What was that ?

The tremendous response I received for my previous post made me to do something different to key in. After this fellow's particular post, I have been 'inspired' to try hogging up the cyberspace for a similar venture. So here goes, my new role as a raconteur... And for all those with lots of work to do, come back to this page when you have time. I warn you this is a long story...

It was one of those forlorn railway stations in the suburbs of the metropolis at dusk. I was waiting for the train to come and the platform was deserted except for that dame. That angelic face. That soft, silvery hair that tried to defy gravity ever so softly against the gentle breeze. She was leaning against a pillar looking at the horizon, at the track. I could not believe I was stranded with a beautiful female without a single soul in sight. You have heard/seen this somewhere? Yeah, me too. It brought back memories of a ManiRatnam classic - Dil Se... I know it sounds too good to be true and I found myself pinching hard.

She seemed anxious and kept looking at the track as if that might transport her to wherever she wants to. She seemed to take no notice of me, as if I was invisible. I was thinking hard, very hard to come up with a genuine reason to talk to her. Shall I hide my watch and ask the time? Shall I switch off my cellphone and ask atleast the time? Something seemed to be disturbing her and she was sure looking tensed up. Come on, or you are going to feel sorry for not talking to her. I mustered up courage(?) and decided to make the move. But I was flabbergasted to find her advancing towards me. I could never forget that face, her beautiful hair flowing backwards and those blue-green eyes staring at me. Yes, me! My knees turned jelly, the pulse raced like crazy and wished she would not hear my heart pounding against my chest.

Girl : Do you have a phone?
Me : (Stumped) Hey, that was supposed to be my line. Now what?
Girl : Hello? Do you have a phone? Do you?

She gestured by raising her thumb and sticking her little finger out and bringing that hand close to her left ear. Apparently, she had diagnosed so soon that something is wrong with me.

Me : (Found my voice from nowhere) Phone? Phone, yes. Yes. Sure, I have got a phone.
Girl : I did not ask that question to conduct any survey, I want to make an urgent call to dad. I need to let him know that the train is late and not me. So if you have got a phone please take it out of those deep recesses of your God-knows-when-you-last-washed jeans. Can I please make a call? It is very important.

The apparent sarcasm and that hint of rudeness was covered up with such a sweet voice and a pretty face, that I found myself bending backwards to give her the phone. It was only after giving her the phone, did my paranoia return.
What if she runs away with my phone? What am I doing here, getting infatuated with a nobody and gifting my phone? No way, she can outrun me. Then, I take a look at those shapely legs. She looks at me but does not say anything and is still fiddling with the phone without dialling. I do not want to be seen leching and so I turn away. What if she turns out to be a martial arts expert and downs me with a single kick? Nah. She is so beautiful and I am not a pervert to misbehave with her. Would I have given my phone if a guy or an old-aged lady asks for? Nah! I see her advancing to me again.

Girl : I am not comfortable with this model of the phone and I simply could not unlock its keypad. So, I switched off, removed the battery and thought that would remove the lock, but it asks for a password. So can you help me out here?

Now, I was mildly angry that this girl was taking things for granted. Hell, she was taking me for granted.

Me : Why did you remove its battery? You asked for my help to unlock itself. Where was I at that time? On Mars?
Girl : Yeah, and I am from Venus. (giggles followed from her)

That was a most stupid reply but that giggle got me. She had me there. I made a mental note not to feel happy when a dame giggles at me like that. Now, I unlocked the keypad and gave it to her. Our fingers caught each other. The touch. But she seemed nonchalant. She banished me to Mars once again. Hey what if her dad was somewhere in Europe or Australia? I am phobic towards mobile phone bills and I consistently run up gigantic ones. I was wondering how much I am going to pay for a call that I did not make.

Hey wait a minute! What if she is a terrorist? No way! How do you know she is? How do you know she is not? Do terrorists arrive with photo IDs? But how can this girl be? Thus, I was battling with myself about this mysterious damsel in apparent distress. So I decided to do the most cultured and ethical act. Eavesdrop.
"I'll be home soon. I am really at the railway station. No I did not do... I'll be at home soon..."
I have never been a witness to a more mundane one-end conversation. But what if all that were spoken were code words? What if that call detonated an explosive somewhere? The police would follow the trail and break into my house at the dead of the night and I would have to explain the call I never made. Hell, they would never want an explanation, only a confession. With these morbid thoughts swirling in my mind, I turned to look at her and she handed me my phone with the sweetest smile that my heart skipped a beat. Oh My God! Let this be true...

Girl : My phone broke on the way, and so I had to ask for yours. Thanks a lot for this help.
Me : Oh no problem. It is not everyday that I get to help out a person in an emergency. You seem to be in a hurry.
Girl : I was. But now I informed my dad, so I can calmly wait for the train.
Me : (gathering all my courage once again) There seems to be a problem with the train and it does not seem to be arriving anytime. There is a coffee shop very very near by, and I tell you it is very good. Shall we go there and wait till we find the level-crossing gate being lifted up? If you do not feel like it, then 'we' need not go....
Girl : (without hesitation which only gladdens my heart) Sure. Lets go.

We held hands and talked really boring stuff, nothing personal, but that was the most memorable evening I ever had. We both exchanged numbers and parted ways and I was waiting like crazy for her call. The call never came. Her number was still switched off. The next day passed and night came. But sleep did not. It was because of her. It was well past mid night and I switched on the TV. The door was suddenly broken into and a horde of policemen came barging in when my eyes fell on to the unread newspaper on the table that headlined an explosion yesterday dusk at a nearby city.....