Akshita

Chapter 12

Himachal ki thandi hawa ko alvida kehna mushkil tha.. par mummy ne bataya ki mere mama Assam mein bohot bimaar hain.., toh jaana zaroori tha waha.. Subah-subah packing khatam kar ke, hum station pahuche.. Train platform par ek alag hi hustle-bustle chal rahi thi, aur main apne headphones lagakar gaane sunte hue ek alag duniya mein thi.

Train Ka Safar:

Main apni seat par baithi thi, window ke paas. Baahar ka view ekdum dreamy tha—hariyali, chhoti-chhoti gaon ki chhatri jaise ghar, aur unke beech behti nadiaan. Tabhi ek chai wala "Chai, garam chai!" chillata hua aaya. Maine ek garam chai ka cup liya aur window ke bahar dekhte hue sipped kiya. Yeh chai aur yeh safar... bas ekdum perfect lag raha tha!!

Lekin tabhi, meri aankhon ko ek jhatka lga.. Aise laga jaise maine koi familiar face dekha ho. Maine apni chai side mein rakhi aur idhar-udhar dekhne lagi. Aur fir... bam! Wahi shaadi waala ladka!

Mujhe laga shyad main sapna dekh rahi hoon.. Woh mere coach ke dusre kone mein tha, apni family ke saath baitha. Main usse dekh hi rahi thi, aur woh mujhe dekh kar ekdum shock ho gaya.

Aditya (mildly surprised): "Tum? Yahan?"
Main (absolutely clueless): "Tum? Matlab, tum yahan kaise?"
Aditya (hass kar): "Main bhi yeh hi pooch raha hoon."

Dono ek dusre ko awkwardly dekh rahe the. Par samajh aa gaya tha ki hum dono ek hi train mein safar kar rahe hain. Woh apne seat se utha aur toilet ke paas wali jagah par mujhe signal diya ki wahan aao, taki families ki dikkat na ho.

---

Main train ke toilet ke us taraf main wahan gayi, aur woh waha khada hua tha, apne hands pockets mein daale. Ekdum casual yet charming lag raha tha.

Aditya: "Tum Assam kyun ja rahi ho?"
Main: "Mere mama bimaar hain, toh family ke saath unhe dekhne ja rahi hoon..or Tum?"
Aditya: "voh Mere papa ka buisness ka kuch kaam hai wahan, toh unke saath jara hoon."

Hum dono ki Baat aise hi chali, par mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ki itni coincidence ka matlab kya ho sakta hai..? Har baar main is ladke se kaise takra jaati hoon?

Mera dil use baat krne pr ekdam teenage rom-com heroine ke tarah dhadak raha tha.. Lekin tabhi train ne ek sharp turn liya, aur mujhe lagne laga ki main girne hi wali hoon..

Tabhi Maine apne balance ke liye ek handle pakadne ki koshish kar hi rahi thi, par fail ho gayi..or bus girne hi wali thi ke Tabhi Aditya ne mujhe meri kamar se pakad ke sambhala...
Aur tabhi... ekdum filmy moment hua.. Train ke jhatke mein, hamare lips ek dusre se lightly touch ho gaye!!

Thode derr ke aise hi pause ke baad

Main aur Aditya dono ekdum freeze ho gaye the.. Uske chehre par surprise aur sharm dono ek saath the, aur mujhe laga meri toh dhadkan hi ruk gayi ho..

Aditya: "Uh... woh... sorry..
Main (ekdum awkward): "N-nahi... woh... meri galti thi..

Hum Dono ek dusre ko bina aankhon mein dekhe wapas apni-apni seats par chale gaye..fir Main apni seat par baith ke bas window ke bahar dekh rahi thi, aur mann mein sirf ek hi baat thi, "yeh Kya hua abhi?"

---