Megha & Akshar
Megha and Akshar
___________________
“Vyom, How could you have missed that detail?”
“Which one?”
“Remember when you thought, Howrah Bridge was iconic… the landmark for Kolkata and I said Shyam Bazaar Metro…6:30 AM.”
___________________
February 19, 2001.
Akshar and Megha spoke the night before as they have been for a while now. Yes, they stumbled upon each other in some random chat room and ended up talking more than they expected. Megha is nineteen and Akshar is twenty-two.
Akshar was in Kolkata until a month ago but now he is not. He accepted a job offer for another multinational in Bangalore and must catch a long-distance train and also find a million excuses to see Megha in Kolkata now. But it looks like, he must see her now. All those silly conversations now turning somewhat serious and a sense of urgency is wrapping around this meeting that needs to happen.
Kolkata smells nice especially in Megha’s backyard during the nights. Those jasmine blooms and rain with gusty winds keep spreading them around. Was it then, when Akshar called? And what all names does he call her? Gosh…does he even realizes how she skips a beat right when he says that.
For a moment, she even forgets who she is. She starts scribbling things on her notebook which is supposed to be logs of her day at training. When they talk, she barely speaks and he barely stops talking. And tonight is even special. Before he gets on that train to Kolkata, they know…they are to meet in the book fair that afternoon. Megha reminds him again, get down at Park Street and walk across. I will be wearing a blue dress, and you will find me. Likely, you will find me.
Megha hummed the titanic song late that night with her headphones and the Walkman. Those were still the old days of cassette players and Megha was proud of this possession. It was Sunday tomorrow, they could spend a lot of time walking around the book fair and discussing books. Gosh, will I be able to sleep tonight? It rained that night too, and jasmine walked into Megha’s room through the open window. Maybe it eventually put her to sleep too.
Megha left home around 10 AM as they were set to meet by noon. She wanted to keep ample time in case misses the train and also metro runs at less frequency on Sunday. She has always been fond of books and even if she reaches early, she might just stroll through some of those shops while waiting.
Those were the days of no cell phones and there was no live location shared every moment. Megha reaches park street way before noon so decides to walk into pantaloons for a bit. Maybe I should buy a present? So, I can’t buy a present yet…I haven’t even seen him. How do I know what he may like? Will it be too fast for a girl? Well, I can certainly look through it. Ugh, why can’t these butterflies leave me alone?
Right around noon, she gets out of the store. Kolkata streets are bustling with busy travelers, students, vendors and people of all ages. She waits for about twenty minutes right by the Park Street Metro entrance, and slowly steps down just to check in case Akshar might be waiting downstairs. The strong gust of wind tussle all her hair as she rushes down the stairs and backs up, but no sign of Akshar.
It’s almost fifteen minutes past one…What might have happened? Did the train run late? Did I miss him while I was in the store? Or…he just did not want to come? Or he came, he saw me and he left without even telling me? Oh, I am just going to drive myself crazy and everybody is staring at me now. Especially that coconut wallah. Megha buys one green coconut and sips really slowly as she continues to watch for any sign of Akshar. Time seems to be ticking, and while there is no Akshar somebody else just pops out of crowd calling out to Megha.
Archana, is that you? Hey What's up, what are you doing here?
Oh my, I did not expect to see you. Did I come to visit the book fair? What are you doing here?
Oh, Yes. I came for the fair too. Maybe we can go together now.
What fun! Let’s go.
Archana and Megha went to college together and it was sheer coincidence that now they meet here.
By now, Megha has given up hope. She takes a long look back at the entrance of park street station entrance while Archana grabs her hand and rushes to another side of the street to get to the fair.
Megha is distracted the whole time, she doesn't even know which book she really wanted to buy. Didn’t she love coming to the book fair? What just happened then? What are the chances Akshar will come looking for her at the fair? What are the odds they can find each other on the maze?
Megha is tired by three and decides to return home. Archana is also confused at Megha’s behavior who is usually thrilled to go out with her friends.
Megha gets home only to find her Yahoo messenger filled with 100’s of messages from Akshar. His train really ran late and apparently, they missed each other by a small window at the metro station. He is logged in from some cyber café at Howrah station before he catches the train back home.
No! You cannot go. Just don’t go. Don’t…don't. Stay, just stay tonight…We have to meet tomorrow. You can't..just don’t.
Megha is frantically typing as tears roll down her face. What’s happening to me? Why I must meet this almost-stranger so badly?
Akshar cancels his tickets.
Megha turns every clock in the house, an hour behind to meet him at Shyambazar metro station at 6:30 AM. She has to go to work today and she can’t be any later than 9 AM to work.
February 20, 2001.
They meet as planned.
Megha is early as she always is, for every appointment. She wore a white and yellow instead, the blue wasn't so lucky after all yesterday. She is still nervously pacing on the metro station as Akshar walks down the stairs. Red T-shirt, blue jeans and a backpack. The eyes meet, first time yet knowingly. They smile and walk out of the metro station only to walk all the way to Maidan metro station for the next 2 hours. God knows what they talked about, but there was something much more magical happening at that moment which will live forever in those tender hearts, those memories and also the dusty lanes of Kolkata.
