Its was just another day

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A hectic day, a skipped lunch and a frustrated one-on-one employee appraisal meeting, it was a rather bad day and all I waited for the daily evening basketball game to get myself at ease.

Exiting the office with my laptop back slung over my shoulder and a mobile phone wedged between my titled head and shoulder while I searched for my Marlboro, I bump into someone or something. I just whizzed off not even looking or checking on what or who I had bumped into. Off I went dislodging my phone from the wedge as I lit my tobacco roll. The world around was bustling in a hurried pace to keep up its appointment with the weekend meetings while I paced myself enjoying my Marlboro. After each puff of smoke made me recollect the day that went and made me think about the new week ahead. The tobacco was extinguished while my thoughts wandered around the week to come and the consequences of the day’s events.

Thought kept wandering while my 5:45 daily came and left the platform. Few glances from known faces in the train, a few calls of attention; all to no avail as the train. The din of the working day was over as the 6:10 daily left. I missed that as well. I missed it as I stared on the blank wall across the platform.

“That is the second train you missed Mister and I thought you were in a hurry?” said a voice

“Well, I guess that means I will have to board the 3^rd train eh?” I replied rather instinctively as I turned around to the source of the voice. The source was a young female who had this rather frustrated look on her face.

“I do not care whether you take the 3^rd train or not, all I know is that I have time to take out my revenge since the next train is another 30 minutes away”

Her comment was rather strange; after all why is she telling me about her revenge? Well my thought process was not be used as I got a stomp on my foot and that too a rather pointed stomp on my big toe.

“Ouch!! What the hell that for??” I yelled as I did a hop-scotch and skip.

“My revenge!!” she said rather angrily

“Revenge? For what lady what harm did I bring to you?”

“Well about an hour and half ago, you batter rammed into me near the Azcon Plaza and you did not even have the nerve to at least say sorry!”

“Batter ram? Lady it was small bump okay. There was no harm done.”

“No harm!! You bumped into me and almost hurt my baby” she said as she pointed down on a baby carrier which had a baby in it

“You bumped into me straight on when getting down the stairs that I lost hold of the carrier and I dropped my little Natasha” her voiced choked when she said those words.

I was taken back, I felt guilty and apologized to her.

“Yeah sorry, Sorry that you did not bump me hard to knock me and Natasha out!”

I just kept quiet and wondered why the hell I missed the 6:10 daily and then I mustered up some courage and said

“Natasha is nice name, I cannot do something bad to such a name.”

“Yeah! I know!!” she said (I guess rather sarcastically)

I wish I could say something more after all here I was standing and trying to concentrate on why she is still mad at me even after knowing that there has been no harm for her and Natasha.

I just kept dazing at her, she was pretty and yet I this pretty face had a temper she all set to bite my head off.

“Listen lady I am really sorry.” I muttered

“Oh don’t be. Nothing is more annoying than an insincere apology and put away that cigarette will you.” I guess my rather calm and clumsy attitude was only adding more fuel to it. Natasha, on the other hand was quite happy to have a new company.

“Looks like I am not the only one who had a rough day.” I told her, quite amused by her tantrum.

15 minutes for the third train and the platform was getting back to its chaotic best. On an ordinary day, the crowd and heat would have made me uncomfortable but today my attention was captivated by a fire breathing damsel.

“Hey! If you did not know, you can give Natasha a look and make her feel a part of this conversation!” she whizzed

I guess figured out that I my gazes were getting a bit too suffocating for her or she must have had this “is something wrong with my appearance” feeling. Though I would have liked to tell her that her cream mustache made from the cappuccino she was having was sinfully delicious.

“By the way my name is Karan. I work for the Commonwealth Bank as Sale Coordinator.”

“Did I ask for your introduction? Are you also planning to hand over your bio data to me?” She looked straight into my eyes. Man! She had beautiful eyes

I smiled and said “Natasha is such a beautiful happy baby with even temper. Wish I could say the same about you. Don’t you think you should learn the art of happiness from her? It would help you big time”

I knew this would only infuriate her more but than I somehow wanted to continue this conversation with her.

“I think you have trouble minding your own business. You don’t have to tell me what are my dos and don’ts. NOW will you excuse me?”

I am sure she also said “God this man is annoying.”

“The next train is going to arrive any minute now and it will be quite rude of me not to help a beautiful princess board the train. I am very glad I bumped into you Princess Natasha. And lady dragon you are excused.” I told with careless wave of my hand.

I am sure her heart stopped beating for while when I called her LADY DRAGON.

“What the” she replied

“How dare you call me by that name? Just who do you think you are??”

“Since you refused to introduce yourself, I took the liberty of naming you. Besides it suits you well.” Natasha was smiling happily with her hands in the air. “See even Natasha is in full agreement with me” I said with mischievous look.

“Ah now don’t give me that look. If looks could kill I would be a dead man already.” I said

Her temper had reached boiling point, I could make it out from her face. Pink red. Hot Red. Man! She was lovely.

She just walked off to the magazine counter, leaving me with Natasha.

“Hey! Don’t forget your baby, the last thing I need is you complaining that I tried running her over with a train”

Ignorance is bliss. That was her motto as she paid for a magazine, walked towards me, picked up Natasha and walked a few distance so she could distance herself me.

