"O re piya . . . . ."

I am intrigued by the fact that in a land of people; who have always taken pride in fighting one another for creation of their own separate states based on any damm reason; have been able to place two steel "I" Sections; cutting across borders of every state; at a perfect 5’ 6” distance apart from each other. . . . . 

Yes, it’s one of the gifts given by our British rulers - "The Indian Railways". I have always been fan of the whistling engines with long tail rolling on gigantic Iron network less the smell, the shit and the shitting people. And a recent experience has made me fan of a room on the platform - always waiting patiently for the passengers and passengers always waiting patiently for their trains; "The Waiting Room".

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I wondered, if you find yourself in waiting room means, you have arrived at the railway station - (a) early with loads of luggage, with your family (b) with your bad luck because of which the train is late (c) and you are a young female or a group of female travelling without a person of fairer sex.  

I entered the waiting room around 10.00 pm with shock of reason (b) and found every other person with reason (a); except for the two persons with reason (c). Thanks to category (a) people, the only space that was remaining vacant was right besides the category (c). So, as I started walking towards them, it looked to me as if they were sitting on the floor.

How anybody can sit on a chair without legs, I thought, as I reached the place. I carefully placed my luggage behind the chair-with-out-legs and myself on the chair. Wow, this can be wonderful sitting arrangement for supporting back, I wondered, and then immediately cursed my long legs, which I had to cramp uncomfortably. So here, I was sitting on a ground-chair; which was just four inches away from the two girls.

As I settled on my seat, my mind confused me with questions like; whether I should say hello to them with a smile or just look anywhere ignoring them, like a dumb. If I decide to say hello; to whom should I say it first . . . .

"Excuse me . . ." I heard a sweet female voice of the girl sitting just near me. [Like always, I had wasted time, thinking. You can never afford to lose time.] "Can you please shift . . . You are sitting on my purse." [Big dumbo]. "Ohh . . . " I said and immediately obliged to her by cramping my leg further, to get it away from her purse. I managed a brief smile with blink of eyes feeling intense pain in my legs. Then, I changed my posture to discomfort my back and comfort her grey purse. I felt stupid.

In the mean time, I had observed the grey-purse-girl and her friend, who had given me an offended look a minute ago. The grey-purse-girl was reading a magazine and was wearing a white colour T shirt with a quote on it, which I did not try to read, thinking, she might take it the other way.[!] Her friend was listening to music on her mobile. [If a girl is using a mobile with headphones and has not moved her lips for more than 20 seconds to speak, one can safely assume that she is listening to music.] She was fairer, I concluded. [Human beings inherently cannot do away with the verb "compare"]

I was in no mood to make fool of myself, by watching "Malamaal Weekly" for a second time, even for free, which was being shown on the TV, kept in the waiting room. So, I decided to follow the fair girl and started listing to the music. [Of course, using my mobile]

“How am I going to spend next five hours?” I started to think, as red LED display flashed news of further delay in the scheduled arrival my train; when I once again heard words "Excuse me" in the same voice. [Well, this time I was sure of my legs!] I turned to her. "Hi, I am Payal" she said and smiled. Her friend also gave me a dimple smile. I gave them a puzzled look, but managed to introduce myself. "Can you please keep a watch on our luggage? We want go out, just for two minutes" she said. "Oh, yeah .... Sure” I said. "One, two, three and four" she pointed out me their luggage and disappeared in the crowd with her  purse and her friend.

About five minutes might have passed and I saw them returning, giggling and each one of them with a packet of biscuit and a cup of hot beverage, which I assumed it to be - Coffee. [Girls prefer coffee over tea.] They came at their places and sat. [I patted myself for correct guessing, as I observed the cups, in their hands]. This time Payal's friend sat near me. She turned to me and said "Thanks . . . " I looked in her dark eyes with mascara, which perfectly matched her fair-round face. I wanted to ask her name, but I just nodded. [Yes, she is fair and cute] 

"How can these people charge ten rupees for this hot water?" I heard Payal’s comment on coffee. "Yeah . . . I cannot drink this stuff" her friend agreed and both of them looked at me. [Hey, hold on girls, do you expect taste of CCD Cappuccino, here at railway station stall?] "Yeah, useless fellows. These people would never understand the meaning of a-real-good-hot-coffee." I tried to console them and added "I love coffee; but at railway station, I prefer tea over coffee! At least, there is option of asking for a special tea. He may not make it special; but surely he will not make it too bad. But, coffee. . . .ohh . . . nohhh" They seemed to be satisfied with my comment and nodded. Then immediately, Payal's friend offered me "Hide & Seek". [My favourite biscuit!]

