Well, for those of you looking for something to browse through for a time pass, here is something. I would appreciate it greatly if it was not much retold, for err... obvious reasons.. :) It’s something that happened to me some days ago, and I don't think I am going to forget this episode in the Italian phase of my life in a hurry. Okay, so the thing is, as you all know, it is summer time now in Europe and as I have discovered after coming here, Europeans have a weakness for their summer vacations. So, my boss had planned his summer vacation as usual and this left me, who used to hitch a ride with him to office, in the lurch. He was kind enough to explain everything about how to come to office, from telling me the route number of the bus, the bus stops to get on and get off, right down to arranging a bus pass for me.
So, there I was on the Monday after my boss had left for his vacation at the designated bus stop. It was a nice day, you know the kind of morning that makes you feel a bit chirpy.. And finally the bus came. It was a long route luxury bus and as I was searching for a seat, my eyes fell on her... God!!! Rivetingly stunning, angelic beauty.. The right word still eludes me but she sure was more than a mere head-turner. It was obvious she was not an Italian, at least she didn't look like one but she was reasonably fair. To add to my excited confusion, she was looking at me. For a moment there, the idea that she was looking at me got me perked up, until my cautious practical sense hit me. She had her dark goggles on, which means she probably was looking past me out of the window at the scenery outside. :) But then, I didn't give a damn and sat there day dreaming about her. It took all my control to act cool and not ogle at her, and I was really depressed when my stop came and I had to get off. That night, I found sleep hard to come by. The lady had decidedly created a flutter in my heart.
It was now time to formulate a plan, act cool and impress the lady with my style and flair, of course provided that she was a regular on that bus. The next day, I woke up early, spruced myself up, wore a new shirt, ensured that I looked cool.. you know.. the works.. At the bus stop, I waited impatiently for the bus and almost crashed into the bus when it came. There she was!!! So she was a regular.. Good!! Divine Providence seemed to be on my side. Even she looked at me now and then. coool!!! Now, to work out a plan. So there I sat trying to look cool, many malayalam and hindi movies running through my head, especially saathiya.. that approach seemed to be a good one.. Anyway, while all these thoughts were running through my mind, the bus reached my stop and I knew today also nothing is going to happen.. Here, we have to press a bell to stop the bus and though I pressed the bell repeatedly, either the driver didn't notice it or he plain ignored it. I was going to miss my stop!! Panic set in and I started shouting.. "stop.. stop.. stop the bus" without any avail.. The bus kept on moving forward and by now, I was really upset and finally I yelled "saale..bhosadike maa chodne ke liye, stop the bus" in front of all the passengers and the driver sure heard that!!! He stopped the bus and though no one probably knew what it was that I had yelled, some of them were looking at me curiously. I was really upset and got off the bus, but soon I cooled off and thoughts about her got me preoccupied again..
Next day, I was back at the bus stop and when it came, the driver smiled at me, I smiled back and.. there she was.. but this time, she was looking at me!!! I seemed to be getting luckier by the day..She seemed to be wanting to tell me something. I took the seat next to her and gave her one of my most winning smiles. She gave a half-smile and asked me... "aap india se hai kya?" Hey!!! this was even better... she was an Indian!! but how did she know that I was from India?? And, then it struck me!!! yesterday... those hindi words that I had used to get the driver to stop the bus!!! craack!!! you could almost hear my "I-am-cool act" breaking to pieces... :P I felt like a prize idiot sitting next to her.. I got up with as much dignity as possible and pressed the bell and shouted "stop the bus.." I knew it was nowhere near my stop but I just wanted to get off. The driver stopped the bus and mumbled something. though I didn't understand it, I could very well guess it..Even as I was getting off, I could hear her calling me "bhaiya.. bhaiya.." I got off the bus and made as quick a getaway as was decently possible!!
After that incident, every day I reach my office nearly one hour late... It takes almost one hour to walk from my hotel to my office, you see.. :P :D
