What could go wrong when you are travelling and you miss home food? This one day I was travelling from Mumbai to Delhi and I had to adjust myself managing my food on this long train journey. Little did I know that a few stations away I was going to discover a new twist in my typical 9 to 5 work life as a single sigma man. Yes, I am 28 and single and I am totally fine with it. Not that I hate tinder or relationships, but I am not interested. I want to earn lots of money, enough to retire early in life and enjoy the remaining part exploring the universe. But can a train journey pull me aback and redirect my life?
I was sliding and stretching on my side seat. For a moment, it escaped my mind that this seat is not mine alone. I am yet to have company of the person who would be sitting opposite me for the remaining part of the journey. The train pulls up at Borivali Station in Mumbai and I am hoping that this other person cancelled the travel plan. I wish I could buy both these seats and be all by myself. I looked through the crowd entering the compartment and there comes this magic endowed woman numbing me all over. Was it her looks? Her voice maybe? Or something else! I don't get it. But can we call it love at first sight? My eyes were glued to her distressed movements as she figures out how to settle down on this seat bang opposite me. I am sure she is tensed that she has to bear up sitting with this man across her till her journey will end. In a matter of no time, she is all set, placing her luggage under the seat and sitting with folded legs on her seat. I bet she came all planned to make sure every second of her time is utilized to the optimum. That's not a same pinch. I can laze around if my mood calls for it. I am not the regular hardcore disciplined guy. I am sure that's why I am a little disconnected with my dreams of being quick rich. This girl has all my attention but until now we haven't had even one eye-contact. Isn't she bothered to at least see who's next to her? Usually, this is me. But this time, I am so expecting that she looks at me once at least. As the train gathers momentum, it's still morning and I am damn hungry. Without a choice I buy two Vada Pavs and Chai showcasing my spirit of being a Mumbaikar. All of it happening and this girl is not even looking this side! With my heart beat racing and so many thoughts running through my mind I am still calculating if I should ask her for her name. No, maybe I could start off my offering her one Vada Pav. There goes my overthinking mind offering me multiple responses to this situation that I am imagining. Huh, how difficult can this become for me. I am supposed to be smart, right? What could go so wrong? Let's give it a try. With little courage, choosing my words, I fumble to ask.... "Hi, Where are you going to get down?" Stupid me! She has her earphones on and seems busy and I am foolishly talking to nobody. I hope none of the others around noticed this little disaster. I smiled at my utter imbecility. I lost all courage and dived into gobbling up my snacks. The train was breezing through green pastures and I began enjoying this picturesque art of nature. I was lost in my world of thoughts as I was looking out of the window and little did I know that I had dozed off sitting on my seat. The next thing I remember is waking up to a burst of laughter. I soon sensed that everyone was picking on me. In a moment it struck me that I am not on my own seat. Yes, she was laughing the loudest. Well, as would be, my eyes were glued watching her laugh. Awww! What a beauty. Those cute reddish lips, elegant laughs, enchanting dark eyes, adorable dimple on the cheeks, attractive and gorgeous glowing face. It seemed like God sat down to specially carve out this beauty. Oh, to be honest, no one helped me get up. I got up amidst all the laughter and sat back onto my seat with my eyes on this beauty. I wasn't bothered about anything. The laughter did not matter to me. I guess it was love. I don't know. This feeling seems all new to me. It feels like butterflies are tickling my stomach. My heart is so delighted. Wow, finally she gave me so much attention, more than that I wished for. As they say, some things are just meant to be. She finally spoke. "Hey, are you okay? That was a bad fall. I am sorry, I just got laughing as it was so funny. Seriously, I am sorry, I couldn't stop myself." She was giggling and that was adorably cute. It was my chance finally. "Oh, I am so careless. I don't know when I fell asleep. It's okay. I am fine ya. (A small pause). I am Jimmy by the way." I put my hand out for a handshake. She gladly got back with a firm handshake and revealed to me, "Hey, that's fine. You handled yourself well. 'Jimmy', that's a nice name. And I am Shreya." I wanted this to continue. "Your name is just perfected. It matches you." She got curious. "Ah, I didn't get you." I smiled. "You are very cute and beautiful just like your name." She giggled. I was happy. "Well, where are you going?" I asked. She thought for a second and began, "I am on my way for a friend's wedding in Delhi." Now I knew, she will be with me till the end of my journey. Her phone rang. She had to take it and got busy. That was such a spoiler. Probably that was her boyfriend. Now my overthinker think tank got me super discouraged about any chances with her. Anyways, losing all hope I got engaged with scrolling my Instagram as I usually do to run away from my emotions.
