All the seats were occupied, when he got in. An imposing figure. He was stout, thirtyish. Jet black hair, neatly gelled into place. Dark glasses shielding his eyes. The smart jacket in contrast to his work worn jeans. As he strode towards the wheel, and eased himself into the driver's seat, even the grandma's in the bus let out a sigh. Far cry from the drivers in their own country, India. Many a female heart skipped a beat as he looked up into the rear view mirror, found almost the entire crowds eye's on him, and smiled. As if he knew the effect he was having on everyone. He knew the effect he was having on everyone. "Hi." The rich baritone befitted the man. It enhanced the persona, the sheer confidence that he oozed. Leaning forward, on the wheel, he continued, still holding onto everyone's gaze. "I'm Randy. I'm going to be your driver for this trip. I hope you enjoy it. There a few ground rules that Praveen here will explain to you." The accent was polished, and to their ears, even exotic. As he sank back, giving centre stage to the tour guide, he looked into the rear view mirror, and squarely met her eyes. The placid gaze turned to something akin to surprise, as their eyes met.
Chemistry. That which is defined as instant attraction between two people. As their gaze continued to hold, Praveen coughed lightly, bringing Randy back from his near reverie. He smiled and started the bus. The bus had started from London, and within the course of the next twenty days would wend itself through Europe. Eight countries. It certainly would not be boring, as it usually was, he decided. Now and then, he would allow himself to look into the mirror. Rich, dark brown curls blew around the curve of a dusky cheek. The eyes were liquid brown. He drove a little quicker, hoping to see her outside of the seat at the first halt that they made. They reached the hotel. The bus came to a halt. As the passengers rushed towards the door, propelled by full bladders as much as excitement, he was courtesy itself, proferring his hands to help the jet lagged travellers to alight. She was the last to alight. His attention caught momentarily by an old lady, he looked up to find her above him, so close he caught his breath at the face. Almost within touching distance. " Excuse me please ?" The melliflous voice belonged to her he realised. Hurriedly he held out his hands. The soft fingers barely touched his, as she got off the bus. Their was amusement in her eyes, as she realised the effect she was having on him. "Aarti." The voice was that of the old lady's. " Cmon, child." He felt, rather than saw her going away from her.
She walked slowly towards her grandma. Randy stood as if turned to stone. She was young. In her early twenties. An innate grace, an air of tranquility almost, separated her from the rest. As the days went by, he was more and more taken by her. By the fifth day, he would smile at her warmly, wish her a good morning, to which she would give a soft reply and a small smile. The rest of the passengers too, were smitten by her, but she stayed aloof. Often, he would find her sitting completely still, staring into space, as if in a trance, as if she were a yogi. Randy found himself intrigued, thinking about her, studying her as she sat behind him. The grandmother on the other hand was gregarious, talking to her co passengers, sharing food and thoughts with them.
So the days passed. Randy waited for an oppurtune moment to strike up a conversation with her. She always eluded him, holding back or hurrying forward, while he tended to the others, almost as she were avoiding him. On the thirteenth day of the tour, they were in tranquil Switzerland. The beauty of the snow capped mountains towering over the serene, green fir treed landscape lightened the spirits of even the most seasoned travellers amongst them. Young and old alike frolicked on the Jungfrau mountain side. He was amused to see most of them clad from head to toe in the warmest of thermals, until his eyes fell on her. Clad in a thin sweat shirt, atop figure hugging jeans, she drew the eyes of most of the young crowd huddled in the snow.
The scream startled all of them. A small child of about four, dangled precariously from a small rock below the fenced embankment. The child must have slipped thru the bars and tumbled down the rock face. Like a slow motion movie, the mother lunged ahead, the terrified face of the child as she clung desperately to the rock brought the crowd to a stand still, as most people raced ahead to help. The desparate mother, ashen faced beseeched the child to hang on. As the emergency services swung into action, a small figure expertly and swiftly scaled the rock surface. Randy sprang forward as he realised who it was, who was racing to the child's rescue. The terrified scream rang out again as the small, numbed fingers of the child released their hold.
The terror on the mother's face turned to relief,as she realised that having reached the embankment below, the climber had caught the child even as she fell.
The child restored to her mother, the crowd clustered around the heroic figure of her rescuer, who strangely enough, after her initial calm had collapsed in a heap on the snow.The crumpled, delicate frame of the woman shook, as her grandmother sat beside her clasping the sob wracked figure to her bosom. Eventually, regaining her composure, the duo moved slowly towards the bus, as the crowd regained its holiday mood and spirit of adventure.
As they sat in the bus, Randy offered a bottle of water. Her eyes deep pools of pain, she spoke softly to her grandmother, who then explained, " Her child was as old as the other, when she drowned. She was the spitting image of her mother, and an expert swimmer. But Aarti was unable to save her. Though she was sitting just by the pool, she got distracted momentarily, by a call from her work place. She never forgave herself, even though her husband eventually did. So here we are, trying to get away from it all." The sadness in the old lady's moist eyes, was almost palpable " I'm fine now, naani. I really am." She spoke slowly, yet her melliflous voice was strong. "Today was a catharsis for me. God gave me a chance to save that little life, and i'm so grateful. Maybe now i can get on with the rest of my life." So saying she reached out a hand to Randy, as he took it within both of his, and raised it to his lips. Just for a moment they seemed to look right into each other's soul. Then she withdrew it hurriedly. " Can we please take a flight back to India tomorrow ? " Sorrowfully, he agreed.
