Saturday, March 21, 2009

Her Smile was His Big Plan

It was really soon she started to talk to me that I didn't realize that we saw each other just a minute ago.

She was wearing black tea shirt.It suits her color.Created a contrast. A long sparkling bindi, it kinda made everything on that pretty face look sharp.

I don't mind talking to all day long.

how is the recession's effect on your company?

What? I was just gazing in those deep eyes. They are so bright. I can see a trillion stars.

recession looks OK?

I am sorry? What’s that? I asked again. May be she understood that I am just lost in her pretty eyes.

I couldn't take my eyes away from hers.

But she could. She was quick to look away outside through the window.

That kinda was like throwing water on my face, to wake me up. I woke up.I am wide awake now.

You were asking? i asked politely.

Ya, Recession?

oh yes! its there! everywhere.They are laying off people. The management.

Oh really? Your company too? Which company you work for?

ya in mine too. I work for this company, showed my ID card to her.

She held the card. Looked at it longer than a normal acknowledging look. I was little surprised.

I slowly panned my gaze to her seat and quickly regained my position. She is wearing a black pants, black suits her. I think its the best color on her.

How can I decide? The only color I ever saw her in is black.

How is that i never met her before? Does she take this bus everyday? I should ask.

so where do you live?

what? I didnt hear that clearly. I am not thinking straight.

Where are you getting down? she asked again.

wow! she asked first!

ECC Road, Whitefield! I told her with all the excitement.

I know, it’s my turn now. and you? I asked in the same breath.

hope farms. She said.

Crap! so she will get down before me. At least, I will get to talk to her till then. I wanted to tell driver to drive as slow as possible.May be if he wants he can even take a break. Let him just park the bus somewhere.

I wish!

She’s so bright. It should have been a great day to her at office today. How can a person be so bright and shining during this late hour? How great she will be on a sunshine morning. God, will you let see that too?

I am not drooling yet. but almost there.

Oh God, I can’t take my gaze away.Well its better to use the word gaze to stare. Stare appears as obvious sleazy.

Drop dead gorgeous to my standards. Ya, way outta my league? But who cares? We all believe in lottery, don’t we?

I can’t be staring at her, oops i mean gazing at her, without talking to her something.

so how was your day? “ I asked.

“It was hmm, (she smiled, trillion dollar smile, the best moment so far)…well… OK. As expected. No miracles. She said with shaking her head a little and turning her head to the opposite side window.

Damn it! what did I do? Could I not ask her something else? What will make her turn this side again?

so how was your day? she turned around and asked!

Is this my lucky day? oh god! you so merciful.

my day? its great. (read never been this great).

Sensing her stop is just another couple of minutes away I asked, “do you take this bus everyday?

now my gaze turned to a curious introspection.

“Have been mostly.She said.

Lady I need a definite answer. I have to do some rescheduling to my office timings to match yours. Do I have to tell you all this? Cant you just read my mind?

Read my mind.Read my mind. God! be merciful again.

This bus is very comfortable. the timing too. may be I will try catching this bus now on everyday.

Ya. do that she said.

So she liked my company? that means she did right? whom to ask now?

"Ya. definitely. Will try to catch up with you in the bus every evening. Will say hi, hello you see".

Oh god! how could I do that? I think I just couldn't control.

"Not sure". She said. May be we will meet somewhere else like this unexpected.

Unexpected? Lady, God has plans for everyone of us. This was his master plan for me. Can she read this too from my mind?

She looked again to the other side. Started gearing up for her decent.

It’s almost her stop.

She is not turning around again. God, I cant take this. I wanna see those eyes.

Gotta ask her something. Make her talk, that way she will turn around, and I can jump back in that deep eyes again. And hit the trance mode again.

hmmmmm, What to ask???? hmm, mmm, (hoping my humming will make her turn around

again)

so how is recession thing hitting your company? anything serious?” I asked.

she didn't hear?

she didn't turn yet. or spoke anything.

I meant the recession, any effect on your company or projects?

she turned! oh,thank you god! time to jump back in.

"hmm, ya. it did affect. my company is a small company

you see."

"many lost job".

"our project was the last one affected so far."The number of stars in her eyes kinda dropped sizable.

She looked down for a second. Looked back at me.

"its my last day at job today.Yesterday my manager told me that I have been laid off. Management cant support this many people it seems.

Well they gave me just a day to pack up. Will have to look for another job now. As its

recession, you know right, its so tough now"

I am sorry. whats that? I couldn't believe my ears.

I think I didn't hear correctly.how can someone lay her off?

Wont I get to see her again?

She got up. Its her stop.

nice meeting you, she said.

What? I still cant hear things clear.

so many things in my mind.

she smiled. ah! those stars. they are back again.

Its clearer now. But she is moving away.

Bus stopped. She got down.

