I had to travel approximately 2 and half hour from my place in Bhayander to reach my college, located in Vashi. It was first day in college. After a long journey, I reached the profound railway station of Vashi, which was railway station cum IT Park. I started to walk towards my college which was not quite far from station. I looked above and sighed the huge infrastructure investment going on, in that area. Sky was azure and drizzling. It looked lovely. Perhaps, the day was lovely as something more lovely yet to arrive in my life. I pulled my leg up. It squelched as it came out of deep mud I mistakenly put my leg in thinking it solid rock. It was drizzling with soft sun overhead. I avoided any shadow and remained as much as possible in the ambiguity of rain and sun. I was walking fast aiming to reach college in time. I was apparently sweating. Every one felt, its rain-drops sticking on my face. But my exhausted face cannot tell any lie. It reflected my actual state of tireness and fatigue. At last I reached college, morning prayer has already ended and pupils dispersed. One corner had coffee shop in the ground floor. I had coffee and felt alive. (No !! That time I din't use to have cigerretes.)
I entered the class, sat on second bench. I left first bench for extra-super-studious chaps. I hated hind benches as most of their talks overshadowed the lectures and made it to subtle din. Most of the time I stared out side as I din't like to stare guys and was too shy to stare girls. Moreover ambience outside was more attractive than inside. Occassional heavy showers amid humdrum of drizzle as though some one is intentionally throwing water from roofs. Sun was denying to hide behind clouds. It was fully bright outside and sun light was piercing through partially opened windows. My inquisitive eyes were looking for something, I guess for the sun that made the world bright but right now eluding somewhere.
I heard 'Hi' from soft shy voice. No ! it wasn't for me but for the guy sitting next to me. I din't expect the same for me. Neither did I look the other side. I kept staring outside. She said again 'Hi'. Now I saw.. I regret why did I.. The most enchanting beauty of my life.. She smiled unbeknownst of the fact that I was no more. She asked my name and college. I responded and asked hers. She went and sat back to her place. For me, the world has changed. Now I no more looked outside. No more inquisitive to find the sun who brightens the world, as I found already the one. As much the ambience inside became lively, mesmerized me couldn't look no further but herself. So did I remain till yet. Equally mesmerized and afresh as though I met that smile herenow.
Drizzle stopped by the evening. Sun disappeared as well. So did she. I kept witnessing transience to darkness. No! This darkness had nothing negative in it. It indeed provided me safe recluse to meet my beloved. Neither could it pierce within me. Because my within is already lit with beauty I witnessed in the morning. Next day as routine I went to college, Again...
She was Tithi, Tithi Mukherjee. Tithi meant for a date in Hindi, unintentionally but this name resuscitated humor in our group, a million times. She was a typical shy bengali girl, brought up in mumbai and she spoke good mumbaiyya Hindi without a taint of Bangla. She never smoked, never drank but danced like hell, continously, effortlessly with infinite energy & unfathomable grace. Her drop dead beauty made her crush of every dude in college. She was so open that everyone could approach her and tell his feelings about her. So the three divine words 'I Love you' meant nothing for her except an expression of good friendship. But no one dared to tread the steps beyond, except Ashu.
To be continued...
