10:30 AM: THE 'RESCHEDULE'-ING CALL

      A new song started to play on Dhara's handset. It was Nishant calling. She hesitantly picked up the phone and received the call.

      "Hey!" she said. 'Oh God! I'm not ready yet. Why do you have to call?' she thought.

       "HELLO?" he shouted helplessly. "HELLO DHARA, CAN YOU HEAR ME?" 'Please say that you can't hear me and assume that I'm stuck in a bad traffic.' he thought.

        She winced at the yell coming from the other end and held the phone a few centimetres away from her ear. 'Why is he shouting at such a high pitch?' Slowly she put the phone closer to her ear and the next minute she understood. The loud honks of the buses and cars were overshadowing Nishant's voice. Delhi's dirty traffic!

       "Yes Nishant, I can hear you clearly. Tell me, what's the matter?" Dhara spoke reassuringly. 'Please say you'll be late. I'm not ready yet!'

         "DHARA, WOULD YOU MIND SPEAKING A LITTLE LOUDER? I REALLY CAN'T HEAR YOU!" he continued in the same high pitched voice. 'Has she already dressed up for the meeting? Oh no, please don't!'

            "OKEY! I ASKED WHAT'S THE MATTER? WHY HAVE YOU CALLED?" Dhara shouted helplessly. 'You idiot! Now I'll indirectly be relaying 'our meeting news' to all the girls living herein.'

             "I HAVE BAD NEWS FOR YOU. I'VE JUST REACHED BADARPUR, AND IT'S ALREADY HALF PAST TEN. I DON'T THINK I'LL BE ABLE TO MEET YOU BY ELEVEN." 'Am I in trouble? Will she refuse to come to meet me?'

  "OH, THAT'S REALLY SAD! BUT..." 'Now it's time for some fun... BINGO!'

  "BUT WHAT?" 'There goes my date! Boo hoo hoo...'

       "I'M ALREADY DRESSED UP, AND TANYA HAS ALSO ARRIVED WITH HER BOYFRIEND. WE'RE ALL SET TO CONFRONT YOU." 'Oh poor bloke! You must be sweating now...'

        "NO NO NO NO... DON'T DO THIS TO ME DHARA. I SWEAR I'LL RUN AWAY IF I SEE ANYONE ELSE OTHER THAN YOU WAITING FOR ME." 'Thank God she can't see me sweating right now!'

         "HMM... LET'S SEE MR. NISHANT. JUST TRY TO MEET ME BY TWO PM SHARP. AND THIS TIME, I WON'T FORGIVE ANY EXCUSES. TWO PM, INDIA GATE. IS THAT FINE?" 'Hopefully I'll be ready by then...if I start getting ready now.'

         "YEAH, IT'S PERFECTLY FINE. EVEN I WAS THINKING OF THE SAME PLACE. BY THE WAY, WHICH METRO STATION IS IT?" 'Phew, that was close!'

         "CENTRAL SECRETARIAT." 'Come on Dhara, hurry up! Life never gives you a second chance.'

         "OKEY THEN... SEE YA. BYE DHARA!" 'Run Nishant! You've got your desired opportunity.'

   "BYE!"
'&$%@$%! No water! What do I do now?'

9:15 AM: Dhara’s say:

After Sonali and Anushree had left for college, I was the only one left in our room. I could still hear the rest of my hostel mates getting ready for their respective classes. I removed my blanket and slowly got up to bolt the door, only to hastily return to my bed and wear my blanket once again. ‘November has turned really cold!’

As I lay in my blanket, I skimmed through the messages in the inbox of my cell phone. There was a tail of messages from Mayur, which I was barely interested in reading. Next were some messages from Nishant and others were random messages from my friends. The inbox was almost full, so I decided to empty it, however keeping the messages from Mayur and Nishant.

Mayur is, so as to say, my boyfriend. Mayur and I had started off simply as friends. Gradually, friendship turned into a type of fondness for each other. We used to talk on phone, as well as message each other regularly. We had just one date and that too I was accompanied by my best friend, Nishu. So it can’t be called ‘a date’ altogether. However everything was going on just fine, except that he was very possessive and I really hated that (although I liked it in the beginning!). Now it has been three months since the day I had ‘officially accepted’ him as my boyfriend, but I cannot entirely say that I was ‘in love’ with him. Of course, who would fall in love by meeting a person just once? ‘Love at first sight’? Forget it!

Nishant was a different case. I never took him as my friend. He wasn’t my boyfriend either. But there was one thing that I could neither hide nor express- I liked him very much. Although I had never seen him, I had developed some affection for him from the day I talked with him on the phone for the first time. He was the perfect person, just the way I had dreamt of having someone special in my life. I wanted to meet him once, in order to find out whether he was really this person that I like so much or was he just some kind of illusory. Finally today’s the D-day when I’m going on a blind date with him.

