I tried looking away. Somehow his piercing gaze was too intense to avoid. I couldn't help but notice that there was something about his eyes. Something that bore into yours which seemed to tell a story. Closing my eyes I fought to flush away my thoughts. The train halted to a stop and I got up. Walking towards the door, I could see him following me. I dug my earplugs harder that it hurt, still I couldn't diffuse the sound of his footsteps behind me. Stepping down the train, I ran for it. While safely climbing the steps I chanced my luck to have a quick peep through the railings. Quite a bit of timing collision as he chose the same moment to smile up at me. Haughtily climbing up again, I cursed myself for looking down. Even after hours I couldn't just get his gaze out of my head. It had made a mark, apparently.
Waking up the next day I tried to shake off the weird dreams of him looming around with his smile. However I couldn't help but look twice whether my eyes were all right or if I had wore my bindi on the right spot.
I laughed so hard my stomach ached as I walked with them towards the platform. After a while we became quiet. My mind automatically scanned the familiar spots for his signs. Finding nothing, I tried to hide the disappointment.
My friends got down in tirur and I wasn't done waving to them when I saw him get in. The familiar shirt. The familiar hair. I bit back my smile.
Well, things got interesting as he managed to find a seat near me. I was conscious to such an extent that I actually panicked that he could hear my heartbeat. The train jerked and my fingers pressed deeper into my bag. As expected, he initiated up a conversation. My mind did a few somersaults while trying to get things steady. But then, something struck a chord. After all this? Are you this obvious to trouble? I fought hard not to respond as I felt truly in my mind. I put forth an angry countenance. I saw his eyes fall. I saw the shock reflected. He didn't say word but turned back to his phone. I sat there, stunned. I couldn't believe what I just did. All I felt was numb. Thankfully my mind quickly decided to make amends. I mustered up all my courage and took a deep breath. Yes. I spoke to him. We spoke till the train lurched to a halt in the thrissur station. We got up together. We left the train together. I smiled that night before sliding into sleep.
Everyday we saw. We talked a lot. We travelled together. We called on each other when bored. We texted frequently. I knew, when I had decided to forgo my doubts and insecurities that day for once, what sprung out of it was a beautiful friendship. A deep understanding. He has become part of my life now. Not assigned to a particular position. Yes. It was respect, it was amiability, it was fun, it was fooling around, it was having a shoulder to cry on, it was friendship, it was love. It was everything. Everything with no bounds.
One day he confessed that had I been of the same religion he would have proposed me. I felt awkward and thankfully he did not press the point further. But yes. Here, I confess to myself, as I see him walking towards me, as I see his smile, as I notice the way his hair stands up at the end, as i see his eyes scan my face when i speak, as I hear the ring of his instant reply, I too would have, maybe, done the same.