It was summer evening, around 8pm. I was boarded on a travel bus headed for Bangalore from Hyderabad.
I was gonna meet my granny after whole 3years. It was 9 hours long journey so i kept my mobile charged at maximum.
Without good music and window seat my journey is incomplete. I plugged in my earphones as the bus was about to leave.
Other passengers were getting on board and i was checking out people around me and kept wondering who would come sit next to me? Or would it be left empty?
While i was musing myself with random thoughts, I heard a soothing voice of a girl talking to conductor regarding her seat no. I tried to take a quick glance at her lifting myself up a little from my seat as the seats infront of me were blocking my view. As i looked, the cold breeze blew, her hair floated in front of her eyes, hiding them from my vision. I sighed and got back to my seat.
"What if she is my travel mate?" I thought over it with a smile on my face. "Nah! im not that lucky."
As i was having a look at outside view from the window, I felt this sudden fresh fragnance in the air and saw the same girl standing next to my seat racking her bag in the shelf above our seats. As i looked at her, i was flattered.
The first thing i noticed was her eyes. Her innocence was reflected in her beautiful eyes and the kaajal in her eyes adds most to the charm. A fair-toned girl with an infectious smile.
Uff~ i could sense her genuineness in her face which was enough to make my heart skip a beat- ! And to heat the moment these lyrics clutched my heart
"Aisa dekha nahi khoobsurat koi~"
I smiled at her and looked away as if trying to hide my emotions. Ohh wow~My heartbeat increased as she sat next to me. The thought of spending my next 9 long hours travelling with this beautiful girl next to me was enough to send shivers down my spine. I was restless and kept on scrolling through my instagram feed just to keep myself busy and get distracted.
And- The bus started moving.
The lights were turned off.
I plugged in my earphones and started vibing to my lofi playlist. After a couple of minutes i felt a gentle pat on my shoulder. i looked at her, she was calling out for me- I immediately stopped the music.
"Oh, hey!" i said.
"Hello, Aisha here." she said with a warm smile~
Her flaws were so perfect. I blushed unknowingly after hearing her name and introduced myself. we shook hands and her soft touch melted my heart and i was lost~
"Aisha weds Ayush?" stirred up in my mind. WTH? what am i thinking?!! I calmed myself down.
"So..are you single?" She asked while looking into my eyes.
"O-oh yeaa...yess! im singlee, i never had a girlfriend!" i said excitably.
"What?!" She bursted out into laughter and said "I was asking if you were travelling single or you got anyone else to join you?"
I chuckled "Ohh, sorry! yes im travelling alone"
I felt awkward about that.
"Haha its fine, but why didn't you have any girlfriend? You look quite Handsome though" she said with a cute smirk on her face.
She looks so adorable while she smirks like that.
"Maybe my fate was tied to someone else already whom i never met till now?" i said while trying to sound cinematic.
She giggled and said "aishh dramatic man."
I blushed hearing that.
She winked.
she then kept quiet and started looking at her texts.
hearing to this my heart filled with joy~ Look who's talking. Im the one who should be more than happy for having her here. What do i do now? What is this strange feeling? I feel like i want to talk to her more & more. But i cant think of any topics!
Being an introvert sucks!
I sighed and got back to my music and started looking at the outside world. Everytime i listen to music i used to feel good about it, But now i started to relate to the lyrics- like what? am i in love? is this what they say love at first sight? I wanted to tell everything to her about how i feel. But i cant.
while i was busy with all these thoughts in a world of my own, listening to arijit singh's song and when he said
"Shayad kabhi mai keh sakoon na tumko~ kahe bina tum samajh lo shayad~" I felt that to the core.
An hour passed~ and i still kept looking outside the window thinking about her.
"Oii Handsome, aren't you gonna sleep?" She asked while patting my hand.
"Nah, I dont sleep so early." I said while removing one earplug from my ears.
"Same as me huh, Mr.Night owl" She said playfully.
"Oh yea? Cutiepie!" i giggled.
And so our talks began, we kept talking about our lives, careers and future plans. the way she was telling me stuff, giving highfivies and the way she look into my eyes was making me blush and happy at the sane time. We were getting connected somehow and i could feel that. She got pretty comfortable with me.
She gave me a nickname too "Ayuu."
This was the first time someone gave me a nickname.
It feels so good everytime she calls me with that name.
I was getting lost in her eyes.
Falling for her smile every minute.
I wanted this more and more.
I just wish this journey goes on forever.
Is it just me or is she feeling the same too? All these thoughts were pooping up in my mind while talking to her for so long.
•••••
Suddenly her mobile beeped and we got interrupted.
when i snapped out of it and checked my mobile the time was 3 Am. Dang!! 3 alreadyyy?!
I got only 3hours left to spend with her here!
Uff time flies~
Shall i ask for her number or her whereabouts? What if she denies? woah that would be embarrasing! lets just wait for her to approach. All these thoughts were running through my head while i was engulfed with my midnight playlist.
I dont know how to express this feeling but-
she grabbed my arm! and rest her head on my shoulder!! "Im sleeeeeepy Ayuu." she whispered in a baby tone. I was on cloud nine.
I looked at her face, she was so cute that i wanted to kiss her forehead cupping her face in my hands.
all i could do is just imagine for now. meanwhile she snugged more into me. i felt butterflies in my stomach. is this happening for real? I swiftly moved my hand and carresed her head. She then moved her hand, pulled oneside of my earphone and plugged in her ear. This was the best journey experience i could ever ask for. I played "mai tumhara" Song from movie dil bechara. Such a soothing song it was.
curtains were on, it was dark in our cabin and soft cold breeze was blowing on our faces while we were humming to this beautiful song.
She looked at my face while holding my hands and wishpered "Ayuu, do u believe in love at first sight?"
"Mhmm, not untill today." I whispered back while resting my head on hers and closed my eyes.
I dont know if i was dreaming or it was real. I didn't pinch myself in fear that I dont wanna end this beautiful feeling even if it was a dream. I just let it be. Her presence was so heartmelting i doozed off without realizing.
We slept holding eachother~ Huff!
•••
Time passed away.
Like they say, Every beautiful story has to end. Maybe it was my turn now.
I wokeup with loud horn sounds of the buses around.
i found myself leaning to the window otherside! Seems like we have arrived.
I looked at her seat just to find it empty. She disappeared.
Where did she go?! I got up to check the other seats but the whole bus was empty as everyone got off board. Was it a dream afterall? Or she didn't want to stay in touch with me?
Meanwhile Conductor was asking me to get down. In a hurry i took my backpack and got down with strange feeling of losing her forever.
Was that just a dream? I regret not asking for her number! She left without even a goodbye. Can i see her again?
With a huge disappointment, I walked to the washroom to wash my face while thinking about her. I put my backpack on the table and turned on the tap.
I looked into the mirror. Wait, what is this?! I rubbed my eyes and looked again. It was a lipstick mark on my cheeks. Huh? Did she kiss me? She kissed me before leaving? I was confused.
I turned off the tap not to erase that. Caressed my cheek while i walked to the cafeteria. I Sat down in a corner chair quietly for a while with my head buried in my hands recalling everything happened last night. I felt like crying, a drop of tear rolled down my cheek.
Suddenly My mobile beeped with a text.
Aisha : Ayuu, Its me. did u wakeup?❤️
••••It was her~❤️~
