A Fairy Tale

Now it’s almost like routine, staying late and rushing to catch the last bus from office. Well, it goes with the argument that its part and parcel of his job and Rahul seldom had any complaints and now it’s like he started sort of liking all this. Initial part of his job most of the days, when he really wanted to go out and have his share of personal life, he was hard pressed to stay in office to cop with ‘challenges and expectations’ and now that he has almost turned into a veteran and he could easily afford changing the table around he didn’t want to change and it was not like there wasn’t any ‘incentives’.

Getting into the bus, the first thing he used to do was to spot the face, which is now familiar to him courtesy to his last bus routine. Anju, her name, as he learned from one of his colleague, was a regular on this last bus and reasons for Rahul’s late stay in office was more because of her than work. Now, Rahul really couldn’t remember the first time he saw her or first time he noticed her and since there were no smiles or greetings exchanged the first time they noticed and the following days also since there were any smiles before. Now, her face is almost a defining part in Rahul’s day but still couldn’t break the shackles for reasons which were complicated to explain in more ways than one. Every day he hope of something unusual to happen, for which he could say something to her. But this bus is always on time and bus has got more than enough seats for the few people on the bus.

Today, being the last day before the holidays was rather quiet and he really struggled to make it till the last bus. He sighted ‘personal works’ as the reason for his late stay on a day which was otherwise without much work and the people around was already in a holiday mood and most of them had left the office much earlier than normal. At times the thought of Anju leaving the office earlier would haunt him as the entire exercise of staying late will be for nothing then.

Rahul had a sigh of relief when he saw her already seated in the bus couple of seats behind where he normally sits. They saw each other, and today being no special day, no smiles or greetings were exchanged. There were only two more guys in the bus obviously the impact of coming holidays. As it was colder than usual the vehicle hesitated a bit to start and crushing Rahul’s wish of ‘something’ to happen it took off on its route without much pain. On the street it seemed as if it’s a day-off for the public. The streets were darker than usual as most of the lights didn’t bother to blink. The other guys were dropped on the way and now it will be Rahul next and Anju stayed a couple of hundred metres away from his apartment.

Rahul wrapped up his bag, as in another two minutes the bus will reach his apartment. His vehicle came to a screeching halt courtesy to some rash driving by some one who seemed to be in great hurry ...God knows for what. This time the driver’s negotiation with the bus was not of much help as the bus hesitated to start. There wasn’t much which Rahul or Anju could do other than walking to their respective apartments. Here was the chance which Rahul always wanted, something unusual had just happened. Anju was visibly bit scared by the dark and may be disturbed by the fact that she may have to walk alone through the dark after Rahul’s apartment. Though they never had a word between them she seemed enough comfortable walking with him and in no time, with Rahul still thinking how to break the shackles, they reached his apartment. Rahul was in total dismay that he didn’t get anything out of this chance and by now was quite convinced he will never be able to open up.

Just before crossing the apartment gate, he had a look at Anju and the gentle man within doesn’t allow him to leave the damsel in distress in the dark. He accompanied her and in between nothing was said till they reached her apartment. Rahul slowly started his way back, still rueing about the lost opportunity, just before she turned back to say something. He didn’t notice that and she just stayed there for some time hoping he may look back and she may thank him and wish him goodnight.

Holidays were gone and back to office, Rahul was almost sure that by now the ‘familiar stranger’ act will go on as the holidays were long enough to wipe out all the impact of that day, if there were any. But that day on the last bus from office he was greeted with a warm smile from Anju and to his surprise he did respond with the greatest smile of his life. ‘How was your holiday?’ ‘Great’ .These were not words which Rahul hadn’t heard before and were not strange either but for Rahul it seemed a bit strange words for introduction. Well, there was no real need of introduction as by now they were quite familiar and an introduction after these many months might look quite odd. Good nights were exchanged as he dropped of the bus and Rahul couldn’t wait for the next day’s last bus from office.