A while later, my eyes slightly peeked up to look at this beauty. She was curiously popping out small tablets from a tiny bottle. It looked like medicines. Oh, she caught me checking. Our eyes met and I reversed in embarrassment to look back into my phone. In a moment, she tapped my legs with her hand. It gave me slight current though. She offered me those tablets. I stared at them and was wondering what was it all about. "Here, take these Hajmolas. They are nice. You'll like them." I immediately reacted, "No, no. Thanks, but I don't eat these." She was fine and did not react and pushed back to her seat to continue her work. I don't like Hajmolas. Did I upset her? Maybe Yes, maybe No. Oh, but I don't eat Hajmolas. I wanted to talk. "Hey, can you give me those Hajmolas? I think it will be good if I have them." There was a big smile on her cute angelic face. She passed the bottle to me and I popped a few of those in my mouth. "Well, I noticed you had that Vada Pav and thought that you must have these so that you don't have trouble digesting. You don't know how old their food is and what oil they use," she said. I nodded. "Yes, I usually carry home cooked food. This time I was in no luck." She immediately pulled out her little bag and took out her tiffin. "Here, take this. My mummy prepared some lovely Parathas. You will enjoy them." She opened her tiffin box and it looked so delicious. We began eating and a row of conversations began. Wow, we spoke, and continued until it was time for lunch and our train finally halted at Surat. By now, the connection was so strong and I had begun liking her so much. She was very interesting, optimistic, talkative, funny, knowledgeable, captivating, effulgent, and smart. She was a complete package and I wasn't going to miss this chance. I spoke generously sharing about my life and we continuously had enough topics to talk about each other. I got to know that she has a sister who is married and living happily in USA. Her mother is working in a finance company and she lost her father a few years back when Covid - 19 was at its peak. I felt so sorry for her. Even after such hard struggles, I realized she is such a courageous and strong woman. I did appreciate her. We spoke, had lunch together, walked out of our seats to enjoy the cool evening breeze at one of the doors of the compartment and had made soul connection by now. It simply seemed like we were made for each other. We both did not miss anyone. We rarely checked our phones except for some quick update call or message to our families. She had brought some lovely home made Aloo Gobi to be had with Chapatis. Oh, that was really delicious and by now, I had begun to also enjoy popping those Hajmolas occasionally as we were talking to each other. I realized she is kind of addicted to these Hajmolas. And now, I was getting addicted to Hajmolas and surely, I was getting addicted to her. This was the start of a beautiful journey, one that will last for miles, for years, for ages. I now believe in love. I am no more the 9 to 5 guy. I have no plans to retire early. I don't want to be super rich. Love can do a lot of beautiful things. It changed me. I learnt a lot about life from this woman of my life. I realized that little things matter and what is important at the end of the day is that you are blessed to have someone who cares for you and loves you very much.
I was sliding and stretching on my side seat. For a moment, it escaped my mind that this seat is not mine alone. I am yet to have company of the person who would be sitting opposite me for the remaining part of the journey. The train pulls up at Borivali Station in Mumbai and I am hoping that this other person cancelled the travel plan. I wish I could buy both these seats and be all by myself. I looked through the crowd entering the compartment and there comes this magic endowed woman numbing me all over. Was it her looks? Her voice maybe? Or something else! I don't get it. But can we call it love at first sight? My eyes were glued to her distressed movements as she figures out how to settle down on this seat bang opposite me. I am sure she is tensed that she has to bear up sitting with this man across her till her journey will end. In a matter of no time, she is all set, placing her luggage under the seat and sitting with folded legs on her seat. I bet she came all planned to make sure every second of her time is utilized to the optimum. That's not a same pinch. I can laze around if my mood calls for it. I am not the regular hardcore disciplined guy. I am sure that's why I am a little disconnected with my dreams of being quick rich. This girl has all my attention but until now we haven't had even one eye-contact. Isn't she bothered to at least see who's next to her? Usually, this is me. But this time, I am so expecting that she looks at me once at least. As the train gathers momentum, it's still morning and I am damn hungry. Without a choice I buy two Vada Pavs and Chai showcasing my spirit of being a Mumbaikar. All of it happening and this girl is not even looking this side! With my heart beat racing and so many thoughts running through my mind I am still calculating if I should ask her for her name. No, maybe I could start off my offering her one Vada Pav. There goes my overthinking mind offering me multiple responses to this situation that I am imagining. Huh, how difficult can this become for me. I am supposed to be smart, right? What could go so wrong? Let's give it a try. With little courage, choosing my words, I fumble to ask.... "Hi, Where are you going to get down?" Stupid me! She has her earphones on and seems busy and I am foolishly talking to nobody. I hope none of the others around noticed this little disaster. I smiled at my utter imbecility. I lost all courage and dived into gobbling up my snacks. The