I was still yawning and feeling lazy to get up from bed. Slowly the hostel started emptying as the girls left for their classes, except for one or two, who either had their classes in the afternoon or were just too lazy and bunk their classes just like me. When the girls leave for college, the corridor is filled with sounds of high heels, or wedges, or the dragging of shoes or fashionable sandals. Now that the hostel was almost empty, I could hear a familiar sound of ‘hawai chappals’ being dragged from a distance. The dragging sound continued to grow louder and louder and stopped in front of my room.

Knock, knock…

“Who is it?” I called out from underneath my blanket, although I knew who was there outside, knocking.

“Dhara didi, its Madan here. You haven’t taken your breakfast yet.”

Madan was the hostel cook and caretaker. Although he was in his mid-thirties, he used to call each one of us by our names accompanied by ‘didi’(elder sister). He used to keep track of each one of ours activities. This morning I hadn’t taken my breakfast, so he had come to ask about it.

“I am not in the mood of breakfast now Madan. Just keep aside something for me. I’ll have it after I take a wash. Is the geyser on?”

“Haan didi. But there’s a bad news today. I suppose you would prefer to take your bath as soon as possible.” He continued from the other side of the closed door.

“Bad news?” I stopped fiddling with my phone and sat down in attention. “What is it?”

“MCD* is stopping water supply after eleven o’ clock today. So you better have your bath fast and store water if you require. I’ll keep some breakfast aside for you.” Saying so Madan left, as I heard him dragging his chappals away.

I sat there shaken. ‘No water after eleven? Oh no! I haven’t even brushed my teeth… and it’s already…’ I took a look at the clock on Anushree’s study table.

“TEN THIRTY!!! OH MY GOD!!!”

P.s. I was late… terribly. Thank God, he didn’t mind that much and we were happy to see each other.

*Municipal corp. Delhi

9:15 AM: Nishant’s say:

After much hustle and bustle, I managed to hop on a bus destined to Badarpur. I had no idea about where I was heading to. All I knew was that I had to be free by eleven o’ clock sharp or else I would miss the first date of my life.

I bought a ticket at ten rupees and put my ‘Aristocrat’ below the seat I chose to be seated upon. The seats were very narrowly spaced. Of course, it was nobody’s business to place the seats at fair distances keeping in mind that some people might be six feet tall too! However it does pose a difficulty for me and my long legs many times. Somehow, I managed to tuck in my legs underneath the seat in front, and tried to be comfortable in my own seat by the window. I looked outside and saw the conductor shouting at his loudest, trying to gather passengers for his already full bus.

“Ajao… Badarpur, Badarpur, Badarpur… “

The bus started after about half an hour. It was November end, and the air had started to turn chilly. The veering wind brushed my face and I started to feel sleepy. I rested my head on the windowsill and slowly closed my eyes. Soon many a thought crossed my mind.

I thought about my brother, whom I would meet today after about a year and a half. Bhaiyya works here, in Delhi, whereas I’m posted in Guwahati for my work. Although this time I was travelling from my hometown, bhaiyya and I seldom meet at home or are on leave together. Anyways, this time I thought I would meet him here itself since I was travelling through Delhi, even if it might be for one day.

Actually I am here for some other business altogether. I have my colleague’s wedding to attend in the next two days. For that I’ll have to meet up with some of my other colleagues and then travel to Chandigarh, where the wedding was scheduled to take place. Attending a wedding is a really tiring business, especially when you have to come all the way from Guwahati to attend it. But of course, it was my leave period too, which I had happily spent at home the past two weeks.

When I say ‘happily’, i mean contentedly- not having to wake up early to leave for work, not having to be upset about brunch or dinner, no bossy seniors, no chattering colleagues. The only problem at home was that, I couldn’t talk to Dhara freely. Whenever she used to call me, I would have to run to the rooftop to have a chat with her, or else my mother and little sister would start giggling at the sight of me talking to a girl on phone.  The only person at home who knew about her was Bhabhi (sister-in-law).

Bhabhi was typically my friend with whom I could share my innermost feelings. Not only Dhara, I had told her about every other girl I used to like, or stare at. She would listen to everything I say, laugh at my jokes and even advise me now and then. I had told her this time that I was planning to meet Dhara in Delhi, and that I was starting to like her gradually. In fact, I had told Bhabhi each and everything that I knew about her- each and everything, except that single thing which troubles me a lot- Dhara already has a boyfriend!

Suddenly, my eyes opened as the bus came to a halt with screeching breaks. I came to know that it was the last stop as the whole bus started emptying. I pulled out my bag again and got down from the bus. I had finally reached Badarpur, and it was already thirty minutes past ten!

“Oh Crap!”

P.s. the time of our meeting was rescheduled, of course!

8:45 AM: THE 'SCHEDULE'-ING CALL

‘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.

      

8:30 AM: Dhara’s say(Part 2)

 Her question struck me. Mayur could have waked me up! But why didn’t he?

I quickly opened my inbox, and saw last night’s messages.

Yes, now I remember.

I had a fight with him last night- over some stupid idiotic thing. And that’s the reason why there are no dozens of ‘early morning “I love u my angel” messages’ or any missed calls on my phone. I felt anger rise again.

“I fought with him last night.”

