The Girl In White
The rain was at its best. Best in the
sense, for me. Light, those cool
drizzling showers with a breeze. It was as if it was performing a contemporary
dance with elegant and soft moves in front of its most avid spectator, me. I
was enjoying it along with the timely jolt of the Indian Railways, while it was
taking me amongst its hundred passengers to Mangalore, Karnataka from Kannur, Kerala.
The rain was beautiful with Kerala’s
breath taking view behind and the backwaters for accompaniment. My neck was straining looking in a single
direction for a long time. So I turned around to look into my compartment. My
opposite berth was occupied by a ‘not so large’ family of 10 members trying to
cram into that single berth. Whew! Watching them gave me a sweat! They were so
noisy clattering, chattering, two babies held up in a “who is going to cry the
loudest” competition and munching some snacks away without even considering to
offer their fellow passengers (I got hungry after watching them eat!).I realized
that I was so engrossed in the rain that I didn’t notice the commotion right in
front. Next to me was an old couple, holding hands and sleeping with their
mouths open. WOW! How could they sleep amidst this chaos? Anyways I returned to
my “programme” and continued staring outside. The train was slowing down at
Neeleswaram, Kasargode. I couldn’t see
the station as it was filled with people ready to board this train. Where do
all these people come from? Looking at them it looks like the train is the only
mode of transportation in India. Ok, if you didn’t get what I am trying to say,
just think about the Mumbai locals, full stop. Ok..So the train stopped, the
people were boarding and I was looking out for a vendor to come so that I could eat something. I heard someone saying the train stopped only for three minutes
and so I was trying to frantically reach out for a vendor. At Last one man came
to me (Thank God!) and I paid for his timely service and food. It was indeed a
perfect timing for by the time I paid the train had started moving slowly.
Suddenly my eyes caught someone running and
shouting on the platform. It was a girl running to catch the train. I heard
people murmuring that she will miss it, why she can’t come on time and all but
my instincts told me to get up to the
bogie door(which was near me) and stretch out my arms to help that girl. I
could hear two things only, the ‘chuk chuk’ of the slowly speeding train and my
heart beats going on like the African Drums. The girl reached out to my arms
and I pulled her inside. We both fell on the steps but were helped by people
who finally came out of their shell shocked state and helped us. I scrambled
back to my seat and sat somehow. I realized that I had hurt my leg somewhere. I
was about to bend down and look when I heard something like “excuse me”. I
looked up and saw the same girl I had saved (her from missing the train). I was
expecting a “thank you” instead she said:” Could I share the seat with you?”
God, Favor! Will I be sharing space with a camel (it’s a phrase in Malayalam as
to will the entire seat be taken by her?) I said Ok and she sat down. I
couldn’t help but look at her. She was wearing a pure white salwar kameez
(which now got dirty of course!)She had a handbag in which was a white rose (beautiful,
haven’t seen one in ages ) and an old mobile phone (in the sense a Nokia 1100)
to which she was clinging on tightly. Guess, she also suffers from NOMOPhobia
(No mobile phone phobia-Google pls).I scanned her and reached her face. She
LOOKED SOO FAMILIAR! Gosh I don’t remember where I have seen her! Where? Where? As I was thinking I didn’t realize I
was staring hard at her when she said “Hmm.. Thanks a lot! For helping me out!”
It was meek, but a sincere one and I smiled ( I was happy I got the thanks I
deserved! Hello!! and also.. the girl was sweet, pretty and sincere).But the familiarity
was haunting me every minute. It was as if I have known her with all my heart
but I just can’t get it. I was dying to ask her, but nope. I wouldn’t budge! I
started eating and again this time I found the girl staring at me. Well, So I
offered her one samosa and she gladly took one. Maybe she was hungry. Anyways
it was like a tablet of energy as she started chattering away. I smiled and
took my iPod to listen and ease myself for some time. Timely once, I used to
peek at her. She was pretty .Her hair left open and smelled nice. It was curled
and gave it a typical mallu look. Savoring in her innocent beauty I closed my
eyes to sleep.
Suddenly my compartment shook and tilted to
one side. I jumped up to a start and realized something real bad had happened
and the train had gotten into a mishap. People were running about in the train
like mad chickens on fire and the train was slowing turning to one side. I was
numbed and scared and suddenly something hit, a fat old lady fell upon me. My
head was hurting badly and I could barely stand up! My head was churning around
and I wanted someone to save me. I was shouting madly and crying all together.
Suddenly, to my utter surprise I saw that same girl in white salwar kameez
seated on the berth opposite me, smiling not caring about what is happening
around. She was staring at me and smiling .She stretched out her hand to me and
I was trying to make some movement of my numbed arms to reach her. My vision
was blurring as I was nearing her. My eyes closed off and I blacked out!
I felt drops of water splash across my face
and woke up to a start! I realized I was in my painting room and I had dozed
off! It was all a dream?? It was so real! I tried to recall the dream and it
sent a shiver down my spine! I gawked at what I saw next, that white salwar
kameez girl was there right in front of me.. IN MY PAINITING! No wonder she
looked familiar! But who splashed that water? I looked around. No one! Spooky! It
was raining and the ceiling was leaking! I smiled to myself and got up to wash
my face. As I stood up, my leg struck something sharp and as I bent down to
look at what was that.. I shivered at what I saw..
It was a white rose..
