Bangalore Express

Train journeys are boring.At least the long ones are.Small talk with the people in the compartment.Loud Vendors.Confined spaces.The only good thing being the view through that glass window.I was looking out through the one beside me when I heard someone utter the word 'Secunderabad'.My eyes literally came out.I took control.When i came back to my senses I realized that it was the Uncle sitting in the next birth who told my dad that this train has a stoppage in Secunderabad.I couldn't stop myself from asking.'Uncle, will it also stop at Hyderabad?'.Me blushing at my best.'No beta, only at Secunderabad'.Dad confirmed.I was still super excited as both are indistinguishable. I need to tell him right now that I will be passing by.I acted sleepy and told dad that i was going to the upper birth for a quick nap.I called him and told him.But I knew that he will not get off by then and won't make it.But i was still excited for that very feeling of being hum-sehar for a while.Whatever, I was so damn happy!

Just another day at office.Today i decided to finish off the things quickly so as to generate some free time.Why did I do that? I got the answer pretty soon.She called from the train.She was off to Bangalore.She said she just came to know that the train was via Secunderabad.My eyes literally came out.I need to here this again.Just to confirm.I got off my desk.'Are you kidding me, you really didn't know? ..ammmm...ummm...when ....what time..what train...tell me!'.I was in a super excited state.It was bound to hit Secunderabad around 7.I have never been to that place.But I have a bike now ,i thought.I can go anyplace.'I will call you back in a minute'.I figured out the whole plan, looked at the google map and also thought of something nice to tell my manager.And I was out of office.I called her.

He called back.He said he is coming.My heart stopped.For a while though.Now I needed to figure out what to tell dad.Casually slipped in the old classmate phenomenon.Went well i guess.I don't care.I want to see him so bad.I don't care.I was so happy that my face was all giving it away.Had to hide it from my dad.He was coming.I could see heart shaped clouds now.And that lovely rainbow.Love is awesome, i thought.

There I was on my bike on the way.Way to Secunderabad.I was so excited that it took me a while to understand that I was not aware of the route but was aware that it was way too far.Asking for direction driving a bike which u just learnt last week and that too in Hyderabad traffic can be injurious to your health.And all the people whom I asked for directions seemed to be have a geography of their own.After 1 hr and 40 minutes and after god knows how many twists and turns and god knows how many deja-vu's, I was there.She called when I was at the parking.

I was so anxious.These two hours were the longest two hours ever.The difficult part being to hide your super excitedness.I told dad that I can't wait to get out on that Secunderabad Station.'Why so beta?' And i could just come up with,'Bas papa, tired of sitting naa!'.And then when the station was approaching, I was on the door.He might have reached already waiting for me on that platform.I got down.He wasn't there.I called him to tell that the train had arrived.He was at the parking then.'Will you be able to recognize your school friend beta?'.I smiled inside.Nodded.Suddenly dad pointed to a guy standing just beside us and said,'Is he the one?'.I was so embarrassed.'You will know papa, he will come running!'

I was running towards the station.She told me some platform number which I kind of forgot.I didn't stop at the enquiry neither to get a platform ticket.I had lost all my senses.I went up the bridge crossing platforms and got down at the 9th one.That train was going off the platform.I lost my breathe.I chased it for a while with my helmet in my hand only to realize that this was not the one.10.She said Platform No.10.I rushed back to the bridge.Went to 10.The train was there but i was at the at the wrong end.I ran and ran.Until I saw her with her Dad.She smiled.

I had to rest for air before talking.Paid my regards to her dad.Casual conversation.I think I eventually had to tell him everything about me in those 5 minutes.It was nice.For the minutes he left us alone, I just looked at her.Her presence makes me so happy.There is something about her.I so wanted to hug her.I should have hugged her.If only I could go back in time.And then soon she was gone.I stood there smiling with tears in my eyes watching the Bangalore Express depart.