continued from part 1
After all
it may be once in a lifetime experience.
She
hastily stuffed her book back in her bag and was simply gazing out of
window not towards anything in particular, nor did her look contain
the spark which comes when taking in the scenery of surroundings. She
looked forlorn and indifferent which didn't suit her at all.
I usually
try a lot of vendors in the trains since while traveling alone i get
the freedom of tasting all that were denied to me from my childhood
under the pretext dirty or unhygienic, like Onion Samosa for example.
But not today, I resisted even from the mouth watering sight of tasty
Onion Samosas lest she should tag me a glutton. I distanced
myself away from everything except the coffee which I can't miss come
what may.
After
what seemed like an eternity I cleared my voice (I've no idea why I
did it) I asked ‘Are you ill?’ breaking the deadly silence.
‘I’m
sorry?’
‘I mean
are you feeling alright? You wanna sleep? Should I switch off light
or something?’
‘No its
fine’
‘I’m
sorry but I can’t help noticing that you look so dull and are in
haste and even threw back a book which is very interesting.’
‘I had
a fever till yesterday, aftereffects I guess. Did you just say the
book is interesting? You've read it?’
‘Of
course, I've completed the series.’
‘Yeah
even I’m loving them, but I’m not used to reading in the train’
Having
used android for more than two years now, I put her lot of gyaan
about kindle & fbreader & fora apps. (I'm a gadget freak.)
She eased
a little bit and is conversing more freely.
‘So
till where are you going?’ she enquired.
‘Samalkot,
you?’
‘Rajahmundry.’
And talk
drifted into what we are currently doing, and yes you guessed it
right. Both of us are doing our engineering. The coincidence took a
step ahead and both of us are in our final years.
The
conversation took a good pace when suddenly she got a call and she
began speaking in impeccable Telugu, my mother tongue. Till now our
conversation was going on in Hindi.
‘Okay,
I’ll call u later’ she said to the one on phone while casting an
apologetic look at me (or is it just my feeling?)
My first
reaction, ‘You speak Telugu?’
‘Of
course. I’m born and brought up in Rajahmundry and Amalapuram.’
‘Then
why were you conversing with me in Hindi till now?’
‘Since
you are a Marwadi, are you not.’
‘How
the hell did you guess that?’
‘Kyonki
Hum bhi Marwadi hi (I’m a Marwadi too).’
‘But
how did you deduce that I’m a Marwadi?’
‘That's
very easy, Your Hindi accent, and your skin tone’
People
always commented that my Hindi accent sounds a lot like regulars, but
never did I think that it was so convincing.
At this
juncture I got a phone call. My best friend. I attended it and she
took good number of minutes before ending the call.
‘Your
girlfriend?’
‘A girl
& my friend, not a girl friend.’
‘Seems
like your family is very broadminded for a Marwadi.’
‘I beg
you r pardon.’
‘Not
all Marwadi families go on talking that openly with others
particularly of opposite gender.’
She
explained how she was allowed to
go to the college only if she chose the one where her brother was
doing his Bachelors, and how her freedom has limits while at home etc., I was listening with the raptest of attention
and we palavered thus for some good one hour where she animatedly
explained about her family and about how her sisters never even wore
Jeans when suddenly she becomes dead silent.
I
followed her line of sight and ended up looking at a guy who is
looking down straight into my eyes. He came towards us and made
himself comfortable between us and had a distinct air of authority
around him.
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