I waved at her. bye.

She waved back.Still smiling. That killer smile. On such a bad day.

I couldnt take my eyes off her. She is walking. Bus is catching up speed. I can’t see her anymorewhat was she saying? It can’t be true!

Come on!

She was so bright

How could she be so strong? Who was she?

I didnt even ask her name.

Get up!!! Request the driver to stop the bus. And Walk her home.

I didnt do anything.Sat there on the seat.

Glued. Couldnt move a bit.

Her bright eyes. Her shining face is still in my eyes.

How will she look on any other day? she must be a goddess on other days.

She was one today too. On one such a bad day she looked so graceful.

I looked out the window.A board by the road said "ECC ROAD"

Bus is moving again.

Will she get a job again near my office? Will I get to see her in this bus again? God, what a miss this long.

Started feeling terrible for her.

But I hope that what you have for her is something great too. A better job. A better boss.

But get her the job near my office only please. I will take this bus everyday.

I am hoping to see her again very soon. I wanna know her name too. You have to give me one more chance to her too.

With a job.

Last Stop!! Conductor screamed.

What?? Is he drunk? how can that be? my stop is much

before last stop.

I looked out with disbelief. Some place.

Pulled myself up in a whisker,hurried up to the driver and

asked, "Sir, ECC Road ? "

"Were you been sleeping??? It was two stops behind. Get down here, cross the road, take any bus plying on the opposite side. "

“Oh! I am sorry Sir. I dint realize.

May be he is right. I must have been sleeping. And all that happened was just a dream.

I got down, crossed the road, hopped on to the first bus

plying to ECC Road. Got home safe.

But many things changed now.

How can people be so strong. This strong?

God this was your master plan for me? why you do this to me?

While trying to open the gate to home,my ID card fell down from my hand. Looking at it being there on the floor, jitter ed me.

Within no time I picked it up. Held it firm.

I know God, I appreciate what I have. Now more than ever before.

I understood your master plan now.

Thank you God.

19 comments:

Vsvj said...

Now I feel sad reading this. This is the third comment i'm typing in.. Dont have words to express my feeling. Hope she gets a job soon.

Jayashree and Just Jay said...

Hmmmmm... at beginning it was a romantic triller and at the end tragedy... Nice narration..Keep it up!

Cheers,
Jayashree

Ps: Welcome back.

work_of_fiction? said...

Thanks for the comments, the story is fictitious. But quite relevant to current times.

Unknown said...

started as a perfect suspense story and i love the ending you gave, very realistic. perfect narration too.

Rakesh Vijay said...

i didnt read all part of it..but i think i knw wht u gettin at/..even i had the same experience..i was on a bus..i fell asleep and went far away frm my stop.thn i suddnly woke up ,slapped myslf ,got off the bus and walked away,.,,look bro this how u shud finish a simple stry... lol..i made tht up too...but i dont get tht much time to ellbrte this stuff.

i jus want to tell u bro ,u need some sleep...i hope u still takin tht pill for ur mild so called headaches(psycho attacks ) :) infact the lady in black was ur doctor,a famous psychiatrist ,,i hope u rmbr things now//
yours sincerely
rakesh
keep writing.

work_of_fiction? said...

thanks raku, my brother! i remember everything now!

Kunjootty said...

hmm... nice one... but it didnt seem fictious in the least to me. its something happening to so many ppl now..
and btw, i slept off in the volvo to office last week :-> had to get off in front of the brigade techpark and walk to itpl :-P

work_of_fiction? said...

hee hee, kunjootty! thanks for the comment. well volvo is too comfortable to stay awake ;)

Unknown said...

hey varun.... neatly written and very relevant to current times. Keep writing more!

Dev said...

Imagine waking up to see yourself in city bus stand! aaahhh! :D good you din sleep for too long :)

work_of_fiction? said...

I was never sleeping. the whole scene was sulreal that I asked myself was I sleeping.

Anonymous said...

Hey the way u've framed ..it's amazing, i was almost on a ride with the characters.

* keep writing ' U have a fan to follow you :) Good one !

Unknown said...

Very Nice da. I don't think its your imagination. I think its really happened to you.

Ramit said...

Hey Da..

wanna tell just one thing for this ..

keeps u guessin till the very end !

nice story tellin ...

Madhu said...

very well written!! was thoroughly impressed with the description of her eyes..

Unknown said...

All of us know about the recession, only the ones who lost their jobs felt its heat. Your story made me realise how lucky I have been till today. You are a good story teller, why dont you try writing a book?

work_of_fiction? said...

Thanks for the comment Kalpana. Book?? wow! I am still in the learning phase.

Archana said...

Wow... nicely written... u better write a book soon... :)

Sowmya said...

Wow... very nice Fictitious Story....
-Fan of your Blogs......