The Powerful Thieves!

They saw them approaching. It was the scene they had never seen before. It was like 1000 horses galloping at the same time. Little Mano who just turned 5, held his trousers tight in his hand, so that it won't fall down. Shruti, a girl of 8, hid her face behind her mom's skirt as though it will prevent her from the upcoming peril. The brigade reached them. They cut through the crowd easily, just like a virus infecting the weaker host. 

A man of 40, leader from that contingent stepped forward and shouted facing the crowd. "You all should leave this place immediately! This will be taken over by the government for research purposes. All of you should board yourself on the trucks. We will take you to the refugees camp."

"We are not refugees", shouted Shiv. "We are living here for the past 30 years. Why we have to leave all of a sudden?"

The leader didn't reply. He reached out for his pocket and took out a firearm. Aimed at the sky, pulled the trigger. The gun vomited the bullet and it tried its best to reach the skies. The sound echoed everywhere! 

Mano let his trousers go off for a second then got it back again. He started crying. Shruti was way ahead of Mano in crying. Ravi gave a insipid look, took a step forward. "We are not leaving!" He shouted. The leader without a second thought or a pause, aimed the gun at Ravi and pulled the trigger. The crowd snarled! It is because of trepidation. Ravi was in ground, now his chest full of blood. He didn't move. Somewhere from the crowd, Ragini, Ravi's wife emerged and came near his body. She sat down and started crying. 

Shruti's dad, a man without a leg started walking diffidently towards the truck with the help of his stick. "Mama, don't do this! You don't have a leg, now don't show you don't have a backbone too!" yelled Shiv. Another bullet came out from the leader's gun. Shiv's lifeless body touched the ground. More crowd started their dead-beat walk to the truck. Leader wore a victory smile on his face. 

We lack leaders. We lack good leaders!

The Girl on the train!

"Sometimes fiction is more realistic than the truth!"

"Hey sucker! Give me a call when you are about to reach the Coimbatore station. I'll be there! Don't be lethargic and sleep all the way." My brother showed his love in his own way. 

I will take a monthly holiday of at least two days every month from my workplace Chennai and will visit my home in Coimbatore. This travel will mostly happen by bus and I liked it that way. Rarely, I will take trains. This time I ended up with train, as it is a day time travel! Credits to one of my friend who insisted me on taking train as the buses will make you more tired. He himself decided that and booked ticket for me without my knowledge. So that I will be left with no choice rather than picking it.  

As soon as I entered the Chennai station I searched for my ticket. After trying all possible wrong pockets, bags and zips I found it successfully inside my wallet. I was shocked when I saw it was second class AC chair car! Wow! I thanked my friend and thought of how I'll escape from not paying this amount to him. I got inside my coach and scattered my bags everywhere. Sat peacefully and pulled out the water bottle. Drinking and making myself comfortable I arranged my bags. The train started moving slowly and surprisingly there is no co-passengers for me.

"Shit! I have to travel all alone?" And I cursed myself for not seeing the other passengers list in hurry.

I heard a voice not so sweet but it assured 'I belong to a girl!'. My eyes tweaked. I tilted my head outside the compartment. A girl as the same age of mine (rough guess) entered the train while talking in phone. She had a travel bag in her hand. Headset to her ears and phone in her jeans pocket. She was in a t-shirt captioned "Fules Ruck!" which literally transformed as "Rules Fuck or Fuck Rules" whatever! Getting on board on a moving train clearly stated that she deserves to wear that t-shirt. She entered my compartment and sat in the seat opposite to me, still talking in phone.

"Mummy, please! I got the train I will call later after reaching Coimbatore, Bye." She cut the phone without waiting for the other side's reply! I left out a sigh. She looked at me, smiled cautiously. And there goes typical boys' weakness.

I murmured 'Hi' but it was audible for her. She looked at me, smiled the same cautious smile again and immersed herself in her bag. I bit my tongue.

***

Half an hour passed, with silence doing the lead role and I am busy in shuffling songs on my phone. None of the song is fully heard as I switched to next and next in the half way itself. And also I couldn't resist myself by not looking at her! My eyes visited her more frequently. No, to be honest, my eyes went away from her very rarely. Suddenly something stricken! I saw this girl elsewhere. Couldn't remember! But for sure, yes! My mind stretched the possibilities. Facebook? Nah! College? Nah! In other college visits? Nah! Schoolmate? Something cracked! I saw her. She is crushing an use and throw tumbler after drinking water. Damn! She was my classmate in school till my 7th standard. And don't ask what is my age now! It is 23! By all probabilities she will be also in same 23.

Several thoughts crossed my mind. She was my bench mate in school and we shared lunch, pencil, rubber, sharpener and whatever. All was well till 7th then our ways departed. But to be honest after leaving her that time I have nothing to worry. I can't even imagine I'll meet that same girl at my 23rd year in a train and in a situation that she has no idea who I'm!

"So how are you Roselin?" Asked my tongue without my knowledge. Startled on hearing her name and surprised how I know it, she saw me in her small eyes and left out a wry smile.