The rest of the trip was uneventful. For Randy, his eyes kept searching for that one pair of mesmerising eyes. Eyes that had the power to reach his soul. Eyes that he would perhaps search for, for the rest of his life.
Chemistry. That which is defined as instant attraction between two people. As their gaze continued to hold, Praveen coughed lightly, bringing Randy back from his near reverie. He smiled and started the bus. The bus had started from London, and within the course of the next twenty days would wend itself through Europe. Eight countries. It certainly would not be boring, as it usually was, he decided. Now and then, he would allow himself to look into the mirror. Rich, dark brown curls blew around the curve of a dusky cheek. The eyes were liquid brown. He drove a little quicker, hoping to see her outside of the seat at the first halt that they made. They reached the hotel. The bus came to a halt. As the passengers rushed towards the door, propelled by full bladders as much as excitement, he was courtesy itself, proferring his hands to help the jet lagged travellers to alight. She was the last to alight. His attention caught momentarily by an old lady, he looked up to find her above him, so close he caught his breath at the face. Almost within touching distance. " Excuse me please ?" The melliflous voice belonged to her he realised. Hurriedly he held out his hands. The soft fingers barely touched his, as she got off the bus. Their was amusement in her eyes, as she realised the effect she was having on him. "Aarti." The voice was that of the old lady's. " Cmon, child." He felt, rather than saw her going away from her.
She walked slowly towards her grandma. Randy stood as if turned to stone. She was young. In her early twenties. An innate grace, an air of tranquility almost, separated her from the rest. As the days went by, he was more and more taken by her. By the fifth day, he would smile at her warmly, wish her a good morning, to which she would give a soft reply and a small smile. The rest of the passengers too, were smitten by her, but she stayed aloof. Often, he would find her sitting completely still, staring into space, as if in a trance, as if she were a yogi. Randy found himself intrigued, thinking about her, studying her as she sat behind him. The grandmother on the other hand was gregarious, talking to her co passengers, sharing food and thoughts with them.
So the days passed. Randy waited for an oppurtune moment to strike up a conversation with her. She always eluded him, holding back or hurrying forward, while he tended to the others, almost as she were avoiding him. On the thirteenth day of the tour, they were in tranquil Switzerland. The beauty of the snow capped mountains towering over the serene, green fir treed landscape lightened the spirits of even the most seasoned travellers amongst them. Young and old alike frolicked on the Jungfrau mountain side. He was amused to see most of them clad from head to toe in the warmest of thermals, until his eyes fell on her. Clad in a thin sweat shirt, atop figure hugging jeans, she drew the eyes of most of the young crowd huddled in the snow.
The scream startled all of them. A small child of about four, dangled precariously from a small rock below the fenced embankment. The child must have slipped thru the bars and tumbled down the rock face. Like a slow motion movie, the mother lunged ahead, the terrified face of the child as she clung desperately to the rock brought the crowd to a stand still, as most people raced ahead to help. The desparate mother, ashen faced beseeched the child to hang on. As the emergency services swung into action, a small figure expertly and swiftly scaled the rock surface. Randy sprang forward as he realised who it was, who was racing to the child's rescue. The terrified scream rang out again as the small, numbed fingers of the child released their hold.
The terror on the mother's face turned to relief,as she realised that having reached the embankment below, the climber had caught the child even as she fell.
The child restored to her mother, the crowd clustered around the heroic figure of her rescuer, who strangely enough, after her initial calm had collapsed in a heap on the snow.The crumpled, delicate frame of the woman shook, as her grandmother sat beside her clasping the sob wracked figure to her bosom. Eventually, regaining her composure, the duo moved slowly towards the bus, as the crowd regained its holiday mood and spirit of adventure.
As they sat in the bus, Randy offered a bottle of water. Her eyes deep pools of pain, she spoke softly to her grandmother, who then explained, " Her child was as old as the other, when she drowned. She was the spitting image of her mother, and an expert swimmer. But Aarti was unable to save her. Though she was sitting just by the pool, she got distracted momentarily, by a call from her work place. She never forgave herself, even though her husband eventually did. So here we are, trying to get away from it all." The sadness in the old lady's moist eyes, was almost palpable " I'm fine now, naani. I really am." She spoke slowly, yet her melliflous voice was strong. "Today was a catharsis for me. God gave me a chance to save that little life, and i'm so grateful. Maybe now i can get on with the rest of my life." So saying she reached out a hand to Randy, as he took it within both of his, and raised it to his lips. Just for a moment they seemed to look right into each other's soul. Then she withdrew it hurriedly. " Can we please take a flight back to India tomorrow ? " Sorrowfully, he agreed.
The rest of the trip was uneventful. For Randy, his eyes kept searching for that one pair of mesmerising eyes. Eyes that had the power to reach his soul. Eyes that he would perhaps search for, for the rest of his life.
And so i loved the piece..you know why? because Id expect the bus driver to go and save the child, or still, the girl who saved the child..and it wasn't so..nice way to portray the story!
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