Pia was still unable to believe Mannu’s ‘Yes’ for her call just because
of that one line in her letter. Mannu still couldn’t believe his inner passion
for Pia’s love. A one day visit to Mumbai just to see the girl he loved! This
was where their story had come to. The
wheel of fortune was taking him close to the horizon of his real and virtual
worlds. A circuit board designed by an engineer and a life style designed by
him have strange contradiction. One is estimated to minimum and the other,
which includes the attire and desires, has a boundless estimate. Same was the case
with the engineer within Mannu. After completing four and a half months of the
first semester, he had a total saving of Rs.2500. These were saved for this big
day of his life rather than buying a pair of jeans.
The ticket window number eleven, had the least
number of hands to ask for the ticket. Mannu took the reservation from a window
which had no employee inside it. There was no limit to the number of forms one
could steal from the window. Mannu took two, one for a sample. Without wasting
any moment, Mannu rushed to the railway station. Trying to borrow a bike from a
senior had been a big help. It was the first time he was doing all this. He sat
on the corner most chair of the hall. People were walking around to confirm the train numbers, the train
timings. Some were busy trying to operate the reservation kiosk. Most of the
people had words of curse for the machine. Mannu was silently watching his
surroundings to check if any of his acquaintance was around. The booking had to
be a very secret affair. Men with their feet on the chair and pan masala in
their mouths sat around for gossips, which were more audible than the Bollywood
song that played on the LCD TV, hung just above them.
Interspersed in the noise was the electronic voice of the train announcements
and the horns. After comforting himself
with a tea, Mannu started filling the reservation form. He filled in the
address of the place where he used to live several years ago, and the phone number
whose SIM card was always in his wallet. Fear like a seven-mile-long snake was
biting him, but only one thought overcame it, that his biggest dream to see Pia
was coming true. He could even count the number of days left. Nothing in this
life could have been better than this. He joined the shortest queue, but after
an hour, counting the number of persons ahead of him for the fourth time, he
was still at the nineteenth place. Every other time he saw the same train
number as on his form being displayed on the electronic board, he prayed to the
Almighty to keep just one seat for him. He had already made a luggage list.
Also, he had made a time table for the semester studies. After dragging his
feet for two hours he finally got to the front of the window.
J1 91. From Jaipur to Mumbai. Whoooaaa! Thirty waiting for the return
journey!
Sha la la... Sha la la!
Mannu
kick started the bike after checking the details on the ticket. Without doubt
he knew what he was going to gift her. It was to be a silver ring. He reached Johri
bazaar. It was the shop which the girls had referred. Again the information
was brought by Nitesh. The price was fixed and so was Mannu’s choice. The purchase
was made in minutes and he was off to the hostel. On his way back, his pocket
was filled with emptiness, but his mind and heart were filled with contentment
and anxiety which had no visible end. There was a better change in him, visible
without a mirror. Truly, love is beautiful.
From morning to noon, from noon to night.
From good mornings to good nights.
Through the days both Mannu and Pia were busy nourishing their love. The
day was spent with books, pressure to perform and the nights as usual were
sleepless. There was distance, but no separation. Mannu was at ease as he was
lost in another thought. Semester exams seemed a very little issue. Talking to
Pia had become scheduled as the exams. Anyhow, Mannu never told Pia about the
ring. She still couldn’t believe that Mannu was coming, that their
virtual relation is going to find a real life.
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