Couple of weeks went by and nothing really happened other than the conversations between has changed from less formal to more casual ones. Things were looking quite promising for Rahul when he had to go for an official trip for couple of weeks and he was not very happy taking that up. He really missed his ‘last bus’ through out his trip and was a relieved man when he reached his apartment. But there he was informed that Anju along with her room mate came there to invite Rahul for her marriage and handed him the invitation. Rahul couldn’t hear what his room mate went on saying there after and no words made any sense to him. He was almost in tears while trowing the invitation to dust bin, not having the strength to go thru that.

Next day, in office he saw Anju who seemed to be in a hurry, but just reminded Rahul to come for the marriage and told him all details are there in the invitation. She had to hurry as her room mate was waiting for her. Anju seemed to be very happy and while leaving she waved her hand to Rahul which pained him even more. Now the thought of seeing her in the last bus was not pleasant for him and eventually decided to move into another office which was outside the city. He didn’t let even his room mate know why he was shifting and shifted the place before Anju’s return.

Now he was leaving office at normal time and in another route so there was no chance of meeting Anju. Anju coming back to office was looking for Rahul; she wanted an apology from him for not turning out for the function. She was quite surprised not seeing Rahul in the last bus and surprise turned to grim when she couldn’t see him for a couple of weeks. She was quite worried by the fact that it hasn’t happened like this in past so many months and by now was very much concerned for him. She decided to visit Rahul at his apartment and was updated by his room mate about Rahul’s new address. But he couldn’t really tell her why Rahul opted to move as he himself was not aware.

A few more weeks passed by and Rahul was slowly recovering from his grief. Anju was wondering whether she wasn’t that close enough to owe a good bye from Rahul.Well, she was that close that Rahul never wanted to bid her good bye. Rahul has now got an overseas assignment and this time he was more than happy to grab it. He’s completed all the formalities official and personal as he was supposed to leave tonight. He bid farewell to his close friends and after hesitating for a minute called Anju who apparently didn’t expect his call that time. Rahul was running short of time and he had to hang-up before long and before she could even wish him for his voyage.

Old memories were rushing to his mind as he watched the streets, painted gold by the retreating sun, running behind him on his way to airport. With mixed feeling he observed the bunch of people assembled there to see-off their loved ones. Rahul could feel emptiness inside as he felt there was no one so close to miss him. He looked back to tell the driver to handle his luggage with care when he noticed, with the greatest astonishment of his life, Anju, instructing the driver as if its her very own things. When she saw Rahul she smiled at him and he could see her face which wanted to ask him so many questions. She turned back to give some more instructions and with the amount of sincerity she projected no one around could tell she was ‘no-one’ to Rahul. Sunset was giving a different charm to her face and he could feel the pain of loss even more now.

After settling the driver and moving towards the check in counter, Rahul was even more surprised when she started the conversation asking him about the entire travel checklist and all other very small things that she could think of in the small time after she got the call from Rahul. She was behaving like someone he ever wanted her to be. Just before bidding good-bye she said ‘I thought I’ll be fighting with you for not turning out for the marriage but you never gave me a chance and now that you are leaving I don’t want to fight now’. Rahul knew that he owed an apology and he started saying ‘I am sorry’ he paused ‘and all the best for your married life’ ‘Say this to my room mate for not attending her marriage’ he was interrupted by Anju in a hurry and then there was a pause between them. Rahul couldn’t make sense of what he just heard but he knew that he’s just heard something which could lend a new lease of life for him. Thoughts were overheard and acknowledged by their eyes. So many things were said without even a word and for Anju all the questions were answered without the questions being asked.

They were interrupted by the last call for Rahul which had to respect. ‘Now I can’t wait for you to come back for the fight’ said Anju with a laugh and this time Rahul could join her bursting into laughter. Before fading into the dark that sunset witnessed Rahul and Anju moving into a brighter side of life.