For once Gayatri is not irritated waiting for the train. She dreamt of this journey many times, sure that it’s going to be a joyous one. Lost in her dreams, in harmony with the cacophony, she felt his arms around her. She smiled and looked at him. She kept staring at him, searched for that assurance. She couldn’t find it. Is he trying to convey her something? The quiet and shy Gautam, took her by surprise often with the innovative ways of expressing his affection. Ah! How much she savored every such moment.
She held him close oblivious to the disapproving stares. She felt his body stiffen. “Why is he tensed and uneasy?” She thought. “Didn’t we dream of this day together? But it’s natural to be apprehensive about a new journey, bigger responsibilities and unknown challenges.” She was talking to herself in her thoughts.
Her reverie was broken with the approaching train. She pushed back her thoughts, held him tight, ecstatic as a child looking at the roaring train.
He held her away from him; “it’s time for me to go,” he said.
“I’m sure I heard it wrong,” she thought looking at him.
He shrugged her looking at the stoned figure. Mouth parched, she whimpered, “but why?”
Silence was the answer.
“Can you ever forgive me?” He asked.
He couldn’t see her agony. He was already looking for salvation even though she hasn’t absorbed the news yet.
“Sorry,” he squeezed her hand one last time and boarded the serpentine train as it chugged its way out of the platform to its onward journey.
Day melted into dusk; perched on a marble bench she stared emptily at the sad and happy faces bidding adieu to their dear ones. With a numb mind and wounded heart, she wobbled towards the exit. Her frail body quivered as the tears of humiliation drenched her in shame.
Her once perfect world is shattered into pieces now. It’s for the time to decide if she can shape it up again and discard the useless parts.
“Didn’t we dream of this journey together? How could he take a decision on my behalf without taking my consent?” the thought irritated her.
“Show me your platform ticket please?” Asked the ticket collector at the exit.
She showed her train ticket.
“Oh! This train left in the morning. Did you miss it?” inquired the TC.
“I was never meant to be on that train,” she smiled feebly and moved on.
She held him close oblivious to the disapproving stares. She felt his body stiffen. “Why is he tensed and uneasy?” She thought. “Didn’t we dream of this day together? But it’s natural to be apprehensive about a new journey, bigger responsibilities and unknown challenges.” She was talking to herself in her thoughts.
Her reverie was broken with the approaching train. She pushed back her thoughts, held him tight, ecstatic as a child looking at the roaring train.
He held her away from him; “it’s time for me to go,” he said.
“I’m sure I heard it wrong,” she thought looking at him.
He shrugged her looking at the stoned figure. Mouth parched, she whimpered, “but why?”
Silence was the answer.
“Can you ever forgive me?” He asked.
He couldn’t see her agony. He was already looking for salvation even though she hasn’t absorbed the news yet.
“Sorry,” he squeezed her hand one last time and boarded the serpentine train as it chugged its way out of the platform to its onward journey.
Day melted into dusk; perched on a marble bench she stared emptily at the sad and happy faces bidding adieu to their dear ones. With a numb mind and wounded heart, she wobbled towards the exit. Her frail body quivered as the tears of humiliation drenched her in shame.
Her once perfect world is shattered into pieces now. It’s for the time to decide if she can shape it up again and discard the useless parts.
“Didn’t we dream of this journey together? How could he take a decision on my behalf without taking my consent?” the thought irritated her.
“Show me your platform ticket please?” Asked the ticket collector at the exit.
She showed her train ticket.
“Oh! This train left in the morning. Did you miss it?” inquired the TC.
“I was never meant to be on that train,” she smiled feebly and moved on.
Hey! Sudha,
ReplyDeleteVery well sketched...excellent expressions!
It felt like Gayatri was right in front of me, and I was witness to every feeling she experienced. Your blog motivates me to reopen mine...hmmmm...let's see.
Hi Sri, please reopen your blog. I checked your blog couple of times only to find that there were new posts. Looking forward to reading some good stuff from you.
ReplyDeletethis is ur first super writeup...i didnt get the "bhakti" when i red the other ones before....too good re tum....english is super happy today...u did it
ReplyDeleteDave, loved the way you wrote it. I guess I am all set to write my first book. Amen.
ReplyDeletefar far better than chetan bhagat. but i cud nt enjoy it fully, blame it on my impatience!!
ReplyDeleteWith due respect to the IIT lad and his famous books, I didn't enjoy his work. If he can write, I guess anyone can!
ReplyDeleteWriting a short story on blog is not a good idea coz' a lot is killed due to space contraint. This is one of the stories written on the fly in few minutes. Ashu, I liked your write-up on Ajalji. I am planning to buy his book of poems.
Hey Sudha,
ReplyDeleteSimply loved the flow of the story..
Every journey is unfinished, until the actual destiny is reached.
Hi Indira, thanks for your comments. I feel there is nothing like "actual destiny" and may be you meant destination.
ReplyDeleteHope to hear from you more often.
Best in the lot. So a great writer was sitting next to my cubicle :-) . Keep going.
ReplyDeleteLol. Thanks Iqbal.
ReplyDeleteI know
ReplyDeletehi Sudha,
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately i was not there on your last day in Yodlee. Was surprised to see "This is it" though i knew!!! anyways All the Best.
I opened your Blog to see you here.
My understanding of you as a person getting better after reading your few blogs!
Always i use to look for updates on sprint activity in Scrumworks or would ping U.
Now on will definitely look for your updates on your Blog!!!:)
Am totally touched by this story...I am not so good at English to comment on your English, same time i dont have any words to comment on feelings filled in your story!!! Got goosebumps...though very short tells whole lot behind it!
Keep up your good work for your increasing no. of readers.
All the Best
Hey, Ashwin. Thanks so much. Yeah, I know I harassed you so much by not updating the scrumworks regularly. But you had been really patient with me. Post Yodlee, I hope to write regularly. Would love to read your comments more often.
ReplyDeleteOk now you have left me high and dry again!
ReplyDelete