with her friends, she went to the bus stop, with them, allowing them to catch a bus, before she made her way to her parked car.
Thereafter it had been his daily ritual. At four, he was so haazir, every, single day. From the past six months.
That day, as usual, he was at his spot. When she neared, his eyes closed, he stood inhaling the scent of her. "Excuse me." The voice was low pitched, melodious. His eyes flew open. He turned instinctively, to see if she was talking to someone behind him. Tiny smile playing around her lips, she indicated that he was in her path. Still smiling she moved around him, and was gone.
Her friends had gone, and she was making her way to the car when it happened. A biker, helmet clad veered close to her. Behind him, an accomplice, reached out and grabbed her bag. "Oye !" The outraged cry came not from her, but from him. Picking up a stone he flung it with deadly aim. As it struck the biker, he fell off his bike. Running towards them, lunging across her, he picked it up, then grabbing her hand, he hustled her off, even as the crowd started to collar the thieves.
They stood a short distance away. Just him and her. " You ok Ma'am ?" He asked hesitantly. The shocked look receding from her face, she nodded. Taking the bag he extended towards her, she held out her hand. Fingers trembling he clasped it in his, as time seemed to grind to a halt. Then she was gone.
He stood there hand still extended. Leaping over a parked scooter, he paused. Turning the mirror towards him, he looked at his reflection. Smoothing back the shock of black hair, he struck the pose of Arjun Kapoor, the latest heart throb. Pulling his faded tee over his torn jeans, foolish smile lighting his face, he went on his way.
"Ai Pakiya ! Ai hero." Yelled the voice from behind. "Chal jaldi parking receipt de. Sapne baad main dekhna. " He laughed with sheer happiness, then got down to issuing it.
The car rounded the corner from Churchgate. It was a Honda, no less. Seeing it, he hurriedly rose to his feet, dusted off the back of his jeans, and stood waiting for her to alight. Waving off the driver, she walked towards the stall. Towards him. He stood, heart pounding, his eyes seeing only her. As if the rest of the world, had faded out. Long hair swinging, the rays of the sun playing hide and seek in it, she came. Clad in jeans, that highlighted her lovely long legs, she came. Swinging the satchel, onto her shoulders, dark, chinky eyes on the oncoming traffic, she came. In his mind, she was walking towards him, straight into his arms. The whiff of her perfume as she brushed past him, took his breath away. He walked alongside her, a little distance away, his eyes glued to her. Maybe it was her exotic looks, that captivated him. Or the perfect hair, not a single one out of place, or the perfect rose hued skin. Her very presence made all the rest seem drab to him.
Since the day, he had set eyes on her, he had dreamed of her. Waiting for a sandwich, he had seen her car first. Then she alighted from it.. A sudden gust of wind, blew her hair every which way, covering her face. With a firm movement of the hand, she collected it all, then held it back. As she strode off, it swung behind her, every perfect strand, adding to the sensousness she exuded. He had stood, mesmerised. Since that day, he had been smitten. The fact that she refused to allow her car near the her friends, spoke of her modesty, her need to blend. After having her sandwich with her friends, she went to the bus stop, with them, allowing them to catch a bus, before she made her way to her parked car.
Thereafter it had been his daily ritual. At four, he was so haazir, every, single day. From the past six months.
That day, as usual, he was at his spot. When she neared, his eyes closed, he stood inhaling the scent of her. "Excuse me." The voice was low pitched, melodious. His eyes flew open. He turned instinctively, to see if she was talking to someone behind him. Tiny smile playing around her lips, she indicated that he was in her path. Still smiling she moved around him, and was gone.
Her friends had gone, and she was making her way to the car when it happened. A biker, helmet clad veered close to her. Behind him, an accomplice, reached out and grabbed her bag. "Oye !" The outraged cry came not from her, but from him. Picking up a stone he flung it with deadly aim. As it struck the biker, he fell off his bike. Running towards them, lunging across her, he picked it up, then grabbing her hand, he hustled her off, even as the crowd started to collar the thieves.
They stood a short distance away. Just him and her. " You ok Ma'am ?" He asked hesitantly. The shocked look receding from her face, she nodded. Taking the bag he extended towards her, she held out her hand. Fingers trembling he clasped it in his, as time seemed to grind to a halt. Then she was gone.
He stood there hand still extended. Leaping over a parked scooter, he paused. Turning the mirror towards him, he looked at his reflection. Smoothing back the shock of black hair, he struck the pose of Arjun Kapoor, the latest heart throb. Pulling his faded tee over his torn jeans, foolish smile lighting his face, he went on his way.
"Ai Pakiya ! Ai hero." Yelled the voice from behind. "Chal jaldi parking receipt de. Sapne baad main dekhna. " He laughed with sheer happiness, then got down to issuing it.
hahaha so vivid! like it!
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