___________________
“Vyom, How could you have missed that detail?”
“Which one?”
“Remember when you thought, Howrah Bridge was iconic… the landmark for Kolkata and I said Shyam Bazaar Metro…6:30 AM.”
___________________
February 19, 2001.
Akshar and Megha spoke the night before as they have been for a while now. Yes, they stumbled upon each other in some random chat room and ended up talking more than they expected. Megha is nineteen and Akshar is twenty-two.
Akshar was in Kolkata until a month ago but now he is not. He accepted a job offer for another multinational in Bangalore and must catch a long-distance train and also find a million excuses to see Megha in Kolkata now. But it looks like, he must see her now. All those silly conversations now turning somewhat serious and a sense of urgency is wrapping around this meeting that needs to happen.
Kolkata smells nice especially in Megha’s backyard during the nights. Those jasmine blooms and rain with gusty winds keep spreading them around. Was it then, when Akshar called? And what all names does he call her? Gosh…does he even realizes how she skips a beat right when he says that.
For a moment, she even forgets who she is. She starts scribbling things on her notebook which is supposed to be logs of her day at training. When they talk, she barely speaks and he barely stops talking. And tonight is even special. Before he gets on that train to Kolkata, they know…they are to meet in the book fair that afternoon. Megha reminds him again, get down at Park Street and walk across. I will be wearing a blue dress, and you will find me. Likely, you will find me.
Megha hummed the titanic song late that night with her headphones and the Walkman. Those were still the old days of cassette players and Megha was proud of this possession. It was Sunday tomorrow, they could spend a lot of time walking around the book fair and discussing books. Gosh, will I be able to sleep tonight? It rained that night too, and jasmine walked into Megha’s room through the open window. Maybe it eventually put her to sleep too.
Megha left home around 10 AM as they were set to meet by noon. She wanted to keep ample time in case misses the train and also metro runs at less frequency on Sunday. She has always been fond of books and even if she reaches early, she might just stroll through some of those shops while waiting.
Those were the days of no cell phones and there was no live location shared every moment. Megha reaches park street way before noon so decides to walk into pantaloons for a bit. Maybe I should buy a present? So, I can’t buy a present yet…I haven’t even seen him. How do I know what he may like? Will it be too fast for a girl? Well, I can certainly look through it. Ugh, why can’t these butterflies leave me alone?
Right around noon, she gets out of the store. Kolkata streets are bustling with busy travelers, students, vendors and people of all ages. She waits for about twenty minutes right by the Park Street Metro entrance, and slowly steps down just to check in case Akshar might be waiting downstairs. The strong gust of wind tussle all her hair as she rushes down the stairs and backs up, but no sign of Akshar.
It’s almost fifteen minutes past one…What might have happened? Did the train run late? Did I miss him while I was in the store? Or…he just did not want to come? Or he came, he saw me and he left without even telling me? Oh, I am just going to drive myself crazy and everybody is staring at me now. Especially that coconut wallah. Megha buys one green coconut and sips really slowly as she continues to watch for any sign of Akshar. Time seems to be ticking, and while there is no Akshar somebody else just pops out of crowd calling out to Megha.
Archana, is that you? Hey What's up, what are you doing here?
Oh my, I did not expect to see you. Did I come to visit the book fair? What are you doing here?
Oh, Yes. I came for the fair too. Maybe we can go together now.
What fun! Let’s go.
Archana and Megha went to college together and it was sheer coincidence that now they meet here.
By now, Megha has given up hope. She takes a long look back at the entrance of park street station entrance while Archana grabs her hand and rushes to another side of the street to get to the fair.
Megha is distracted the whole time, she doesn't even know which book she really wanted to buy. Didn’t she love coming to the book fair? What just happened then? What are the chances Akshar will come looking for her at the fair? What are the odds they can find each other on the maze?
Megha is tired by three and decides to return home. Archana is also confused at Megha’s behavior who is usually thrilled to go out with her friends.
Megha gets home only to find her Yahoo messenger filled with 100’s of messages from Akshar. His train really ran late and apparently, they missed each other by a small window at the metro station. He is logged in from some cyber café at Howrah station before he catches the train back home.
No! You cannot go. Just don’t go. Don’t…don't. Stay, just stay tonight…We have to meet tomorrow. You can't..just don’t.
Megha is frantically typing as tears roll down her face. What’s happening to me? Why I must meet this almost-stranger so badly?
Akshar cancels his tickets.
Megha turns every clock in the house, an hour behind to meet him at Shyambazar metro station at 6:30 AM. She has to go to work today and she can’t be any later than 9 AM to work.
February 20, 2001.
They meet as planned.
Megha is early as she always is, for every appointment. She wore a white and yellow instead, the blue wasn't so lucky after all yesterday. She is still nervously pacing on the metro station as Akshar walks down the stairs. Red T-shirt, blue jeans and a backpack. The eyes meet, first time yet knowingly. They smile and walk out of the metro station only to walk all the way to Maidan metro station for the next 2 hours. God knows what they talked about, but there was something much more magical happening at that moment which will live forever in those tender hearts, those memories and also the dusty lanes of Kolkata.
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