train was breezing through green pastures and I began enjoying this picturesque art of nature. I was lost in my world of thoughts as I was looking out of the window and little did I know that I had dozed off sitting on my seat. The next thing I remember is waking up to a burst of laughter. I soon sensed that everyone was picking on me. In a moment it struck me that I am not on my own seat. Yes, she was laughing the loudest. Well, as would be, my eyes were glued watching her laugh. Awww! What a beauty. Those cute reddish lips, elegant laughs, enchanting dark eyes, adorable dimple on the cheeks, attractive and gorgeous glowing face. It seemed like God sat down to specially carve out this beauty. Oh, to be honest, no one helped me get up. I got up amidst all the laughter and sat back onto my seat with my eyes on this beauty. I wasn't bothered about anything. The laughter did not matter to me. I guess it was love. I don't know. This feeling seems all new to me. It feels like butterflies are tickling my stomach. My heart is so delighted. Wow, finally she gave me so much attention, more than that I wished for. As they say, some things are just meant to be. She finally spoke. "Hey, are you okay? That was a bad fall. I am sorry, I just got laughing as it was so funny. Seriously, I am sorry, I couldn't stop myself." She was giggling and that was adorably cute. It was my chance finally. "Oh, I am so careless. I don't know when I fell asleep. It's okay. I am fine ya. (A small pause). I am Jimmy by the way." I put my hand out for a handshake. She gladly got back with a firm handshake and revealed to me, "Hey, that's fine. You handled yourself well. 'Jimmy', that's a nice name. And I am Shreya." I wanted this to continue. "Your name is just perfected. It matches you." She got curious. "Ah, I didn't get you." I smiled. "You are very cute and beautiful just like your name." She giggled. I was happy. "Well, where are you going?" I asked. She thought for a second and began, "I am on my way for a friend's wedding in Delhi." Now I knew, she will be with me till the end of my journey. Her phone rang. She had to take it and got busy. That was such a spoiler. Probably that was her boyfriend. Now my overthinker think tank got me super discouraged about any chances with her. Anyways, losing all hope I got engaged with scrolling my Instagram as I usually do to run away from my emotions.
A while later, my eyes slightly peeked up to look at this beauty. She was curiously popping out small tablets from a tiny bottle. It looked like medicines. Oh, she caught me checking. Our eyes met and I reversed in embarrassment to look back into my phone. In a moment, she tapped my legs with her hand. It gave me slight current though. She offered me those tablets. I stared at them and was wondering what was it all about. "Here, take these Hajmolas. They are nice. You'll like them." I immediately reacted, "No, no. Thanks, but I don't eat these." She was fine and did not react and pushed back to her seat to continue her work. I don't like Hajmolas. Did I upset her? Maybe Yes, maybe No. Oh, but I don't eat Hajmolas. I wanted to talk. "Hey, can you give me those Hajmolas? I think it will be good if I have them." There was a big smile on her cute angelic face. She passed the bottle to me and I popped a few of those in my mouth. "Well, I noticed you had that Vada Pav and thought that you must have these so that you don't have trouble digesting. You don't know how old their food is and what oil they use," she said. I nodded. "Yes, I usually carry home cooked food. This time I was in no luck." She immediately pulled out her little bag and took out her tiffin. "Here, take this. My mummy prepared some lovely Parathas. You will enjoy them." She opened her tiffin box and it looked so delicious. We began eating and a row of conversations began. Wow, we spoke, and continued until it was time for lunch and our train finally halted at Surat. By now, the connection was so strong and I had begun liking her so much. She was very interesting, optimistic, talkative, funny, knowledgeable, captivating, effulgent, and smart. She was a complete package and I wasn't going to miss this chance. I spoke generously sharing about my life and we continuously had enough topics to talk about each other. I got to know that she has a sister who is married and living happily in USA. Her mother is working in a finance company and she lost her father a few years back when Covid - 19 was at its peak. I felt so sorry for her. Even after such hard struggles, I realized she is such a courageous and strong woman. I did appreciate her. We spoke, had lunch together, walked out of our seats to enjoy the cool evening breeze at one of the doors of the compartment and had made soul connection by now. It simply seemed like we were made for each other. We both did not miss anyone. We rarely checked our phones except for some quick update call or message to our families. She had brought some lovely home made Aloo Gobi to be had with Chapatis. Oh, that was really delicious and by now, I had begun to also enjoy popping those Hajmolas occasionally as we were talking to each other. I realized she is kind of addicted to these Hajmolas. And now, I was getting addicted to Hajmolas and surely, I was getting addicted to her. This was the start of a beautiful journey, one that will last for miles, for years, for ages. I now believe in love. I am no more the 9 to 5 guy. I have no plans to retire early. I don't want to be super rich. Love can do a lot of beautiful things. It changed me. I learnt a lot about life from this woman of my life. I realized that little things matter and what is important at the end of the day is that you are blessed to have someone who cares for you and loves you very much.
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