Some days are usual and some are unusually usual .That day was like any other normal day, but was a bit unusual in some sorts .It was bitterly cold, windy and strangely pleasant, for normally, non-sunny days are not so pleasant for me. But that particular day was a bit different, in an indifferent way.The day started normally with the usual huffle-buffle that one has to face in the mornings. The usual getting ready and walking to the bus stop and boarding the bus and fighting for a seat and struggling to survive etc..etc.. But to my surprise, the bus was freakishly empty. Sign of an auspicious day, I thought. I boarded the bus and thanked God. The journey to the Hauz Khas bus depot was amazingly easy and it took me less than the average time it takes to reach there.
I was going to the Hauz Khas bus depot to get my bus pass renewed, which was nearing expiry. The bus dropped me at the depot. I walked in and what I saw was that, the usually crowded bus depot was so deserted that I couldn’t believe if it what was the same depot that I once visited .That was serendipitous. I couldn’t believe what was happening, but I had to believe it anyway. I walked in to the pass office and got my pass made in about 5 minutes, which was again astonishing as the whole affair normally takes longer. So, now my bus pass was there, resting in my bag and I was all puzzled and happy and thanking God, walking to the bus stop, to get back home.
I walked to the terribly overcrowded IIT Gate bus stop, to take my bus back home. The stop was crowded being the peak rush hours. I found a place for myself and stood there waiting. There were no signs of bus even after 5 minutes of waiting and the first thing on my mind was to get back home. It was deeply cold. People at the bus stop, including me, were getting restless. Some were sitting on the railings under the bus stop’s roof. Some were briskly moving here and there, glancing furtively at their watches. Some were vigorously chatting on their cells and some, just standing, giving vague looks. I was the one doing all these things periodically, consciously and unconsciously.
Just then, when all these futile exercises were taking place, I saw a young guy, tall, about 20, coming out of the IIT campus, walking towards the bus stop. He was an average looking guy but was unusually attractive. He sported a baggy baseball jersey ,with a not so baggy cargo. He wore a skullcap and was truly looking like Eminem Marshall. To sum up his looks, he was graceful, well-proportioned and had an athletic stature, and essentially, I couldn’t keep my eyes from roosting on him. I saw him walking towards the bus stop. I gave him a secretive glance and looked away.
The traffic was all crawling an the road, as usual, and people were madly blowing horns to clear it off. The air was reeking of obnoxious fuel exhaust and there were people popping their heads out of the car windows. Amidst all this there was a really nice guy standing next to me. I was amazed by the way everything was happening. Everything, so nice and eventful. Queer and unnatural. I smiled, at nothing and returned to the reality.
We both were standing on the bus stop, he was standing by my side and we didn’t talk. I wanted him to talk. Well, I really wanted him to talk. I was wondering why on this galaxy I ever wanted to talk to him and this never happened before. There was something about him that was responsible for this sudden urge. But I wanted him to start. He stood there, quietly, for sometime, then moved a few steps towards me and rested himself. I stared him and he moved back. But I still wanted to talk. I never made an effort though. After next 15 min , he showed signs of wanting to talk. What a late action time, I thought. But at least he did and that made me feel..feel..feel..well, there's no word for that. But yes, it felt nice. He smiled, cleared his throat and was all set to speak.
I looked at him and just then the bus came and everything was ruined. I was livid. That was outrageous and infuriating!!.…..Oh my god!!!! WHAT A WRONG TIMING…….. I wanted to scream, but I didn’t. Instead, I smiled back at him and was happy that he smiled in repercussion…I boarded the bus and left.
