24-23

I never enjoy my trips to Pune in a train. The time it takes to travel from Mumbai to Pune is really very annoying. Its not short enough to ignore like in local trains and Its not long enough to catch a nap or to chat with someone in the train. Even though the it’s a reserved compartment its treated as a general one, with the TC nowhere in sight.

I was dreading the trip that day even more. I had gotten seat number 24, Side UPPER, which I sure has been designed for kids. Anyways the Train from Kalyan was crowded like always. The day being a Friday never helps either. I was just wishing my seat be wind facing, so that I can just put on my ipod and doze off for some time. But Alas! It wasn’t. I HATE SEAT NUMBER 24

While travelling alone every young guy runs over a fantasy. The fantasy being that he would meet a beautiful young woman who would be sitting beside them. She would be alone too. Of course what would happen next depends on where you are reading this fantasy, but the civilized version is, they would get to talking and slowly find that they share so many common things. They would exchange numbers, both realizing that his can go somewhere.

That day as if to apologize for the discomfort of all my trips to pune, I was blessed with the golden chance- to live the fantasy (the civilized version of course). As I approached my seat. Cursing the humidity and crowd in even in reserved compartments, I was surprised to see a young lady sitting in my seat. She was wearing a green salwar suit, wheatish complexion and dark black eyes, highlighted by a thin layer of kajal. From the looks of it she would have been between 20-25. She was carrying a Nike backpack. I hesitated.
“Excuse me, but that’s my seat. Number 24”.
“Oh sorry, mine is 23. Here you go” she replied scooting over to her side.
“Thanks” was all I could mumble back. She responded with a smile.
I slipped my luggage under the seat and removed my shoes. I was suddenly very aware of the fact now, that my sock had tiny hole in it.

My mind had already started racing. What be a subtle way to start a conversation.
‘You’re going to pune?’. No, of course she is, this train goes to pune only, that would be dumb. Only someone like Aamir khan can pull off such a question and I am no Aamir Khan, and this is not DCH.
‘You work in pune?’ No that won’t be appropriate.
Just as I was running over all the permutations she got a call, and a horrifying thought hit me. So what if this lady was alone! She could easily have a boyfriend or even be married. My eyes quickly darted to her left hand. No ring on the ring finger. Then carefully observed her neck. No mangalsutra either. But still the call could be from her boyfriend. The announcement at the station was very loud, robbing me of any opportunity of eavesdropping.

About 10-15 mins had passed. The train was already out of Kalyan city. Then length of her call didn’t make me hopeful. Usually girls talk this long only to either their parents or their boyfriends. I could hear the girls I know disapproving of my action. ‘So guys only talk to girls only if she is single’, ‘That’s pathetic’, ‘How mean’, ‘BOYS!!!’. Ya well that’s all true right there.
Still this thought of disapproval , convinced me to atleast talk to her. But I was still looking an opening line.
“Could you watch my bag? I will just be back”. She asked suddenly
I nodded and said “sure” in the weirdest of voices, which I am sure she didn’t even hear.
Ok good so, she spoke to you first. That’s good, now all I had to do was continue the conversation when she came back. But what would that be. ‘Went to the loo?’. I AM SO STUPID, of course she did. Damn I was stuck again. Before I could think anymore she was back. She rearranged her bag, and her wrist watch. WRIST WATCH!!
“whats the time please?”
“7 30”
Wow! Smooth talk.
I had given up. There was no point. I simply took out the book I had bought just before coming. I was half hoping she would ask me what it was about. But remembering my taste in books I was glad she didn’t.
Just when all hope was lost I found a window. This man selling mineral water was passing by. She stopped him and asked for one bottle.
“Kitna hua?” How much?
“12”
She took out 2 ten rupee notes.
“Chutta do na madam” Give me change
She started searching her purse, but couldn’t find any.
She opened her Nike back pack, started digging in every compartment, frustrated not to find any change. It was then that I realized this opportunity.
“If you don’t, may I give it”.
She looked at me, blank for sec. My heart skipped a beat waiting for the reaction. And then she smiled again.
“Thanks”
“No problem” I said with a lot more style.
It was one those filmy moments that keep saying happen all the time. We just miss them most of the times.
Just as she handed over the money to the hawker, her phone rang again. And all my fears came rushing back. She talked for less 2 mins., visibly annoyed though. I couldn’t hear much but just before she disconnected the call I heard,
“Please dad, stop calling every 20 mins. I am fine. I can take care of myself”
WOHOOOO
It was her dad.
“Dads huh?!?! So you live in Pune?” I started not wanting to waste the opportunity.
She looked at me for a sec, not replying, calculating something. For a moment I thought she was annoyed by my statement.
“No I am going there for studying. How about you?”
We were on our way. I was living the fantasy, chatting for 2 hours straight. Her name was Apeksha. We talked about college and parents, how we have grown up, about how girls are smarter than boys (yeah, I took her side :P). All in all it was a really magical journey with the train hustling through the beautiful lonavala landscapes. I SIMPLY LOVE SEAT NUMBER 24 .
She had to get down at shivajinagar, a station just before pune junction where I had to get down. The train was almost there and there was one thing I was mustering the courage to ask. But what if she refuses. She is after all daddy’s little girl who has been taught to stay away from strangers. The train came to a halt. She got up.
“Bye”
“Bye” I replied.
She was leaving. This was my only chance. I had to ask. Common man.
“Apeksha, listen can I have your phone number?”
She again paused a sec too long.
“Sure, 9874321344”
“Thanks” I said, practically beaming.
This story would be a hit in my friends. They won’t believe at first, but then I had her number now to prove it.
I SIMPLY LOVE SEAT NUMBER 24.
I was smiling sitting alone. Took out my cell. Saved the number. I should text her to let her know my number too, I thought.
‘Hey, it was great talking to u. tc – Amit’
I hit sent still smiling.
My cell beeped. It would be the delivery verification I tht.
‘Message delivery failure’. I tried again, but it failed again.
Train came to a stop. We had reached pune station. But my smile was now fading away.
I got down on the station and tried calling her
‘Please chk the number you have dialed’
Oh shit. Did I save the wrong number? No it can’t be. It’s not possible. I darted towards the passenger list of the coach that is pasted on. Searched for seat number 23.
RAKHI SAXENA AGE: 25 SEAT NO.: 23
She was just a daddy’s little girl protecting herself. Should I be angry?!?!?!
I HATE SEAT number 24