The Railway Station, Muzaffarpur

Zila Cricket Ground, Muzaffarpur

The weather today was breezy although it's May month of the year and Monsoon is far from arriving.

"May be because of the local weather conditons." said a spiced Nimbu Tea seller on the periphery of the ground.

The sun seemed to kiss the horizon.

Far from the periphery into the ground, some boys were visible who were playing cricket. But, today something was not normal and looked so unusual on the ground.

A boy in his 20s seemed to throw bat on the ground.

He was Nitin. Nitin is a tall, attractive boy in his early twenties. He is charming and well-liked, always on top of his work. But what happened today ? Why did he threw the bat on the ground ?

Nitin remembered Divya's message from the day before.

"Meet me at the railway station, I'm leaving for Patna later tomorrow."

'Aye, Nitin.... Aye... kahan jaraha hai" meaning 'hey Nitin where are you going?', his friend's clamoured as

he threw away the bat he had been using to play cricket and slid onto his bycycle.

Nitin lives in Muzaffarpur, the city widely known for it's juicy litchis !

Nitin had been caught in the traffic of Muzaffarpur.

It was already 3:47 PM. Waiting on the traffic he sent a cliche text, "Your hero is here, where are you?" and got the least possible - get to your sense reply, "Get lost with your creepy bollywood line. You're LATE. The train was at 3:45 PM, I am already in the train"

"FAST", Nitin said to himself as he peddled his ranger bycycle into an alley bypassing the congested highway.

***

Condition of Indian Railways has improved nowadays. Our Jammu Tavi Express is on exact time today, remarked a passenger to a fellow who was sitting next to Divya on the bench of the platform.

"Yes, Lalu Ji has done tremendous job in reforming railways.", one of the men sitting on the bench asserted.

The other men stepped in the the conversation, "No, Nitish ji has reformed the railways".

"You guys don't know anything, Mamata Bannerjee has done it, she has changed the face of Indian Railways", a third men asserted.

Two men sitting on the bench, one among them, father of Divya and one other men standing in front of the bench started to jostle with the political questions, as Divya got bored and disinterested in the political cacaphony.

It's said, in Bihar, political charchas are always ripe in the society- on a Chai Tapri, A village 'Gaachhi', or a railway Station or literally anywhere. An ardent RJD supporter, a JDU 'Karyakarta' and an BJP man all were engrossed in heated political debate as the horn of train was heard"

The two men left.

Divya and her father remained seated. Divya's train - 56435 JAYNAGAR - PATNA Intercity Express was late by an hour.

***

Asuvidha ke liye hume khed hai." heard Nitin as he recahed the station.

Nitin's heart was beating fast & eye searching restlessly for Divya as he reached and as the seconds passed by on his digital watch - a Fastrack streetwear digital black dial watch on his muscular wrist, bought recently from Flipkart Big Billion Day sale. Big Billion Days are rage nowadays.

Nitin typed "I'm sorry, I should have been here sooner" with his eyes engaged in scanning the platforms, Nitin had become a master typist on his keypad phone - an elegant Nokia 2700 model phone. He didn't need to see keypad inorder to type. It was gifted by Divya to Nitin on his last Birthday.

"What if the train had come on time and I had left? I'm going to be away for the entire year, do you even care for me." a subtle reply came in from Divya.

Nitin's irical focus rested on just half of the message, he was relieved that the train was late.

But Divya still seemed nowhere.

Where was she ?

"Yaatri Gan Kripya Dhyan De'n, Jaynagar Se Chalkar Via Hajipur Junction Patna Junction Ko Jaane waali train Sankhya 56435 Jaynagar Intercity Express apne samay sima se ek ghante vilamb chal rahi hai. Asuvidha ke liye hume khed hai."

"May I have your attention please, train No. 56435 is running late by 1 Hour. Inconvenience is regretted"

Heard NItin, as he rad on the the big digital board - 'Platform No. 5' on the entrance of the Station's arrrival section . Our railways has been advance in this sphere, they had installed the smart screens prior to it was introduced in our eductional institutions. Interesting, isn't it?

***

Finally the searching eyes of Nitin found out Divya on Platform no. 5.

He saw Divya seated on the bench, though her eyes conveyed that she was upset, she looked in her radiant in her emerald green Kurta and denim jeans.

He was 'awestruck' by the graceful way she carried her outfit, dazzling among the hundreds of people around on the platform. Infact, he always was - during his school days, during coaching days, during the time they walked together back to their homes from the coaching centres.