I kept my distance while I watched her as she carelessly turned the glossy pages of the magazine without actually reading anything in particular.

The silence between was quiet beautiful at least for me as I stared at this beautiful eyed frown face. “How could she look so damn attractive with that frown on her face?” I wondered

She even had beautiful and slender hands, they looked so delicate that I actually wanted to touch them to know for sure that they are for real.

I lost my patience and just walked up to her.

“Which magazine are you reading?” I asked as I peeped into her book. Well I actually leaned a bit too much to get a peep into the book.

She stomped on my foot again.

“Ouch!! That hurts!” I squealed and then said “ Ah! Vogue, interesting read but then I prefer sports magazine.”

She kept mum. I guess it was back to Ignorance is Bliss.

Natasha was growing restless as there was no real activity for her so I lifted her from the carrier and started talking to her. Natasha was happy in my arm and was trying to grab my attention with her own gibberish talks.

“I guess Natasha has just had her first crush” I said

She silently chided herself.

After a few minutes of gibberish and little Natasha dozed off.

“The Princess is asleep” I said as I carefully put Natasha back in carrier and looked at her mom. We just stared at each other.

Train halted at the platform before I could communicate any further with her. There were million questions I wanted to ask that demanded answers.

She and Natasha got in the train with I just stood still on the platform with blank expression.

“Looks like you have seen the ghost. Get in before you miss this train as well.”

I got in the compartment and silently took the seat opposite her as she handed me Natasha and her carrier.

“Hold her and see if there is any progress in the first crush while I read this magazine”

“My name is Avya and that’s my niece you are holding”

“Ah! Should have guessed, you are too young to be a mother” I said

And before she can retaliate I just went and asked

“Is it not rather awkward that Natasha’s parents have let her out with a rather insensitive aunt?”

She just closed her magazine and turned her face towards the window. Ignorance is Bliss again.

The 45 minutes train journey passed away with me staring trying to figure out if Natasha is really Avya’s niece and if Avya is single.

My station was nearing and I was to place the carrier beside Avya.

“Don’t bother. You keep carrying her after all she will be safer with a sensitive stranger”

I was kind of taken back for I was not expecting her to say anything.

“I also get down here” she said as she got up and went towards the door leaving me with Natasha.

I followed her carrying Natasha in one hand and slinging my laptop on the other shoulder.

The train stopped. We got out on the platform. I wanted to give Natasha back but I just could to muster up the words to her beauty eyed aunt.

“Since you babysat Natasha all this while, I guess I can offer you a coffee at North’s coffee shop near your apartment” she said

I stopped on my tracks as I wondered how she knew where I lived.

“Uh! How do you know my apartment?”

“Never mind the answer. The question is do you want the coffee or not?” she said

A free coffee and a bite of some chocolate cake that is being topped with the presence of an angled eyed beauty were too hard to turn down. Moreover that day being one of those month end days had its own financial constrains when it came to affording a luxurious evening coffee.

Natasha had woken up by the time I finished my coffee, while Avya just kept reading her magazine. It was complete silence.

“How old is she?”

“18 months”

“Where are her parents?”

“Her mother, my sister, passed away few months back and the dad is a hopeless soul”

“Uh? Does that mean you feed her?”

She looked straight into my eye while I moved away my feet from the proximity of her pointed shoes.

“You are a curious one are you not?”

I smiled sheepishly

“No, her mother passed away when Natasha was 15 months and by that time she had been accustomed to processed baby milk”

I wanted to know more but then instead I ordered for another piece of chocolate and one more cappuccino.

“I and my parents take care of her now. I had gone to the get her vaccinated when I bumped into you. I was also in a hurry so did not see you coming. I am sorry about that”

I felt really guilty and at the same time awed at this angled eyed beauty. She was no more a lady dragon.

Avya got a call on her cell, it was from home, while she talked to them, I tempted little Natasha with a piece of cake.

“Well, I guess it is time for you fellas to leave uh?” I whizzed after I overheard some of Avya’s conversation over the phone.

She nodded as she signaled for the bill. The bill arrived and after a few rounds of debating we decided on sharing the bill expenses.

“Well I guess, that is it uh?” I said as we exited the coffee shop

“Yes, it is. Natasha really loved her first date” she said with a smile.

“Oh is it. That is sweet”

“Good Bye Karan and by the way your phone bill is due”

“What? How did you know that?”

“I have known you for the past 2 years. Karan you need a break and also need to shed that Mr.Nerd tag that you have in office”

I just stood there amazed. Avya and Natasha walked away while I tried to contemplate on how I missed this angel eyed damsel knew me so well.

I got back home still reeling from my meeting I had. Opened up my cupboard and took out my Whisky to sooth down my nerves that had been rattled by Avya.

Before I could take my first sip, my phone rang. It was someone from my office as the number displayed on my cell was from the series assigned to company’s closed user group connection.

“Hello, Karan speaking”

“Karan, this Avya from the HR department, sorry for bothering you after office hours, I called up to inform you that you have a lunch appointment with me tomorrow. Ms.Natasha finds you very interesting for a first crush”

I emptied the whisky, I had poured, down the drain. I kept my whisky bottle back in the cupboard. I had an early shower and just went to bed.

The day was hectic but the evening was better the basketball game I had wanted to play.