Meera sat exhausted on the platform bench. Her colourful bangles tinkled as she wiped her sweat against her scarf. She was waiting for her train which was leaving in two hours she put on her headphones and was just about to relax when she heard scuffling beside her, she turned and saw a man, not about 21 seated beside her. When he saw her looking, he extended his hand “Gautam”, he said.
“Meera”
“Where are you going?”
“What does the board say?”
“Bombay”
“Where am I going?”
“Oh…. So, what do you do?”
“I am a psychiatrist and you are a writer I suppose or a journalist?
“How do you know?
“Well, I learned it in college I should know”
“You know what do you think about getting some pastry before the train arrives?”
“Oh, I’d love to I love pastries actually”
“Well then what are we waiting for”
And off they ran to the nearest pastry stall and hogged down pastries. Slowly, they started getting to know each other bonding over food and books and their love for pets. Time flew and soon Meera’s train was here to pick her.
“Oh my train is here well I guess it’s goodbye then”
“Yes, I suppose”
They made no promises they didn’t exchange phone numbers nor did they ask each other for addresses to visit “Bye then”, said Meera
“Goodbye”, Gautam replied.
He stared hard into her eyes until the train started moving and then he jogged with it to keep up but soon the train picked up speed. Meera brushed a tear from her cheek and whispered to the lone figure still waving from the platform, “Goodbye”.
