The Story of Us

Building a Connection

Raj's thoughts were consumed by Priya, and he couldn't help but relive their train conversation and the connection they were nurturing. The world seemed a bit brighter, and even his daily routine felt different. He had a sense of anticipation about calling Priya in the evening.The days following their initial conversations were not like the ones Raj had experienced before. He was someone who valued people over money and fame, and Priya had brought a new dimension to his life. Back at the office, he was pulled into numerous meetings and found himself engrossed in work. The evening he had planned to talk to Priya was unexpectedly overtaken by production issues, and he couldn't leave the office early. By the time he was done, it was already 11.

Meanwhile, Priya had wrapped up her work by 5 PM, just as she did every day. She returned to her hostel, refreshed, had her coffee, watched TV, ate dinner, and spoke to her parents. But as she settled into bed, her thoughts wandered to Raj, and she wondered why he hadn't called. The idea of his call had settled in her mind, and she felt a sense of anticipation that was new and somewhat puzzling.As Priya laid in bed, she decided to sleep, though her heart held the question of why Raj hadn't called. Raj, too, was disappointed that he couldn't connect with her. He went to sleep with a heavy heart.

The following morning, he was awake early, his eagerness to talk to Priya propelling him. Priya, sticking to her usual schedule, got ready and left for work on the train at 8:30. Raj had carefully timed his call to coincide with her commute.When the call came in, Priya smiled and picked up, her voice bright. "Hey, Raj!""Hey," Raj greeted her warmly. "Hope your day went well yesterday?"Priya responded positively, asking in return, "Yes, and yours?"Raj explained the challenges that had prevented him from calling the night before, sharing, "I was thinking of calling you yesterday night."Priya listened attentively, curious about his work. "Oh really, so you work that late?"Raj admitted, "Yes, at times it happens, not all the time."Their conversation flowed naturally, moving to the topic of work hours. Priya shared her own experiences, "For me, it could happen during year-end, but I haven't experienced it yet. I need to know how it goes and how late I need to stay."Raj, ever the helpful one, inquired, "So, will your company arrange transportation for you?"Priya replied with a hint of uncertainty, "I don't think so. My team members mostly use their own vehicles for work, but I'm yet to plan how to go."Raj saw an opportunity to offer assistance when the time came, "I understand, especially since it's your first time. The process could be different."As the conversation lightened, Raj asked, "So, what do you usually have for breakfast?"Priya sighed, lamenting the food in the mess, "The food in the mess is not that great. I usually just have some coffee to start the day. The company provides a nice lunch, so I eat there. Dinner is kinda not that great either, but I make do with whatever's available."Raj, with a sense of gratitude, shared his own situation, "We used to eat out for all three meals, but it wasn't a healthy option. So, we decided to have a cook. Now, akka buys the vegetables and does the cooking."Priya inquired with curiosity, "You're lucky! Does she cook well?"Raj replied, "Yes, she's a good cook, and we don't even have to give her a menu. She decides and cooks really well."Priya couldn't help but express her desire for such a setup, "I'd love to have someone like that. But I do enjoy the hostel. It's a very nice and neat place. It's less crowded, and I prefer that."Raj, interested in learning more about her, asked, "What's the name of the hostel, if you don't mind me asking?"Priya willingly shared, "I stay in SRS Women's Hostel."Raj was pleasantly surprised and continued the conversation, "Oh, you said it's close to the station, right?"Priya confirmed, "Yes."

They spoke for a few more minutes, growing more comfortable with each other. Raj hardly noticed the time, and it was only when Priya mentioned that she needed to get off the train that he realized how quickly the minutes had passed. He ended the call with a promise, "Talk to you in the evening."

Priya responded with a warm "Sure, talk to you. Bye!" as she disembarked from the train.Their connection was deepening, and a sense of familiarity was settling in. The rapport between Raj and Priya was becoming stronger, and their conversations were now a cherished part of their daily routines. The story seemed to be taking on a life of its own, steering the two of them toward an unknown destination, filled with possibilities.