"Are you Shiva?" She questioned but answered it herself, "Yes you're! How are you?" The cautious smile turned into friendly. She stretched her hand, I got it and shook it timorously.

"Yeah great. It's been long time, how are you? What are you doing?" I smiled back.

"Great! I guess..." She looked above and counted in the air by moving her fingers "...it's been 13 years!" She looked at me. Her eyes and body language had no change since that time. Every other things changed a lot. Mainly her voice. "I am working in IT in Chennai uff! Finished my computer science engineering. And you?"

Well its always been a difficult question every time. It will take at least 10 minutes for me to explain it to the questioner, since many won't account my work as a profession! I tried my best with her.

"I'm working as a movie critic. Will write reviews for movie in media."

"Oh cool. But what's your full time profession then? I mean this is a leisure job right?"

She is just a face in the crowd! Hiding my disappointment, I tried to sound normal. "This is my profession. It's media job. I will watch movies at office allowance and will write reviews and my company which is a media will pay me!"

She was very much surprised. Came to ask something but decided against it at the last moment. "Interesting job! Everyone will love to do this!"

I thought of my busy Fridays and my poor situation when 5 movies get released on the same day. Before other competitors our media have to give the review for all! This is hectic.

I changed the topic. "So tell me your favorite movies, books?"

Her eyes became bright. "Huh! I love romantic novels. Chetan Bhagat, Durjoy Dutta, Nikita Singh..." Scratched her head, "and Sidney Sheldon, adventure ones, Harry Potter and many more. In movies all romance movies in any language!"

Her taste is very tasteless! I cursed her. What the... She interrupted my thoughts.

"Ahhhh!" Placed her hand on her head, "forgot one main thing, I'm an ardent fan of Twilight! Both books and movies."

I thought I should jump off from the train.

***

After that we shared the years we spent without each other. Summarizing all the important things happened for us. She were all ears when I recalled by college life, how I followed a girl, how she rejected by proposal, everything. Even I told her how I felt when I got university rank! She was not surprised as we both are studious right from school life.

She talked about her college life. She told about the proposals she got! She told how she got a crush on a senior guy! Her cheeks were red that time. She explained how she refused the marriage proposal, which was put forth before her by her parents. She said she wanted to be independent and have to earn for some more years.

***

Apart from these information, I had noticed some more things. She had gone back to 'Shiv' instead of 'Shiva'. 'Shiv' is the name she called me when we were in school. Even I forgot that, but she remembered! Girls are dangerous. Every time she said "Shiv", her face did a smile. Even though it didn't mean anything, it's a boy's sensation to create a meaning for it! 

Her hair covered her face many times and every time she tucked it back behind her ears. In the start I was counting that, but lost my count when 'Shiv' resurrected again. I got a strange feeling and an unexplained closeness towards her. I wanted to look inside her head to know whether she has this same feeling or not!

***

Coimbatore is on the threshold! 15 more minutes, then Shiv and Roselin will depart on their ways like two different trains. I felt numb. I don't know but I can't ask her number. It's a homogeneous mixture of fear and shyness. 

Her cell phone let out a soft melody romantic song.

"Mom about to reach the station! Yeah platform 7! Wait there. Hello, Hello...." She played with the phone buttons. Took her time. Stared at me. She looked disappointed.

I thought she will say "I'll miss you Shiv!". So thought I can ask her number head high! If she don't like I can say, "Sorry I thought when you said miss me, you meant it! Didn't know it was just in words." Then she will be left with no choice rather than giving the number.

But this is something opposite. "Shiv, my mob got switched off! I want to send my mom an urgent message. Please can you lend me your phone?"

Even at this time I have no courage to ask her number. I thought what on earth I am gonna do with her mom's number? But also thought I can call her sometime, threw the net and can fish for her daughter's number. But wait, I'm not an expert in these things.

Impulse reacted quickly, my mobile was in her hands in no time. She typed something, the message was sent! She returned it back.

We had arrived at the station. The train stopped its journey at platform 7. My confidence is piling up that surely she will ask how to contact me! My heart beat was like the new metro train.  She got off from the train walked few steps, turned back,

"Hope to see you soon Shiv! Sometime on yet another wonderful journey. I am sure we will meet again soon." She winked and smiled. Waved her hand as a good bye!

Finally I got the courage and my mouth called her name. She was surprised and turned back with a question mark on her face. Before I say the next word, her mother appeared out of nowhere. I had to stop my sentence before starting it!

"How are you my child?" She kissed her on forehead, A driver collected her luggage. She smiled her last smile to me and moved away with her mom. I realized I didn't called my brother yet! Shit! Would've called him long back!

I took my phone, called my brother and told I had reached. He cursed me and said will be there in 20 minutes. 3 minutes passed by. I was standing on the same position where she left. I felt sad that I have no backbone to ask a girl her number. Convinced myself that I will meet her again. Decided to take only trains for future travels. Still I felt I am a loser.

A spark! I took my mobile. It must be having her mom's number. If she hadn't deleted the sent items, by luck it will be there. I reached the sent items folder. An unknown number is there. I opened that text message. It read,

"U r such an idiot Shiv! Dnt have courage 2 ask a girl's no.? This is mine, not my mom's! Ping me when you see this, you piggy. And yes I really miss you. Hope to see you soon, msg me back!"

