The play of destiny

She called me in the morning and invited me for a late night party of her birthday. I wished her. She was really happy. I found her laughing and giggling on phone. It attracted me more towards her. I thought that this is the only opportunity for me to crack it, reveal it. I decided to say everything on that night.

I was thinking about her the whole day. It was a sought of accident when we first met. She was standing near the ladies compartment of the Andheri bound train at CST. She was waiting for her friend. She was standing right in the middle of the station, blocking the path. I was in a hurry since I have to reach Bandra and in any case, didn’t want to miss that train. I had my laptop in one hand and office bag in another and I hurried towards the first class compartment. Suddenly I got a call and in an effort to check it, I bumped into her and almost fell on the station. She fell in another direction. I couldn’t control my temper and shouted, ‘Are you blind? Standing in the middle of the station at this time of rush?’

She said nothing. She was in a sky blue color Salwar Kameez, had let her hair open in the air. She wasn’t very beautiful except for her eyes. I loved them instantly. She took her hand forward to help me get up. Thankfully my laptop was in a good condition, so my anger boiled down. More so, seeing her so calm and apologetic, even though it was my fault for not looking forward and walking, I melted. I realized my mistake. She had got a bruise in her right hand. I said, ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have shouted. It was my mistake of walking hastily. I’m really sorry.’

‘It’s alright. It was my mistake also. Bye.’ Saying so, she hurried in her compartment and took her seat. I saw a tear in her eyes. She was at the window seat and not looking at me. Then I heard the sound of the train and jumped in the second class. That was our first meet. After that day, we always used to somehow meet on the station at the same time of 9.30 pm. She used to smile looking at me and used to return her smile back. Sometimes we used to chat and miss the train. Eventually we exchanged our contact numbers and got in constant touch. I enjoyed her company. Suddenly I felt that I am falling in love with her. I didn’t know what she felt about me. But she considered me as a good friend as she used to share many of her personal things with me. Even on that ‘accident’ day, she was waiting for her friend as her mother was in the hospital and she wanted her friend to accompany her.

This went on for few months. I knew that I loved her. But I decided not to convey it directly to her. Her birthday was approaching and I thought this is the time for me to say it out.

I left work early and as a typical guy in love, roamed the streets of CST to find some gift for her. Also some fresh roses. I was in jubilant mood. Finally, I was going to propose her. My heart beats were increasing. I started moving towards the railway station when I heard the sounds of firing. I couldn’t understand where the sounds were coming from. But in a few seconds, I found people rushing for their lives out of CST station. I learned that there are some terrorists inside the station. Police took the charge of the surroundings. Police vans came one after another. People were rushing here and there. I thought of her, phoned her a number of times, but she didn’t pick it. I dropped the gifts and roses there and started running towards the station. But the police didn’t let me go inside. I was screaming for her. But nobody let me go inside. I waited there for the next few hours and finally when the station was evacuated from the terrorists and the dead-bodies of the people were brought out, I recognized one of them. It was her. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My heart broke and that sight benumbed my mind. I burst out in tears. She was my first love and probably the closet friend. The destiny had played its part. I couldn’t do anything. Except keep on grieving and thinking about that beautiful time in my life I had with her.