It was another of my trips to New Delhi. It had been a long time since I had been to Delhi. I had not seen her face for the past one month – not even on facebook. I had promised her to meet her in November only but could not find any opportunity of seeing her. I had a promise to keep but I had problems at my place myself. Being stuck, I had nothing that I could do. I was just at home passing my time idly and sometimes helping my family in shifting the entire load from the current house to the new one.
Then I decided to give her the surprise. I had already expressed my apologies for not being able to keep my promise and had felt bad. But now was the time to stand up and do something. I had already been at home for a long time now and Delhi was certainly calling.
I told my family about my decision to leave for Delhi. They gave the green signal. Booked my tickets for the last day of the month, that was just a couple of days later. Alongside helping my family in shifting, I also began my packing. I had to return my friend’s bag and attend a marriage too in Delhi. Finally my packing was over and so was the shifting. The L-day finally arrived.
I boarded the train in the morning. I had already messaged her in the morning that I would be a little busy today. Plus I already had a commitment to her that I will talk to her today at 2 in the afternoon to decide when she can meet me in Delhi, that is when I should plan my trip to Delhi the next month. All through the journey I kept toying with my new phone, trying to catch the idea network (Certainly an idea can change your life but not this one..!! :-P). With no network on the phone, I passed my time in the train sleeping. I had to sleep having slept the previous night at 3am and waking up at 6am. And that day I really enjoyed the train’s sleep – maybe either because I was too tired or I was just preparing for the ‘L’ovely surprise that waited ahead.
I reached New Delhi station at around 12:30 and called one of my very dear friends to know the metro to south Delhi. Having been guided by him, I boarded the metro. All I knew was just the address. I deboarded the metro at the Hauz Khas Metro station. Now I had to get a bus to the destination. As I sat in the bus, waiting for the bus to start, there came a voice from my behind. It was the conductor saying – “Sir ji, gaadi to chalane ke liye Dhakka lagane ki zarurat hai. Zara niche utar ke dhakka lagayen.”
So we around 5-6 people along with the conductor got down to push the bus. After a couple of efforts, it finally started. Fully soaked in sweat, I took my seat alongside my luggage that consisted of two bags. Finally the bus dropped me at the stop. The last time I was at that destination, her place was just 20 meters from the stop. But not every day is your day and I understood it fully that day. This time I had got out from the bus some 2.5km from her place. I started walking towards her place with a bag on my back and another in my hand. I kept asking someone of a different address every 100meters I covered. I could not ask her address directly because what if someone from her home or her known-to was the person, he would have started questioning me there only like an inspector questions an accused. I thought I better save myself from such harassment.
But there was another trouble that could have happened and actually happened which I had not thought of earlier. I was asking a lady of the address and she said whom you want to meet there. I understood it might be that either it’s her home or she knows someone there. I told her that I am actually looking for Mr. X from whom I have to collect something but I just know that he stays somewhere around there only and I have been trying his number but he seems to be busy somewhere. So asking some address close to his place.
At these times, a little bit of luck can do wonders for you and I realized it that day.
Firstly it was Delhi and not Chandigarh where people there is a lot of interaction in the neighborhood and people generally know there nearby’s.
Secondly that aunt was not going to her home but actually coming from home and going somewhere. So she could not accompany me to the place.
By now, I had travelled around 1.5km and now I thought that I could try her number and ask if she is even home or not.
I called her. It rang once. It rang twice. Then thrice. Then fourth time. Then fifth. She wasn’t picking up. I was now feeling the burden of my luggage due to the thought that she might not be home. She might be sleeping. In short, she might not just be able to meet that day. I felt like a beggar who is helpless and all he can do is just hope for others to do mercy. Similarly all I could do was just hope for her to respond. I knew there were still some 500meters to be covered, so I tried to call a few of my other friends. Nobody seemed to pick up. That was really strange. But I could not do anything about it.
With a bag on back, another in one hand, and the mobile in the second hand, I kept walking towards her place. Some 150 meters away, as I was still trying to call her, she finally picked up. I had a sigh of relief that at-least she picked up. Now I was thinking how to reply if she asks that why am I calling her from my Delhi number.
The conversation got underway liked this:
Me: Hello
She: hello
Me: What were you doing? Why didn’t u pick up the phone for so long?
She: I was in the kitchen preparing food and phone was in the room. I saw your missed calls. So many of them. Why were you calling so much? What happened? Where you? You didn’t even reply to my message in the morning.
Me: Ya I was calling because I wanted to talk to you. What have you made? Won’t you invite me to lunch?
She: Sure. But you are in Chandigarh Mr., and also you cannot come to my home. It’s banned for you. Your packing done? What you doing now? Where?
Me: Ya packing is done. Me walking towards your home.
She: oh come on. Stop Kidding. That’s impossible. Don’t joke around. Acha why didn’t you reply in the morning?
Me: Oh yes, this is such a joke. Of course, it’s impossible. Sorry. By the way, I couldn’t reply in the morning since I had slept again after messaging you. Plus, my balance got over. So I am calling you from the other number.
She: Oh are you? I can only see your number on the screen and not the number.
Me (thinking: wow, she can’t see my number. Why the hell I had to tell her this. Damn me…!!): oh, is it so?? Nice. Anyways, just think if I am actually outside your place right now.
She (running towards the window of her room): oh plz Mr., stop kidding. And if you are actually here then tell me where you are? I can’t see you anywhere. Plus, tell me what’s to your left.
Me (still just on the way and walking): I am just on the way and haven’t yet reached your place. Plus I have already been to your place once. So I can certainly answer your question that there is a park to my left.
She: ha-ha... Very funny. Tell me what’s there around you, wherever you are and what’s happening in this park.
Me: You don’t trust me. Ok. There is a white swift desire to my left and a red pulsar 150. Plus in front of me on the road, there is a chowkidaar in the middle of the day, on the middle of the road with two other people and a stick in his hand.
She (thinking: these things are generally there every day. Could he be actually here?? Impossible.) (A few seconds silence.): Mr., please stop this. You can’t be here. (Shivering) Dude this is not possible. I beg you. Plz stop now. Don’t come. Or stop joking.
Me: Ok. Now the finale. There are 5 ladies sitting on the chairs and chatting to each other in the park just to my left and a couple of children are playing with a ball there.
She (Silence, I am dead. GOD SAVE ME.)
Me: And now you can finally see me. Can you??
She: Shit. Impossible. Plz say I am dreaming. No. No...
Me: I am definitely not coming to your place. Just walking past. Do turn up at one of the windows. I have come travelling more than 300kms now, passing through I don’t know how many small rivers, bridges, flyovers and lastly walking for more than 2kms. I am really tired and just one glance would really enable me to forget this whole lovely journey that I have undertaken with these light bags in comparison to a heavy heart that has waited for long.
She: I am there. Don’t do anything crazy guy.
AND THAT ONE LOOK WAS ALL IT TOOK TO MAKE ME FORGET ALL THE SWEAT AND PAIN I HAD.
Regards
Yours RAJ…
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