‘Dhara calling…’
Finally Nishant’’s wait came to an end. He disconnected the call and called her back. She picked up instantly.
“Hello. Where are you?” she asked.
“I’m at the station, sitting on the platform.” He replied casually.
“Why did you disconnect my call?”
“This number's on roaming, I told you before. What happened to you?” He asked her back.
“Arey, kuch nahi yaar! As usual I was hoping to wake up by your morning call…” she went on in her usual childlike- tone. “I totally forgot that you were on train. I couldn’t wake up, and missed my first class. Now there’s no use of going for the next class at 10:30. And I don’t want to attend Ethics class. So there goes my full day…”
“Oh, don’t worry!” He said in a merry tone. ”Now you’ve got plenty of time to get ready! “
“Get ready? What for?” She teased him.
“Why? Are you not coming?”
“Where?”
“Wherever you say….”
“But why?”
“To meet me, of course!”
She giggled. He scowled.
“Did I crack a joke or what?”
“No, obviously not!” she continued to giggle.
“Then why are you giggling?”
“That’s because I’m not coming to meet you…!”
And she started laughing. There was no response from the other side.
“Err… hello?” she spoke out in a confused tone.
Still there wasn’t any response. She looked at her phone, bringing it down from her ear and saw that the call hadn’t been disconnected. She brought it near her ear again, and said, “Hello mister, what happened?”
“So you aren’t coming then?” came a slow reply from the other end.She giggled again. “Ok, now don’t sulk. I’m coming, 11 am sharp. Just tell me where to meet. Ok?”
His frown turned into a smile. He looked up and saw the platform clock at a distance. It was 9:05 am. He needed to hurry. He picked up his bag and rushed towards the exit gate.
“I’ll tell you about the meeting place. Let me reach my brother’s first. I have no idea about this place as such, and you know that very well.”
“Yes, I know… but make sure it’s somewhere well connected by the metro…”
“yaa fine!” he panted, as he was now speeding up. “And hey, listen.”
“Yes?” she replied.
“Don’t bring any of your friends with you. Come alone.”
“No way, I can’t agree to every condition you put up. I’m bringing Tanya with me, and she’ll, as usual, be accompanied by her boyfriend. So that’ll be the three of us.”
“No, please… try to understand my problem. I’m not that handsome and smart. And you haven’t seen me yet. I want you to see me all by yourself for the first time.”
“Hmm,” she smiled conspicuously. “I’ll think about it.”
“Please, do come alone. Anyways, now I should hang up. I need to run fast in order to meet you at eleven o’ clock sharp.”
“ok, see you, bye!”
“Bye Dhara!”
And the call disconnected.
