Met In Train, Shall Meet Again
Hello, everyone! It’s my first story and I am writing this because this experience was too much to contain to myself. I am a 24-year-old guy from Bhubaneswar. I am kind of shy but love intellectual pursuits. So, last month I was traveling to Mumbai for an interview. I have traveled by train since childhood and it was still the same excitement that gripped me. I loved watching out the window and usually spent my time reading a novel or the other. And it went like that for the good part of the day. Then the journey took an interesting halt at Visakhapatnam junction. It stops for 20 minutes there to clean the train, refill the pantry, etc. I got down on the platform to buy some refreshments. Just then I saw a girl struggling to carry her two bags and walking towards my coach. She must have had a tiresome walk up the foot bridge as she was panting. I offered to hold one of her bags and she smiled and handed me over the heavier one (clever). She starting searching for her seat and I felt an unexpected breeze of excitement when I found she would be sitting in my front seat(upper berth). I again helped her put those bags on the seat. She thanked me again. I offered her some water and said “Take a deep breath! You seem to be exhausted.” “Thanks!” she replied. Now, as she was sitting there, eyes closed, sweat on her forehead I took the leisure to check her out. She was medium height, fair with long lustrous hair. I had noticed her eyes earlier- jet black. Now, it might be the mood of the novel I was reading or the fact that I had cut off from the outside world for the last few months to focus on my career that I found her charm in a way alluring. Added to that, her supple figure was not helping either. I don’t get caught in embarrassing situations usually; but, she caught me checking her out intensely. I was a little bit embarrassed. So, just smiled back. To break the awkward silence I extended my right hand for a handshake – “Hi, I am Karan!” now, it was only polite to return the courtesy. Moreover, I have already had helped her twice. So, she replied “Ashima. Nice to meet you!” and shook my hand. I must say I was not disappointed- soft hands like that of a child but a firm hold showing confidence. I like confident girls. They make the conversation a lot more interesting. She seemed like a Bengali. Typical height, long black locks, expressive eyes and not to forget the figure. I have had the chance to stay at different places of India throughout my school years. So, I had a pretty high knowledge about people and could very precisely make out their ethnicity, cultural background, etc from their looks, accent, etc. “Once again thanks!” she brought me back from the realm of my thoughts. I did not let the conversation slip away. “Those bags are unassumingly heavy! You do not look like a smuggler!” she burst into a fit of laughter and flashed her perfect teeth.”Ha, ha, ha! Why you got a problem with that?” she asked back. “I dare not! That was a pretty firm handshake earlier. I do not want to end up in one of those bags.” “Oh, that! I am a state level karate champion,” she said. “That’s wonderful. I feel safe already!” “And I have got to say, you have a nice sense of humor!” “I write columns in a newspaper. A sense of humor adds to the paycheck” I replied with a smile. It was 11 in the night and I had not noticed when the train had left the station. “Shit!” I exclaimed. “What happened? Any problem?” “Well, I got down on the platform to buy some refreshments and forgot to do that. I must say, I was distracted!” she took the cue-“Oh, really?” she smiled back. “Don’t worry! I have enough snacks to go through the entire journey. Overprotective parents, you know?” “Well. Thank you. That would satisfy some part of the hunger!” I was using my wit. She did not say anything. It was just smiles. “We should get back to our respective seats. It’s 11 p.M.” “Yeah! You’re probably right.” she said.”Let’s go up.” she climbed to her seats. I could not help staring at her back. It was sculpted, I must say. Well, bong babes! What can you say? This time she did not catch me as she was busy arranging her bags to make space to sleep. I went up. I only had a small duffel bag and a light backpack. So, while she was struggling to fit in her berth, I could stretch myself to my heart’s content. “Getting too crammed up there?” I asked. “Yeah, a little. I’ll manage, though. Thanks!” “Sure, you can! Never doubted that!” Now all the lights were switched off by other passengers. Since it was a 2nd ac compartment every berth has an independent night lamp. So, I switched it on and started reading my novel – “Scion of ishvaku.” “Interesting novel, it seems!” she said from her berth. “Yeah, you bet!” I said ” I read all kinds of books. You never know what could inspire you for your next column.” “What about you? You gonna crash?” “Seems like I don’t have a choice. Anyway, I am tired.” she took out her blanket and somehow managed to get into the prone position. “Good night, karan,” she said. I admit I was a little disappointed. I wanted this conversation to end in something exciting. Yet, there she was going to sleep and here I was reading. I, however, could not let that show. So, I replied “Good night, ashima!” It was somewhere around 12:30 in the night and I was deeply engrossed in the book when she broke my attention. “Karan. Sorry to disturb you. But, I cannot sleep properly in a train. Would you mind watching my belongings while I use the washroom?” she was disheveled and although I do not like being disturbed while reading, I could not help notice her cleavage. I was getting really turned on. “Sure!” I replied. “Thanks!” She went down giving me a view of her perfectly crafted back once again.