"So, how many times have you visited Mumbai before?", I asked while we travelling in the Mumbai local train- the bloodline of the city. "I always come here.Andy is one of the reason to be in Mumbai. It's always fun to hang out with her and few of our school friends.",he said.
"oh. So you are still in touch with your school friends. That's really great. No one now a days has such kind of friendships.",I spoke and forced a smile. My heart ached a bit on hearing about his friendship with school friends. Because, when I was in school I never really had much friends. To be honest, there was only one girl whom I considered as my friend. That friendship too didn't last long than I imagined. I still laugh at those childish promises that we made when we were teens. After that it's only Andy and some casual colleagues I hang out with once in a while. "What work do you do?""I am a curator actually. I studied museology from London. Worked there for few years and then moved back to India. ",He spoke, passion for his field visible in his eyes. "Thats quite interesting. So are you here for a vacation or for some work purpose? And you told you had came here many times before then why were you asking Andy to show you the city?", I spoke with suspicion in my tone.
"Most of the time it's because of the work. So, when I'm working I don't get enough time to make it around the city. I work almost all day and then get back to my hotel. Next day I repeat the same. So I don't actually know this city well, I'm just aware about the transportation required to get to my workplace, nearby shops and Juhu beach. That's all",He spoke ending his sentence with a sigh. "You are right, you don't know anything yet. Anyway, it's our station.",I said and we both got off the train. "This the famous Churchgate station, right?", he asked amused. "Yeah it is. Now, I'll take you to a café and you can wait for me there. I'll just get some work done."
"What do you do for living? ""Don't you think you must have asked me this question right after I asked you the same. Usually that's how people converse, right? Either they ask about you after you have or else they just forget about it.", I spoke. "Can't you just tell me ? Atleast I didn't forget.",he points out. He is right though. "I am an architect. Completed my bachelor's degree in India and master's in England.", I spoke with no such passion in my voice for my work like him. Lately I have started hating it. "Good. So you like buildings and structures. Do you enjoy your work?", He spoke in his calm tone. We were walking out of the station when we were having this conversation and I just wanted us to stop in the middle of it and watch him talk. I have started developing a liking towards the way he talks and explains.
I do praise his voice and the way he talks but I didn't wanted to answer his question. After a few seconds spoke and gave him a truthful answer,"Lately, I am just hating it. I am not able to find the joy in my work. I do used to enjoy it, but I don't why I don't now..", I trailed off. I hope he understood that I was not interested to talk about my job at the moment and he must not ask further questions regarding it.
But Veer being Veer, he asked me,"Haven't you tried to find out the reason?"I didn't knew what to say but chose go with honesty. "Umm.. no, I haven't." I looked up at him after answering his question and he seemed to think of another. So just before he asks me anything I said, "Here's the café. You wait here, order what you want, I'll be right back."I left just after saying this.
