Roz Shaam | A Short Story

Mumbai is a city that can make you fall in love anywhere. Kya Local train, Kya Bus Stop. So here's a short story that i penned at 6 in the morning today. I hope you enjoy it just as much as i did while putting it together.
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As the clock tick-tocked its way to 6:10pm, Ayaan scurried his way through the narrow office corridors. However boring his day may have been, evenings were something he had grown to look forward to in the last 4 weeks. He hopped, jumped and squeezed himself through the wave of people walking around and reached his bike in the parking. Ayaan had to reach the bus stop 1 km from his office by 6:30pm ANYHOW.

6:30pm to 6:50pm, were the only 20 minutes he lived for – every single day. He was always left in absolute awe. At exactly 6:26pm, he reached his regular designated spot, near the bus stop. He parked his bike and sat comfortably, but impatiently. The sudden drizzle made him realize that in a hurry to leave from work on time, he left his rain-coat back in the drawer. Anyway, he had his eyes glued to the 1 vacant seat at the bus stop. The light rain wasn’t bothering him today.

It was 6:40pm now, and his heartbeat raced and sank at the time. Biting his lips and checking his watch, Ayaan took a few steps towards the bus stop, when he spotted the very familiar pastel blue colour umbrella.

Making her way through the motionless crowd, pulling up her saree a tad bit to avoid splashes, was her. Suhana looked drop dead gorgeous in the red blouse and grey cotton saree. With her hair open, a small black bindi placed perfectly between her brows, the drizzle had made her saree damp.

Her deep neckline was covered partially with the loose end of her Pallu. Ayaan’s eyes caught the sight of a few droplets that were inching their way from her chin towards the blouse. Standing less than a 100 meters away from her, Ayaan could have looked at her like this, forever.

Suhana occupied the only vacant seat, kept her umbrella on the side and tied her hair in a high, messy bun. The breeze was blowing much strongly now, making it difficult for her to keep the saree together. Suhana quickly forced a loose hair strand behind her ear and adjusted her pallu. Her eyes seemed to be looking for someone. Making short glances to the right and then left, Suhana recognized the familiar Yamaha bike.

“Kahan ho…” wondered Suhana.

 She craned her neck a little more, hoping for a better view, but to no avail. The bus was to arrive in less than 10 minutes now. People had forced themselves in the tiny shade this bus stop provided. So everyone was standing a little too close to each other. Someone rubbed past her shoulder, making Suhana turn around. And there he was.

Standing so very close to her, looking into her eye, probably breathing the same air, was Ayaan. Suhana blushed, clumsily got up and tried her best to contain her excitement. Ayaan too, continued smiling and blushing.

Wo kehte hain na…

“Yu toh tairne me maahir hain hum gehre samandar mei… 

Par aksar doob jate hain teri aakhoi k pyalo me”

Ayaan had decided he would finally talk to her today. Aakhoi hi Aakhoi me kaafi baatei Karli thy.

“Hello...” whispered Ayaan.

“Hello…” replied Suhana.

“Aaj Der hogai apko?” attempted Ayaan, hoping to start a conversation. ANY conversation.

Suhana was no more looking at him. She looked away, smiled and replied, “Ji”.

The awkward silence continued for a few more minutes - Knowing and not knowing what to say next.  Ayaan finally decided to pop the question he had been practicing every waking hour. He was in fact reciting it in his head all this time. “Kya aap mere sath Coffee pine chalengi?”

Now was the time. This was the moment. So Ayaan took a long deep breath in, relaxed a little bit and repeated the same in his head. Again. Just to be sure before he blurts it out of his mouth.

“Um….. Kya Aap…” started off Ayaan

“Mera matlab hai… kya aap…” cleared his throat.

Before he could attempt for the 3^rd time, the bus came honking and caught him off guard.

Suhana looked at the bus, and then at him. With a twinkle in her eyes, Suhana replied, “Kal Chalte hain. CCD, Shaam 7 baje?”

Ayaan had no clue if he had actually managed to complete the sentence or if Suhana had read his mind. He was left dumb-struck and pleased, all at the same time. Ayaan just nodded in reply to Suhana and she immediately got inside the bus.

This “Bus stop wala Pyaar” had finally taken the next step. With a million permutation combinations playing in his head, & a heart that was no-more his own, Ayaan kick-started the Yamaha.