Siddharth checked his watch for the sixty-sixth time now.There was still an hour left for the flight to land at the Mumbai airport. He tried to get a nap by trying a different body posture in the already constrained space of the flight seat. But in vain. His fellow passengers were sleeping, some busy listening to music, and others chatting with each other. He tried one last time to concentrate on the article in the magazine he was holding and finally surrendered. His mind was somewhere else.
Siddharth was in his third year at IIT Delhi and was on his way to Bangalore for the summer internship. He had been selected for two months internship programme in a reputed IT firm and had to report the next day. The assignment was sure to be challenging and he was expecting some busy schedule during this period. Moreover, there was also the pressure of performing to the best and also an opportunity to showcase his skills which could earn him a pre placement offer in this reputed organization thousands die to work for.
But this was not something which was occupying his mind. Something else was going on his which wasn't allowing him to do anything else.
His connecting flight to Bangalore was after 3 hours. During this time, someone was coming to meet him. An old school friend.
His connecting flight to Bangalore was after 3 hours. During this time, someone was coming to meet him. An old school friend.
Ragini was Siddharth's classmate for six years in the school. After school, he went to Delhi to pursue engineering while Ragini enrolled in NIFT, Mumbai for the design course.
And it was first time after the school that they were meeting. In fact this would be the first time they would be talking face to face with each other. Strange as it may sound, but they had never talked to each other in the six years during the school. Not even studies related conversation. After starting their college courses, somehow they got connected through internet, mailed each other occasionally and once in a month or so, Siddhartha used to call her.
This routine would have continued as usual had Siddhartha not told her in the last conversation that he would be in Bangalore for the summers and he will have a halt of 3-4 hrs in Mumbai. He jokingly asked her to come and meet him at airport. Though she replied she would, Siddhartha didn't take this very seriously as one she was having a busy schedule preparing for her tests and two the airport was 50 km from her hostel.
But only till today morning. He got a call in the morning from her and she enquired about the flight timings. He had forgotten this conversation about meeting as a joke but sensing the seriousness in her voice and after being scolded for five minutes, he shared the flight details.
Sipping the orange juice, he began to think about how the conversation would be. They had just started talking and were getting friendly with each other. But talking face to face after so many years, with no conversation ever during school. Is it going to be awkward. How would she be looking? During school he vaguely remembered that she used to be very reserved and he had hardly seen her talking to other girls as well. The only thing which he knew was that she had an amazing handwriting. This he got to know when once he mistakenly opened a notebook to see a beautiful handwriting and closed it back to see her name on the cover.
The flight had landed and the pilot announced to remove the seatbelts and switch on the mobile. He took out his mobile from the pocket and switched it on. There was a new message. It was from her. "Waiting at gate 2".
He stood up, collected his bag and hurriedly started walking down the aisle before the queue for departing passengers start getting longer. With excitement, apprehension and happiness he started pacing towards gate 2 to meet a new friend from old times.
And it was first time after the school that they were meeting. In fact this would be the first time they would be talking face to face with each other. Strange as it may sound, but they had never talked to each other in the six years during the school. Not even studies related conversation. After starting their college courses, somehow they got connected through internet, mailed each other occasionally and once in a month or so, Siddhartha used to call her.
This routine would have continued as usual had Siddhartha not told her in the last conversation that he would be in Bangalore for the summers and he will have a halt of 3-4 hrs in Mumbai. He jokingly asked her to come and meet him at airport. Though she replied she would, Siddhartha didn't take this very seriously as one she was having a busy schedule preparing for her tests and two the airport was 50 km from her hostel.
But only till today morning. He got a call in the morning from her and she enquired about the flight timings. He had forgotten this conversation about meeting as a joke but sensing the seriousness in her voice and after being scolded for five minutes, he shared the flight details.
Sipping the orange juice, he began to think about how the conversation would be. They had just started talking and were getting friendly with each other. But talking face to face after so many years, with no conversation ever during school. Is it going to be awkward. How would she be looking? During school he vaguely remembered that she used to be very reserved and he had hardly seen her talking to other girls as well. The only thing which he knew was that she had an amazing handwriting. This he got to know when once he mistakenly opened a notebook to see a beautiful handwriting and closed it back to see her name on the cover.
The flight had landed and the pilot announced to remove the seatbelts and switch on the mobile. He took out his mobile from the pocket and switched it on. There was a new message. It was from her. "Waiting at gate 2".
He stood up, collected his bag and hurriedly started walking down the aisle before the queue for departing passengers start getting longer. With excitement, apprehension and happiness he started pacing towards gate 2 to meet a new friend from old times.
No comments:
Post a Comment