If I Had A Love Story - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

The fan swirled around whirring down a puff of dust down on to the books stacked on the table. I was used to procrastinating work and had just finished packing my stuff when we had like an hour for departure, stuffing things into my bag. My eyes swept across the room searching for things I might have forgotten. I grabbed my earphones trying to untangle them as I locked the room and put the key into my pocket. I strode past the wing reaching the staircase and jumped through the flight of stairs as I made my way to the hostel entrance. I caught up with my friends there and reached the Alumni hut just in time. A yellow bus was waiting for us there to help start our journey.

I boarded the bus to see all occupied seats. My eyes scanned for Diya and she was already seated and was chatting busily. I went to the only seat at the back sombrely and put on my earphones trying to shift moods. From my seat all I could witness was her lush sable hair dancing to the rhythm of her melodious music.

I removed my earphones, placing them on my seat I walked towards Diya's seat.

"Excuse me, could you please get up?" I asked the guy sitting next to her interrupting their conversation.

Both of them looked at me blinking.

"I want to sit here" I told him trying to sound commanding. He didn't budge a bit.

"I think you didn't quite get me. Let me help you" I took him by his collar and pushed him aside as I sat beside her.

I snapped out of my imagination right there. I took it a bit too far. I was still looking at her posh hair. She didn't turn back or stop her conversation throughout the journey and I couldn't stop glancing at her hoping that she would turn back at some time.

With a bruised ego, I walked in the platforms of the Chennai Central amidst plenty of groufies and in some of which I was able to feature. We soon boarded the train and took our seats. Each compartment created its own ruckus playing games and dares. The ruckus died out eventually as they become tired and went into deep slumbers after lunch. Not in the mood for sleep, I slipped away to get some air. Strong currents of air swept past my face and I leant on the door grabbing the threshold for support till Diya interrupted me pulling me inside.

"What are you doing here?" She interrogated me. I kept mum.

"Come let's go inside the compartment" she offered.

"Actually I was going to join my friends" I replied without looking at her.

"Let me..."

I cut her out before she could talk anymore and walked towards my compartment. Everyone there were sound asleep amidst the cacophony of the train wheels that did not disturb them a bit. I looked around dumbly and found Diya staring at me. She looked around and smiled. People say that none had ever seen a flower blossom but I see a flower bloom every time she smiles.

Shall we?" She showed the way.

I followed her hitting me on my head.

We made ourselves comfortable in side lower berth and she started talking. I stuck my head on the window grills and looked at the white desultory clouds floating through the vast blue ocean. Soon she too grew tired and yawned. Seeing her yawn, I yawned (Probably you too are yawning now). We both lied back resting our heads against the compartment wall. I sensed some discomfort in her as she wasn't able to sleep with her head against the hard wall. I made her lie on my lap and patted her till she fell asleep. I watched my princess without a tiara fall asleep before I fell asleep.

I woke up after like an hour or two of sleep and rolled over. Then I sensed five fingers stroking my hair. I sprang up realising that I was lying on her lap. I didn't remember falling asleep on her lap.

"Ah! You're awake" she smiled.

I stumbled as I got up and went to wash my face. I splashed water on face and stared at the other me behind the mirror for moments as I adjusted my hair. I glanced at the mirror again to see another familiar pair of eyes smiling at me now. The last rays of sunlight fell upon us as the orange sun dipped down the horizon. The silver moon took over and we stood near the door admiring it. We stood there for so long, the wind constantly blowing her delicate hair onto my face that she kept brushing aside. We were moving at over 80 kmph however I was able to perceive time slowly, sense her lush hair gliding past my velvety skin slowly that made my eyes close inadvertently. I felt the exhilarating fragrance of her hair intoxicating as it brushed past my nose.

As the night darkened further, the moon and stars lit the sky beholding a beauteous sight only for our eyes to witness. The train roared through the darkness taking us closer to our destination.