Did You Say Something? Part 2

Continued...

I wished the girl would go away. I knew at exact 6:35 she will utter “ Did you say something? ” and wonder what I had to say for that.

“Did you say something?” came from the girl.

The boy seemed to be taken aback. The boy! It was not me. I was not surprised. I knew it already what she was going to say. The boy for sure was not me. Hapless and without a body, I decided to observe the things as they are happening. In a parallel reality, the boy was me and from now on, I shall refer him as I or me only.

I looked around and made sure the sentence was directed towards me. Impromptu I replied in negative. In this process, I had the pleasure to look at her in more detail. She looked like a dainty middle-class girl who just passed her adolescence. She was looking elegant but not pretentious. She was a self-effacing little demur girl. As no one was around us in that serene and calm milieu, I tried to stifle my curiosity towards her.

Albeit she looked lost in her thoughts as something was gnawing at her. I was keen for more conversation. But I had been a little nervous as well.

It was apparent that the girl wanted to talk but was dithering. For me, I forgot my exigency to be back home in time. Waiting for a while, salvo came from her side.

“I have been waiting for half an hour but in vain, no bus in sight.”

It was an opening for me. I said, “Seldom are a bus in time. There is no option but to wait.”

It gave some solace to her but was still distraught. It took her some nerve to speak to me again.

“I am worried for my family. They are expecting me by 7.” 

“Forbearance is meant for such times only”, I quipped.

This took her with a little surprise. She raised her eyes furtively with subtle acknowledgment. There was distinctive change in her demeanor.

“Don’t you think it forbearance is something different for different gender ?” she asserted.

 I was mesmerized with her reply which was in the form of a question. If not connoisseur, certainly she was a dilettante. I preferred to change the course of the conversation. I was more deferential now. I let this involuntary conversation flow without any hindrance.

“Which route do you take?”, I asked.

“I take the bus for the outer ring road.” 

“So do I. Let us wait for another five minutes”

“What after that! I am frantic about this time of hour”

“Does that include standing next to me?”

“Girls are very clear about this. They are bestowed by the mother nature whom with they are congenial”

“So you are fretful for your family only and not me, sure! no compunction!”, I jested.

“Looks you are more restive than me. Is that a gender issue with you as well? ", she seemed propitious without hesitation.

Again I was at my wit’s end. Am I fascinated? Just a few minutes back, we were total strangers and were wrought up about returning back home as soon as possible; and now there seems no sign of consternation. She rightly said nature takes care of us not only in times of predicament but also at times of diversion. The only true call is answered whatever the expediency might be.

“It is already five minutes now. Is there any contingency plan that you were talking about?”

“Yes why not, the rescue must be coming from God himself. We can only wait some more minutes.”

“Do you really believe in God or that suits your contingency plans only?” 

She was right. I did not find any trace of sarcasm in it.

“You said it correctly and this is the only way to live a life. You can’t depend on mundane tasks on Him.” I was serious.

“I am really impressed. Here is a person who is enjoying his life having a very simple philosophy: Do not burden God with trifles which you can perform easily. God is meant to help you in times of difficulty only.” She was rather amused, certainly not impressed.

“What do you mean?” I did bawl at her response. “You are cynical. You do not revere God and that is why you look traumatized.” I blurted.

I felt she was really apologetic with my no bar outburst. She kept mum for a while and then explicated her point of view. She told me that despite being older than her I behaved like her little brother. She had no intention to hurt me. And as regards her distress, she admitted it had to do with the physiology of the brain and not her being a person. She was plaintive with repentance. Looking at her I was exacerbated. How could I say such a thing to this genteel and delectable young lady who has shown fortitude in adversity? I have never been that rude and insolent. I was cursing myself. Both of us were in sheer melancholy and we were saying nothing to each other. Suddenly we heard the sound of the coming bus. Swiftly the girl prodded me with her hand signaling me to remain alert. And the bus did arrive but did not stop. Even after this misadventure, we were now in a great mood. I checked the time, it was 7 O’clock. 

It was a winter evening with darkness all around. The bus stop wore only a scantly lit bulb.