It is very strange that how a person becomes cynic over the time. Winters were always so special for me and trains running late never irritated me. Today, however, it was so difficult killing even a second in this cold night. Train was running exactly two hours late and I could do nothing other than cursing the ministry and its officials.
The night was getting colder and darker with each passing moment. The platform looked deserted. Already very few people were travelling in this train and most of them had moved inside the station to save themselves from the bitter cold. Only a handful of people could be seen on the platform other than the vendors.
I was sitting on a solitary bench in a far corner of the platform. I had been sitting there for last 1 hour or so. But now it was getting difficult as wind had gained speed and I could feel its sharpness. Finally I decided to move from there to some other lonely but warmer place. I picked up my luggage and walked towards the plat form.
This is my hometown but I hated returning to it. In the past one year I had made only a couple of visits here. I had barely spent 3 days here on my latest visit and now I was returning to my workplace. I had even forbidden my parents to come to the station. I didn’t want anybody to know that I was here.
My eyes suddenly fell on the biscuit packet on one of the vendor’s trailers. All this while I had forgotten that I had left for the station without eating anything at home. As I bought the packet and began eating, my eyes fell on a girl sitting alone on a bench just a few meters away. She was sitting underneath a tube light and was engaged in a novel. I felt as if I knew her. Then as she adjusted her glasses a bit, I recognized her.
Priyanka was my classmate in the college. She was a very bold and arrogant girl with a lot of attitude. In the three years of college, she had a numerous altercations with the students as well as the faculty. Very few people liked her. After graduation she had moved to Mumbai for job. She didn’t have glasses then though, nor were her hairs so long. I didn’t expect to see her here in these odd hours waiting for train.
There was still an hour before train would enter the platform. It was really getting tough for me to kill this time. I thought it would be better if I spend this time talking with Priyanka. It won’t do any harm. I folded the packet and moved towards her bench.
She was startled a bit when I called her name. Even she wouldn’t have expected me there in such odd hours.
“Sid. Wow! What a pleasant surprise. I didn’t expect to see u again after so many years here, at the railway station.”
“Yeah. Even I didn’t. May I sit here?”
“Sure. Please have a seat.” She shifted her luggage a bit and I sat there.
Now I gave a close look to her face. To my amazement she looked pretty, in her glasses and long hair. Her face wasn’t showing that ‘me-I only’ attitude but was flashing a beautiful smile.
“How’s you?” she asked smiling.” What are you doing these days? And how’s Radhika?”
“Well, she’s fine. Very fine indeed.” I replied
“It was always so good to hear about you folks. You two were perfect. Radhika is such a lovely girl. You will always be happy.”
I was surprised. Priyanka and Radhika were always at the loggerheads in the college. I don’t remember how many times they would have argued with each other. There was only one person who would pacify them, my best friend, Rajan.
“When you two are getting married? Any plans soon or already did? Don’t forget to call me. And where is Rajan these days? What is he doing?”
“Yeah I will surely invite you.” I said quickly."Enough about me. Now let’s talk something about you. I thought you had moved to Mumbai…”
And then we kept on chatting for more than 2 hours. I never looked towards my watch during this whole time. I couldn’t just believe that I was talking to same Priyanka whom I resented so much in the college. She had transformed totally. Now here was a new Priyanka who talked sensibly, who actually laughed and who hadn’t uttered a single word against any one person we talked about. Even I felt so much comfortable talking to her, though we had very few chats during college life. It was only when the announcer announced about the arrival of the train did we break the chain of our talks.
“It was so good talking with you Priyanka. I really had a very good time. I never expected it.”
“Tell me one thing Sid. What has happened to you? Why did you lie to me?”
I was startled. Did she know something, or rather everything?
"I .. the train has arrived .. I am getting late ..."
"It won't leave the platform for next 20 minutes, Sid. Don't dodge my question? Why have you been lying to me all this while?"
I tried to say something but words barely escaped my mouth. It was an awkward situation. I was getting torn between two choices - telling her the truth or try to force my lies. She watched me struggling with my thoughts for few seconds and then spoke up.
“I had seen you long before you saw me Sid; when I had entered the platform. I couldn’t understand why did you go and sit in the farthest corner of the station, far from any person. You loved being with the people, making new friends whenever you got a chance. That’s why I sat at this bench because I knew that eventually you would pass from here and after seeing me here would stop. Then when you begin to talk, I could clearly see that you were lying. Is everything right between you and Radhika?”
I took a deep breath. She had clearly seen through me; lying was of no use now “Nothing went right after college. Everything fell apart. I tried a lot but couldn’t do anything.” I said shaking my head.
“And that’s what you have done to yourself? Do you remember a Priyanka who used to get into trouble with every person, who was always so arrogant and selfish, someone whom everyone hated? Look at me now. Is there a even a slightest trace of Priyanka left in me? Who brought this change into me? You did. I always wanted to be like you. A person whom everyone loved and adored. A person full of life rather than hatred and frustration. A person who didn’t find fault in everything but who appreciated even the small things of life. I ... I liked you but I was jealous with you and Radhika at the same time. You people were together and had everything I wanted to have....ever."
To say that I was surprised would be an understatement. Someone who had spent whole 4 years with this girl in the class would understand my state of mind at that moment.
She continued like she hadn't spoken in years. "Then college ended and for the first time I faced the hardships of life away from the home. My nature always produced hurdles in my life and then one day I thought about you and decided to change myself. Look at me now. Whatever I’m today is because of you.”
I didn’t say anything. She paused for a second and then continued.
“I don’t blame you or even Radhika. Sometimes the relations just don’t work out. But it looks like you are blaming the whole world for everything wrong that has happened with you. I don’t know but I feel like you have moved away from the social life of yours, your friends and may be your parents. I don’t know this pessimistic, cynic Sid. I always knew one Sid and he was always cheerful, happy and ready to mingle. I don’t want to give any speech. But look at me. If you can bring change in me without even knowing it why can’t you change yourself…?”
Priyanka was interrupted by the shrill voice of the announcer. Her train too had finally arrived. She took a deep breath and said "It was so nice catching up with you after so many years. I always wanted to do so, but the memories of the dreadful Priyanka always stopped me. Good bye Sid."
She didn’t say anything more but picked up her luggage and soon disappeared in the crowd moving towards the train. I too stood up. Train was about to leave and I couldn’t afford to miss it.
THREE MONTHS LATER
I had returned home after three months. It was February and the morning breeze seemed so nice. My parents didn’t know that I was coming and I wanted to give them a surprise. I had just moved out of station when I found myself face to face with Rajan, once my best friend, and his wife.
There was a silence initially as our eyes met. No body moved. Then I smiled and threw myself on to surprised Rajan. We had hugged each other after such a long time that we stood like that for many seconds. When I moved away, I could see a small tear in his eye.
“It has been such a long time.” He said
“Well, I’m back” picking up my luggage I quoted a dialogue from my favorite movie.
“It is so good to see you back, Sid”
I looked at Radhika. Two tears had rolled down her eyes. I was seeing her for the first time after that altercation which had ended our relationship decisively.
“Thank you.” She said
“Don’t thank me.” I answered smiling. “Reserve this thanks for someone else.”