I sat on the platform. Heads down, breathing heavily! How stupid I'm! I stood up let out a sigh. Made myself comfortable in a nearby bench. I messaged her.

"Sorry very sorry! I was afraid that you might mistake me. Yeah miss you too. Can we meet today evening?"

Reply message came the next minute,

"U r a cowardly custard! ;-) :D Evng 5.30, Cafe day! Treat is mine, for our re-unite! Cheers!"

***

Stay with me till it ends...

       He stood there with his cycle, don't know for how long and don't know till when, but he stood there. Just for her. Just for the glimpse of her which would not last more than a minute. A school bus will cross him aggressively. In window seat she will be there. He can see her, she can see him. Don't know how much it mean to her, but for him, it's the greatest gift of his life. If he is lucky, her stare will sometime extend to a formal smile.

Well, of course she knew him. Not just as a school mate, but as a distant relative. He don't know how but in some way she is his cousin. But terms were not good between both families.

He saw the bus which was coming towards him. He can identify it even from a very long distance. The green color bus. He loved it. Only because it carried her. He held the handle bar of his cycle more tightly. His heart beat is faster than the bus. It crossed him, she crossed him. She noticed him. He knew it. Even though she pretended that she didn't, he knew she did. She turned her head the other side, but a smile emerged from her face automatically. It may be a funny and teasing smile, saying "you're an everyday idiot". But he liked it madly.

He picked up his cycle and chased the bus till the nearby turning. He couldn't match up with the speed of the bus. But he was happy more than any other day. He thought it's love!

----------

      She woke up that day very early but all she has to notice is that, he is missing in the bed. Last night, he was there when she covered her head with the blanket. She stood up as fed up and started the search for him. Every morning she loves to wake up next to him so that the first face she sees in the morning will belong to him. She doesn't want to name it as a sentiment but wants to call it as love. The morning hugs are always special and it gives lot of energy when we get it from someone whom we love a lot and from someone who loves us a lot!

She found him. He is sitting on the study table deeply immersed on the papers which are scattered everywhere on the desk. The lamp is still doing its duty even after the room is filled with sunlight. He is writing, his hand is moving slowly with the pen hinting that he has been writing for a very long time. His glasses were little below his eyes as his head is looking down.

She went near and turned the light off. Startled by the movement, he looked up. She smiled. He is expressionless in reply and continued his war with the pen. Blood rushed towards her skull. Eyes furious.

"Can't you say a good morning?" she yelled.

"Good morning!" he replied softly. His tone no match to hers' in terms of audibility.

"Were you working all night?"

"Yes. I guess so!"

"What's the need? You are a novelist I accept but there is no stressful deadlines and you can do it whenever you want!"

"It's not about deadlines. It's the respect for my work. I got a spark, when you closed your face with the blanket and now it resulted in almost 47 pages of words! See..." he showed the papers he wrote the whole night.

"Ok! Mr.Writer. Is that over? For your information we have planned to go out today!" She fired back.

"Oh Sorry! I forgot that. By the way can we postpone it to tomorrow? I need to type this in my system and have to mail it! And then I'm very tired." His face still on the papers.

"Shall I type it out for you? So that you can get some time to sleep and we can go out by evening?"

"No I have to type it out. So that I can correct the mistakes and improvise it on the same time!"

"So that's it? What am I supposed to do now? Watch TV all the day and have to see you happily sleeping and snoring in your bed huh?" She fired the last round of bullets.

He didn't say a word. She left the room. Back to the bed, covered her face with blanket and cried with no sound. She wondered whether he is the same guy who was chasing her bus with a cycle in childhood!

----------

     They both started walking on that lazy morning sun which has two minds on coming out to start the day. She held him close with her hand gripping around his hand. The pavement is still wet because of the last night's rain and the pleasant smell of soil is still in the air. He sniffed and one must say his nose still has power even though he is very old. Her legs were steady even in that age and she supported his comparatively weak legs.

A group of school kids with sweaters and jackets tightened around their uniform crossed them. They all waved their hands to the old couple and said "Good morning" in chorus.

"Good morning" repeated the couple timorously.  They knew their time is near. They have to leave the earth one day very soon. But they had seen it all. He, a successful writer who won many awards, she, a perfect partner, a teacher by profession. The sweet old couple has three kids and all of them well settled. What else they need?

They had walked quite a long distance for their age so they settled themselves on the stone bench nearby. Both of their hands still touching each other. She laid her head on his shoulder and smiled. He took his hands and tickled on her neck. She giggled.

"You will never change!" He murmured with smile on his face.

"Why I have to? I still remember  the mad boy who chased my bus crazily with his cycle!" She laughed.

"And also a writer who ruined your happiness on some occasions by spoiling your plans." He said in a mild tone.

"Yes I do, but I still love that guy, his writing, his skills, his love for me...."

"Well, that proves you are mad too!" He cut short her.

Both of them laughed loudly. Meanwhile, the sun came out very well for another big day!