Nandini, a love story

Chapter-14

When Flowers Bloom

The next day Dad came early in the morning for his routine health checkup. I had to pick him up from the stand. The appointment was arranged one month ago. So I was in the utmost hurry. Already a mild heart attack had consumed half of his energy and he could not travel alone any more. We also did not allow him even to go to market. So, all the work pressure of the family fell on Mom. Samir was not yet mature enough to take responsibility. Next month I would pray for seven days’ leave and take father to the famous cardiologist Mr.Guha. So, I was trying hard not to fritter away any leaves. The doctor’s assessment summed up early before nine.  I bade him goodbye as he could not stay with me and called Samir to pick him up from bus-stand. I also gave the conductor my contact no and asked him to call me in any case of an emergency.

I rushed to the stop with a little hope to get my bus. When I was about to cross the road I found him.  A volcano of emotion erupted within me. I did not know why but every time I came before him my emotions for him over-flooded me. Something inundated my reasons and I could not keep control of myself.

“Why today he is here, in this stand?” He was with his friend. With my heart beating at my throat I crossed the road, too absentmindedly or perhaps too much concentrating on that tall figure, dark deep eyes under the mirror. I crossed the road and my breath stopped when I passed before him. An undefinable violent storm overpowered my senses. I stood behind him and looked at him, perhaps for the Ist time in my life. It was a good chance. He could not see me. I tried to dive into his eyes when his face was turned halfway at the road. I stole furtive glances at his eyes that were on my partial view. Then the bus came. I followed the track…led by him. The 1st gate was too crowdy I took the second gate…intentionally. He was just before me. He looked at me. I lowered my face and stood behind him sandwiched in the crowd. The bus was too suffocating. I gave all my bags to other seated passengers. After one stoppage I got to the top row and finally slid myself beside him. Then finding some space I planned to pace forward but he gestured me to stand beside him as there was a chance to get the seat next to him that would be vacant at the next stop. So I stood beside him, all smeared, and smudged with humidity and sweat. I took off my sunglasses and directly looked at him. I recalled the previous day when he was on his scooter and I was on mine and I got a chance to talk with him. I asked him “Where were you going then through that alley? Is it towards your house?” He seemed nervous and answered the full address of his house as if I were the courier boy asking for the exact delivery location. Then the seat became empty and I asked him humbly if he was sure that I could take the seat. He confirmed that I should sit. I sat and called Samir to remind him of his duty. The seat was too sort. I requested my co-passengers to give me space. Prasun said, “The seat is slippery, be careful”. So he had watched my discomfiture and it made me elated. “Yeah, I am slipping”. After some time I offered him to sit but he refused. When my stop came I came down. I wished that I could tell him “Good Bye”, keeping my eyes on his but I could not. I just came forward and stepped down. My heart was permeating with boundless jubilance. In no way I could suppress it. My sky was smeared with the kohl of his eyes.

To be continued…

munu.ruku2020

Hey, I am Munmun, the phoenix fabulist who wants to tell you stories. I love to read stories and I love to weave stories. I feel life is an amalgamation of multiple stories, colourful threads, and threads of pain, pleasure, hope, and hopelessness. We just need to pick those hues and arrange them, knitting them with our own emotions and perception. So let’s celebrate the stories of life.