Divya is an attractive and beautiful girl in her early 20s - she has a petite frame, with a bit of curves.. Her long, wavy black hair frames her heart-shaped face, with her prominent nose pointing up. Her almond shaped eyes are a deep, captivating brown, under delicately curved eyebrows. Her lips are full and pink, giving her a sweet and innocent look. Her skin is flawless, a light olive color with a hint of warmth. Her smooth, flawless complexion gives her a gentle, ethereal vibe."

Divya's eyes instantly found out Nitin looking at her from one end of the platform. How she can't.... even she can identify Nitin by his bodily fragrance. Their hearts had this unique connection that they'd know if they are nearby. Just like if one's hotspot is open and the moment you come close your connection is made in miliest second possible.

An angry expression crossed her face.

"You mean the world to me.... sorry na " texted Nitin earnestly standing on the platform, looking at Divya's eyes. This text was not needed as his eyes already revealed what he meant.

"A kiss can only be your saviour." Divya responded.

"Are you serious ? how on this platform."

"I don't know." Divya made her point.

"Are you challenging me?" To which she responded with a assertive nod. She was not in a mood of any compromise today.

Nitin was in classic dilemma now. If he doesn't give what she asked for, he will be termed loser and the fact that Divya's father was with her made it impossible for him.

He then started fidgeting to perform the assigned task and not to lose game and being termed loser. But, alas, the train arrived. A classic situation we all face while in such times. Don't we ?

The platform was instantly filled with a sudden hush and rush of activity.

Nitin was nowhere to be seen among the crowd as Divya's eyes kept searching for Nitin.

Divya took her seat on the train; it was side lower window seat. Her father trying best to control his emotions bid farewell to her only daughter Divya.

Divya took out her cellphone - an elegant Nokia 2780 foldable flip cellphone, the cellphone which some rich people could only afford, after all, her father was a Mukhiya at some point of time.

Divya dialled Nitin's number. "You can't even give me a kiss!", she said.

Nitin replied with a grin, "Yes, I wanted to give you more!" as he said this coming infront of Divya on the train.

Divya's eye remained wide open as she saw Nitin present infront of her. Was this for real ? she asked herself. Her brows touching her forehead, her breath stopped midway !

Nitin leaned towards her and without caring for many passengers seeing them

landed on Divya's lips asserting that yes he was there and he was there for real making her disbelief crumble in seconds.

Indian public nowadays become self obsessed and seldom do they interrupt it seemed.

Nitin sat beside Divya. The passenger of the seat was yet to board it seemed.

Slowly, Nitin wrapped his arm around Divya's curved waist and pulled her closer, giving her a gentle, passionate kiss again.

They both felt the warmth of each other, their gaze lingering together.

Divya let out a soft sigh as the kiss ended and Nitin gently brushed away the few strands of hair that had fell out of her bun during the kiss.

They loved sharing warm and romantic touches as the train traversed through Bihar. Nitin whispered sweet nothings against Divya's ear, further adding to the romantic atmosphere.

The train journey continued and the time flew by unnoticed. Both feeling if it could last for eternity.

Realizing the fact that train was moving fast and Nitin will have to get off the train soon... Divya turned emotional.

*tearful eyes* I'll miss you so much Nitin.

Nitin: "I'll also miss you too much Divya." *Pulls her closes so that she don't go away, kisses her forehead*

"I promise to keep this kiss safe in my heart, until we meet again." said Divya

As the train moved at a steady speed, Divya was's were becoming more intense and so of Nitin....

She wanted Nitin to stay beside her at the same time she knew she'll have to let him go. A cruel dilemma, we lovers always go through. Don't we ?

Divya felt if she could have stopped the clock, the train or for the god's grace, the rotation of the earth. She felt if she could just stop the sun from setting it today. She felt, if they could just sit there for the eternity.

But, alas, nothing was in her hands today.

When life gives you lemon, you need to make lemonade. That's what was the necessity of the time now. Both had their dreams and dreams have their own costs.

We'll have paid the cost for our dreams at some point of time in life ? Haven't we ?

Sure enough, at the seventh station, Nitin got off and waved goodbye.

With a surge of emotions on her face, Divya looked out of the window, as he disappeared in the crowd.

Along the way, Divya was feeling the presence of Nitin, the kiss, the touches, the sweetness and the innocense. She was relieved to have him by her side as she embarked on an inevitable journey to Patna. Although there were feelings of sadness and longing, Divya felt a wave of contentment knowing she had the best of memories with Nitin to keep with her.

It was the perfect ending to an unexpected day of romance.