12
I was thinking of my last conversation with Preeti.
“So? Finally you are coming tomorrow”, Preeti couldn’t hide the joy in her voice
“Yes, finally. I have a flight at 10.30am, I will reach somewhere between 12.45-1”, I said
“So how are you coming from Airport?” She asked me
“My company already have booked a cab for me from airport to home”, I informed
“Then cancel it”, she said
“Cancel what?”, confused I said
“The Cab stupid”, She said
“Why? And how will I come home then?. Airport is at-least 30kms away from the city. Auto-rikshaws are not affordable”, I was still not getting why she want me to cancel the A/C cab
“Because I’m saying so. Tomorrow, you will have a royal pick-up and drop service.”, I heard her giggling
“Like what?”, I was curious to know what royal thing will it be?
“Well, Princess Preeti herself will be there at the airport to pick you with her royal vehicle TVS Scooty”, she continued to giggle
“Are you mad?”, I asked, “With my big stroller how do you think we will fit in that poor scooty?”
“That I don’t know. I want to be the first person to meet you and that’s what I care about.”, she said
“Are baba, but it’s a noon time, why do you want to travel?”, I was worried about her actually.
“Aye!, bak-bak band kar, you are on the phone, otherwise I know how to shut your mouth”, she said
“Really? And how will you do that?”, I asked her
I could feel her blushing
She kept quiet for a while and then changing topic she said, “I have got a new set of bangles and a bindi and new sandles and earings..” her list was endless
“For what?”
“For my prince charming is coming home”, she said
“Preetu.. I was away just for 2 weeks”, I said
“For you it was just two weeks. Do you have any idea how much I suffered here without you?” a fake anger tone in her voice
“Ok baba, I am sorry, chalo give me a kiss before we cut the phone”, I said convincing her
“No, I won’t”, she said
“Pleasee…”
“No”
“I won’t cut the line unless you send me one across” I said
“NO I won’t. Spare it till you are here” and she kept the receiver down.
I was thinking all this to myself, and smiling.
My destination was approaching and I was already feeling good. I was feeling the love everywhere. I could see it on the back of the seats, I could see it on the wings of the plane, I could see it written on the clouds and along the breeze.
I was feeling romantic and because of that, my love towards Preetu was growing more.
I started feeling impatient just then captain announced that the plane landing process will start in 10 minutes.
I hurriedly crossed the baggage section and went into the corridor. You could spot her from a distance. She was looking gorgeous, far better than the plastic coated air-hostesses from the plane. She was wearing a full sleeves white salwar kameez with a pale pink dupatta around. Her dress was tightly wrapped around her body highlighting her perfect figure. At-least half a dozen bangles in each hand, glittering silver color sandals. But the best thing was her ever-lasting million dollar smile.
With both her hands engaged in playing around with the end of her dupatta, she was looking anxiously at the exit.
I felt back to life again.
Once I was out, she came running towards me.
I smiled back. “Kaisa hain mera dost?”, I asked
“Chee.. what kind of hindi you are talking?”, she said
“Why? what happened?”
“You should use feminine words right? You should say kaisi hain meri dost?”
“So what’s wrong in that if I don’t say it that way?”
“Okay, whatever you say”, she said and took away stroller from my hand and started walking.
“What? I can take care of my luggage”, I said
“No need, I will keep the bag away from you now. She was already with you since last two weeks and I was not”, furiously she said
“Don’t tell me, you are jealous of my poor little bag”, I said smiling
“I’m. Do whatever you can”, she kept moving towards the parking
I wrapped my hands around her waist and pulled her close to me.
“Hello.. Mr… you are back to your home-town. And if you must know, this is a public place”, she said escaping away from me.
“Is it? Well then please take me to some private place, I am starving” Pulling her cheek I said
“I know what kind of starving you have. I am not taking you anywhere. We will just go to hotel and eat. Then you will go home and take rest. You are looking tired. We will meet in the evening”, she already had decided, so there was no question of me interfering.
It was a fun to ride along on a scooty with a big travel bag. I had to try hard to balance the bag between. We had to stop occasionally for me to get down and relax the twisted muscles. But with my love aside, there was no pain at all.
We stopped at a hotel to have our lunch. While Preeti ordered, I went to washroom to clear my sweating face.
“I really missed you shonu!!”, Preeti said sadly, “Please don’t ever leave me for so long”
Girls always have some crazy names for their boy-friends. Without much of a fuss, I was named shonu today. I thanked god for a decent name than pappu, babloo, pintu or chintu.
We sat silently for long time, not sure what to talk. There were so many things to say, but heart was overfilled with joy of seeing each other after a long time, that we couldn’t speak.
After-a-while, she said, “Say something na”
So many sad, alone memories that I was filled with were gone now. I remembered something. I took out my mp3 player from my bag, scrolled through the play list and played a song that I had decided I’ll play for Preeti
“Listen to this sweetheart. The lyrics is exactly what I wanted to tell you”.
We put the headphone plugs in and listened it together.
These were the lyrical of the song
I like the feel of your name on my lips
And I like the sound of your sweet gentle kiss
The way that your fingers run through my hair
And how your scent lingers even when you're not there
And I like the way your eyes dance when you laugh
And how you've convinced me to dance in the rain
With everyone watching like we were insane
But I love the way you love me
Strong and wild, slow and easy
Heart and soul so completely
I love the way you love me
And you roll your eyes when I'm slightly off key
And I like the innocent way that you cry
At sappy old movies you've seen thousands of times
And I could list a million things
I love to like about you
But they could all come down to one reason
I could never live without you..
I could see the wetness in her eyes. She took out a pen from her purse and pulled my palm in front of her. Then she drew two hearts clanged to each other and beside those two hearts she wrote –
“I WANT TO SPEND MY LIFE TIME LOVING YOU..”
Now it was my turn to have wet eyes.
