1
It's around 5 am in the morning on Assi ghat of Banaras. Last day of my Banaras trip.
'This is awestruck' I whispered, knowing that I am standing alone, watching the sun poured through the Ganges. Another day had dawned, bringing with it new hopes and aspirations.
Now the ghat started to accommodate people, it became the most peaceful and chaotic place at the same time. Some people are doing their prayers, some are like me just absorbing all the peace within.
In all the chaos a voice took my attention, two average height girls standing next to me trying to get their best shot of sunrise.
'Bee! Your hairs are looking messier in the picture'. One girl said.
'As if I care, Ishita!!'. Bee shouts and shocks her head carefree.
Bee. Yup that's the name, might be initials, but trouble for me, I guess.
Morning breeze and her head movement made her hair waive. She is wearing the brightest smile with a dark green kurta. So defined face with big curious eyes. Eyes that want to capture every place of the earth. Wheatish complexion, slim body structure.
Although I had never been into slim girls earlier, she was different.
Most beautiful girl I have ever seen. And the mole, how one can forget about that. It is below the left collar bone. It seems like God made the prettiest girl and put that mole intentionally as "kala tikka" so that she can't get affected by Nazar of people like me.
I was so lost in watching bee being bee that I completely forgot I came to ghat to watch the sunrise. It is ghat or Bee, don't know but I was on my utmost happy emotions.
'Can you ask someone to take our pictures? Ishita said.
As she said that, I started to look elsewhere. Don't want to look like some stalker. Well Bee already noticed me staring at her, so I can't help.
'You are good only at staring girls or in photography too ? ' she abruptly said while looking at me.
'What? Me' I replied. Took the phone with my embarrassed eyes and clicked a few pictures of them.
While taking pictures I put out my phone and clicked one photo of Bee with that.
Bee already said that I am good at making girls uncomfortable. So I am just doing what I am good at.
After the 8 or 10 photos she took her phone, grabbed her friend's hand and moved towards the exit of the ghat.
' That's rude! I deserve a thank you at least ' I said on their back.
'But you got something you don't deserve.' She replied without turning back.
'What?' I asked.
'My photo in your phone' she replied and mind her walk.
Shit! What a creep I am, she again noticed me taking her pictures from my phone.
As soon as she disappeared from my eyes there was only unsync noise from people, river, and sun which is now irritating me. I lost my peace with her.
Before coming to Assi Ghat I read about the place. It is found where Ganges meet Assi river. This ghat is known for meeting two rivers but now for me this ghat is all about meeting her.
2
After attending the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat I was heading back to the bus stand thinking about Bee on my way back. My phone battery was dead in making videos for some aesthetic reel and searching Bee on any social media whole day.
I was wearing a grey lakhnavi work kurta, white pants and flats, walking in the narrow streets of Banaras.
Simple, slow and steady life isn't that bad afterall. We in sparkling cities with fake goals and achievements work our ass off just to get big pay cheques just for peaceful weekends. Peace is not that expensive. Everyone must visit Banaras once in their lifetime.
Streets become less crowded as I was going away to the ghat. My plan was to ask locals the way to the bus stand, but now I have reached the point where I can not see a single human. Only empty tangled streets. Yes I am lost in the city, but this time it is not giving me anxiety or rush. City taught me to live slow.
From the back of the street I heard someone is coming, A girl maybe as the footsteps are of block heels. Sound of footsteps is getting more and more vivid with every second. It seems such a long wait to me as I am getting more curious about her.
What a coincidence!! It's Bee, I saw her as she came close to me. Peach Satin saree, any girl can look pretty in that, but she was looking prettiest. She was so busy with her phone's map that she hadn't even noticed and crossed me.
'You are good only in following boys or in helping them too ?' I passed the comment. She took a pause from the phone, looked up at me and made the coldest face ever.
'Actually I lost my way to the Bus Stand, and my phone is dead too.' I said with a silly face to overcome her cold look. ' Where are you heading too?'
'To my hotel.' she replied.
'Can I accompany you on your walk to the bus stop?' I asked.
' I am not looking for any company' She replied with a firm voice and walked.
She stopped after five steps, turned and said 'Okay! but just because the bus stand is in my way and you need the help'.
She changed her Google Maps location to the bus stand.
I smiled and joined her.
'Where is your friend?' I initiated.
'She is not much of a travel enthusiast and joined this trip just because of me. And I can't miss evening aarti, so I came alone'.
'Nice, btw I am Tahir.' I said
'I am ..' she said while checking the map.
' Bee ' I cut her sentence because of excitement.
'Oh! The stalker knows my name too'. she said suspiciously.
'No No I just heard from your friend in the morning, and Bee is not any usual name to forget'.
'Actually Bee is my initials not name, but now if you know my initials then it's not important to know the name'. She said
Ahh what a mistake I made. If I hadn't cut the sentence she was about to say her name.
'Why don't you do solo trips, if your friend is not into traveling' I changed the topic.
' It's not that easy from the place where I belong '. She said,
' My parents don't even know about this trip, they are strict. And I was teached to be in limits and stay low from childhood, but that's not what I want '
While she was saying all this, I could see the sparkles in her eyes. She is so full of life. I can sense the energy from her.
We talked about everything on that walk, the more I talked to her the more I fell for her.
Her talks are cute, she gives a wide-eyed look while talking which is very pretty. And she made me so comfortable with her in no time.
She is self obsessed, a little, nothing bad in that. But one thing that hooks me up most is her curious eyes. I want to stay quiet, pause the time, stare at her eyes and read everything her eyes want to tell. But I already stated myself to be a creep and stalker, so not in mood to extend my adjectives anymore, so I continued the walk.
The narrow street opened to the wide choraha. Her phone vibrates with an notification
"Your destination is in right".
And that's it, the end of the walk, the end of the trip, the end of us.
I don't want to let her go, so I murmured in a low voice ' I think I am crushing over you'.
She heard and laughed, ' Tahir, it's just an attraction. It will fade away as soon as you step into a new city'.
I want to tell her that it's not about attraction, it's not about her appearance, it's what's beneath her. It's what she holds in her eyes. This 20 minute walk with her is more worth to me than entire banaras. I want to tell her everything but,
I just smiled and turned to the entrance of the bus stand.
' That's rude! I deserve a thank you at least ' she said on my back.
'But you got something you don't deserve' I replied.
'What?' she asked.
'My peace in your heart.' I replied.
We both laughed and I continued toward Bus stand.
She already said that she wasn't looking for any company. I should have stayed away from her. I know I am very bad at goodbyes. But that's what we learn the hard way. Right?
Thank You Bee.