Well, that was just the beginning of “Knowledge Sharing Session on - Coffee”. We all spoke on – Best places to get nice coffee. How one can make a real-good-coffee? How to serve it? Best times & situations to enjoy coffee. Coffee types, beans, colour, aroma . . . . [I remembered and realized “A lot can happen over coffee!”]

They seemed to be impressed with my knowledge on the topic, as I agreed on everything they said. The topic was just ending, and I was just finishing the last biscuit offered to me; when the red LED display flashed to announce more delay for my train. I got frustrated, though not much; as I was ready to discuss any other liquid like tea, soft-drinks, thick-shakes or even water to continue the flow of conversation. But, alas; the next announcement on the display, was for their train. That train was scheduled to arrive on platform number four in next fifteen minutes. They asked me about my train and where I was travelling. I told them about my trains’ tragic delay. I wished for some sympathy; which I received amply.

They started packing their stuff; when somebody’s mobile started playing a song. I heard the flute and then “O re piyaaa . . . .ya aaa . . . “ I stalled and then tried to trace the source. I realized that it was her mobile, Payal’s friend.

“Nice song . . . I love this song.” I said. I hesitated for a moment, but finally asked “Actually, I was searching for this song for a long time now. Can you please give me this song?” She looked at me [Oh, with those eyes]; smiled and said “Yeah, Sure. You have blue-tooth connection on mobile na?”

Within next few seconds our mobiles were about to be connected, when I saw name on my mobile screen - “still waiting”. I smiled and looked at her. She said “Yes” and blinked her eyes. I pressed the button - “connect”. The transfer started. “Hey, let’s go. We have to go to platform number four” Payal said to her, unaware of our connection [!]. We looked at each other. [The song had started to make an effect; without being played.] Payal got puzzled and then came to know of the situation. “Arre yaar, we cannot afford to spend time. We have to leave NOW; otherwise we will miss the train.”

I looked to Payal and then to her. [I don’t want to lose the opportunity.] I handed my mobile to her; picked up her two bags & my bag and said “Ok, let’s go, I will come with you up to the platform. This way, you will reach in time and I will get the song” [And also, will not lose the connection!] I could see her face lighten-up with my solution and then she said to Payal “Yes, correct! Let’s do it.” And both of us started moving out. Payal followed us.

On the way, we told each other how much we love that song and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Discussed other favourites like songs, play back singers, music composers, lyricists and . . . . 

All of three heard big “Baangg” and then saw a beam of light from the engine, as we stood on the platform. I looked at my mobile screen in her hands. It showed 72% complete. Train halted and we went up to their bogie. Payal took her luggage inside and returned. She looked at both of us. I was about to take her luggage inside when Payal said “Leave it, I will do it” and took her friend’s luggage inside.

We did not speak AT ALL. She gave me my mobile back. I looked at it. 99% complete.

“Bangg . . .” - engine screamed. I once again saw my mobile screen which said - 100% complete and stored in memory [!]. The train started moving. I said “Thanks a lot!” She said nothing. I followed train for a moment with my luggage, then stopped and asked aloud “Hey, you didn’t tell me your name!”

She said “### . . . .”. I could not hear that. “What? . . .” I asked. She once again spoke, but I could not hear. She was just 3 bogies ahead me. I started running - with luggage in my hand, hearing loud voices on speaker announcing departure of the train and screaming of the engine, people staring at me . . .

She tried once more, but in vain. Suddenly, she got her head out from the door; looked at me and closed her eyes. I paused to look at her and then stopped running. She opened her eyes and smiled. Payal was standing behind her and waved at me. I just stood there, wondering if I had guessed it correctly, then smiled and said “Goodbye!”

I saw the train leaving platform and in my mind .... I heard the song ... “O re piyaa . . . .”