 Before Sonali could ask anything else, Anushree entered with two plates of breakfast (neither one for me, of course!). Both of them started gobbling their share, as I lay on my bed, pitying myself for not getting ready and going to college, missing a day’s attendance.

 After they finished, Anushree took her bag and rose to leave.

“Are you coming?” She asked Sonali.

“Just give me two minutes…” She replied, as she gulped her last bite of bread and started searching for her notebooks.

“Ok. I’m waiting outside. Bye!” Anushree waved at me and left.

“Bye.” I said.

“Are you not coming even for the rest of your classes?” Sonali asked, putting her notebooks inside her bag.

  “Err… no. Maybe I’m going to meet him in the afternoon. So got to get ready.”

Finally she picked up her bag and smiled at me.

“Lucky you! All the best. Bye!” She smiled as she left.

“I’ll call you. Bye!” I smiled at her too.

She winked and left.

After they went, I was left all alone in my room. I lay there thinking about…

“NISHANT! OMG! OMG! He must be wandering out there, all alone! How could I be so cruel… SHAME ON ME!” I said out aloud.

I had totally forgotten that he was new here. He had told me earlier that it was his first visit to Delhi, and although his brother lived here, he didn’t know how to even reach him.

“Oh poor fellow! I’ll call him right away.” I took out the name ‘Nishant’ and pressed ‘Call’. 

P.S.He had lied that it was his first visit to Delhi, but his lie proved to be profitable for both of us.

8:30 AM: Dhara’s say(Part 1)

    After Tanya left, Sonali showed me a ’thumbs up’ and went to the bathroom for a wash after Anushree came out .She’s my second roommate.

  We have only one bathroom to share amongst five girls (what a pity!), and it’s always a ‘first come, first serve’ rule. So it’s better to wake up and go for a wash as early as possible if you don’t really love bunking your morning class (which of course nobody likes, as attendance matters a lot in Delhi University), or else you are most welcome to go to college without a wash!

“So? Not attending your first class today?” Anushree asked, as she got dressed.

“Yes… sort of bunking today.” I answered, wearing my blanket once again and preparing to lie down.

“When are you going to meet Nishant? Today?” she asked, rather sarcastically. God! She might have heard me shout on the phone.

 “No…” I lied, “not today. I’m meeting him tomorrow, or maybe day after tomorrow.”

“I see…” She combed her hair, applied powder and closed the drawer with a bang. It sounds very irritating to me. But I can’t say anything to her.

I grabbed my cell phone in disgust, and wished terribly that she goes out of the room, just for a moment long enough for me to digest her sarcasm and cool my anger.

And I knew she will be going out any minute to get herself some breakfast.

   Having put her necessary notebooks inside her bag, Anushree was about to leave the room. Just as she reached the door, Sonali entered, shivering. For a second of a moment I felt pity for her as I lay inside my cosy blanket.

“You want breakfast?” Anushree asked her as she was leaving.

“Yes please… And please bring some hot milk for me.” Sonali said closing the door, and began to dress up.

 I was changing the song that woke me up. I hate that song from today onwards. As I was assigning a new song to his name, Sonali called me out.

 “Are you really not going to meet him today?”

“I don’t know. I’m terribly angry with him.” There! The song’s changed.

“Ok, but then, what about Mayur? Why didn’t he wake you up?” she asked again, now combing her hair.

 Her question struck me. Mayur could have waked me up! But why didn’t he?

8:15 AM: Nishant’s say:

   Seated on my bag, I started to survey the station. Coolies, passengers, hawkers…. All seemed so busy with themselves as if no one had any time to waste looking at some other people. What others were doing was of no business to them. In fact, at the moment, I seemed the only person in the station who had nowhere to go and nothing to do. Crap!

 I was beginning to feel ashamed of myself, when I suddenly remembered the call which I had disconnected in the hurry.

“Let me call him now,” I thought. At least I’ve got something to do now. I felt proud of myself!

I took out my phone, and went to the ‘call log’.

It showed ‘Bhaiyya’ on the first place. I was about to press the green button, when I suddenly paused at the second name.

‘Dhara’

“Here you are my speed breaker. My destination”, I whispered.

I went to the second name and pressed the green button. It rang…for several seconds.

“HELLO!”

I was already breathing heavily due to the recent rush at the station. The familiar voice that came from the other end now added to my breathing faster.

“Hello”, I panted.  ” I’ve reached New Delhi. I am at platform number 16, and now…. I have sat down on the platform itself.”

Saying so, I was about to let out a laugh, when suddenly I was cut by an angry voice.

“SHUT UP! IT’S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU THAT I GOT UP LATE TODAY. I MISSED MY POE CLASS. I’M NEVER EVER GONNA COME TO MEET YOU. BYE.”

I couldn’t even figure out what was going on.  The next moment, the call disconnected and all I could hear was an engaged tone.

“What the hell has happened to her?” I brought the phone from my ear to take a look at the screen. Only 00:20 minutes!

Record by my speed breaker! The shortest time she was EVER on phone.

I smiled to myself, as I waited for her to call-back.

P.S.She calls me back when she cools down after disconnecting the call in fury. And she has never changed…