A Meeting...(a short story...)

A Meeting

It was a fine morning. The platform was filled with hurrying people who looked their watches and cursed Indian railway timings. Goutham was immersed in his own thoughts. He was thinking about the debt he had to pay. He was calculating the salary balance after paying the debts.
Then he suddenly heard the chugging of train. He rushed to enter in to it. All the passengers crowded at the door like ants. He too rushed. Suddenly he heard somebody calling him.
“Goutham”
He turned his head. That face was so familiar. But he can’t remember the name of that smiling face. Suddenly he got.’Veena’. Yes its she.” very bad “he patted his head and scolded his memory. How did I forget a college mate like her? He smiled at her. She was trying to get into the train
‘Come fast with me”
She told and get into the train. Luckily we got the seat near the windows and I sat next to her.
“Its quite surprising” I said.
“Really’
“I never thought that I’ll meet you today after Long 15 years. You are changed.”
She winked and smiled.
“You also have changed in to a grave looking man.
“Due to responsibilities…”I told in mock serious way.
“Soooooooo sad” she said and smiled.
“How many kids have you?”
“One- studying in 2nd standard.”
She smiled at me. I thought about our college days. I had a special love for her, which I concealed. A coward! I thought about me.
“What are you thinking?”
”About our college days.” I didn’t concealed.” Do you remember our excursion?”
“I do..”She sat silent for a while and said..”It was so funny. But we could have made it funnier.”
Without any thought words uttered from me…
“How much I liked you those days…”All these 15 years I couldn’t tell her and now in this wrong time I m telling it to her. But I wished to tell her one-day. And I wanted her to know it.
She kept silence for a minute and said.
“Don’t you think that I did n’t like you?’
I did not know what to tell next. She added” but you liked Mallika more..”
She has not lost her childish behavior yet. Then suddenly train stopped for crossing. Both of us became silent. I missed her very badly in my life. My heart said I never know you well.
“I wish I had got that old days back…”My mind ran through all those days. I was so close to her and yet how I concealed my love from her. Time has changed us. I was reluctant to show my love to her. But today I have uttered what I should have told before.
“Again you started thinking…”She smiled.
I too…
“Where are you working now?”
“InToyota.I have to set out at the next station.” She looked into my eyes. I asked “Actually where are you going? You are working some where?’
“No one marriage is there. My husband’s cousin’s.”
“He did n’t come with you?”
“No. He is busy today. Our house is in Calicut.Come when you get time. Give me a call before you come.”
“Ok!”I was sure that I would not go.
“Come with your family. Here is my address.”
I took her address and kept it in my purse.
“Now a days u have become so gloomy”
“Really?” I asked
“Yes. Am I changed?”
“No” I said and I mean it.
Train was slowing to my station. And I didn’t want to leave. In moment I forget that I ‘m a married man and I have two kids. I have become that old Goutham,who loved the girl who stood before him. I stood up and gave her a shake hand.
“We may meet somewhere like this”
She was looking in my eyes. She didn’t utter a word. Her eyes told me everything. Then I turned and again rushed into the passengers who were about to enter in to the train. The indifferent train started moving with huge noise.


Aami.:wave