It was a Friday. A
decade back. I kept calling him up so many times throughout the day. Minimum 30
times, I am sure! His phone kept ringing, and I got fed up by hearing the
lady’s voice again and again, saying, ‘the person you are calling is
unavailable to pick your call.”
My frustration level
was piling up. I could assume that last few days, he had been trying to ignore
me for some reasons. My colleagues were also enquiring if everything was alright
with me. I maintained silence.
I thought of calling
him up again from the bus, while returning from my office.
I boarded the bus at
Nehru Place. It started raining. The crowded bus accelerated my frustration. The
smell of sweat, rain-drops from the windows, push from every direction, fights
for woman’s seats, the typical Haryanvi slangs, all these spices didn’t give
me space to take out the phone and call him from the bus.
Anyways, I got down
from the bus at my destination. It was still pouring heavily. I halted for a
while in the bus stand. I thought of calling him up for the last time. My
fingers started searching for the phone inside the bag. But….Whoaaaa!!! The
phone was not there. I sat in a corner, took out most of the stuff from the bag,
but could not find the handset. My anger, frustration, situation, everything
made my eye-drops rolling out to make my lips salty. One or two on-lookers
approached me to offer help. I totally agreed to the popular saying – “When
troubles come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.”
However, the rain
showed no indication to stop. I thought of walking in that rain as my room was
not so far. And I did. I was fully drenched. I could hear one drunkard
whistling at me.
I entered the open PCO,
which was almost next to my room. I dialed my Mom to break the news that I had
lost my mobile phone. And, then, I dialed his number….. Probably looking at the
unknown number, he picked up the call.
“Hello..” His voice.
“I lost my mobile
phone.” I was calm….I think the rain had already coolen my head.
“Oops….bad news…but,
how it happened?” He showed his courtesy.
“Can you come to meet
me now?” My straight question, while I had no mood to explain how I lost my
mobile phone.
“Nowww? Hey, not
possible!!! It’s raining so heavily……and, and, my friends are planning to have a
get-together in the evening…! So,…I think it won’t be possible…” Almost strong
statement.
“Yes! It’s raining cats
& dog…but, my heart is roaring. I would be waiting for you even in the rain,
in front of 69, Bhagawan Nagar……till you come down. I don’t care whatever
happens. I will not enter my home.” And, I didn’t wait to hear his response,
kept the phone on the cuddle.
His room was just half
a kilometer away. I kept waiting in the rain in front of my home. Thank God! My
landlords used to live in the first floor. Rainy chill and continuous wind made
me tremble. But, I was firm. Even, rain also tested my tolerance level. No
break, but, no give-up!
After almost half an
hour, I could see him far away…..in miasma, walking slowly towards me……with an
umbrella….Probably, he came to check whether I was actually waiting for him in
that heavy shower…
While he was just few
meters away from me…… I almost ran and hugged him tight. Thank God! He didn’t
take a turn!!! He patted my back slowly after a while, shielded me from the
heavy raindrops with his umbrella…..
And yes……that hug was
not for a while…….but, for the whole life….I didn’t let him go away……. Poor
Guy!
And now, ‘TODAY’, we completed
tenth year…..