"Damn, its 9 again" Never really understood why college had to be at 9 and I always had to be late. Everyday was the same old story. The morning brush in a jiffy, the quick soap less bath, breakfast at about 30 km/hr and the not so soft music of my professors yelling. Even seasons changed unlike my insipid little life. Not that I had very much of it. But it was always nice to be able to grumble about something trivial. So here was just another usual day though it promised to get a little exciting towards the end. I was to attend my friend's party and so had to pick a gift sometime in the evening.
And then the eventide dawned along with a big problem. 'What gift to buy?' normally I would pick up something I like but things were a little different here. I mean haven't really seen too many girls enjoying a Quake 3 deathmatch or some heavy duty rock music which more often than not, is very simply termed 'noise'. 'So perhaps I can pick something that I don't like...' wasn't bad for a thought but didn't really help. Anyway I shooed away my great predicament for a while and decided to pick something when I reach the mall. Cross the bridge when it comes...
But the bridge came a bit too soon and I still did not know how to cross it. 'Now think, what do girls like?' I thought. 'Jewellery? No, my pocket doesn't like that. So maybe perfumes!' But soon found out that there weren't too many things that my pocket liked to like. I needed help and well... I got it!
There was this girl I had seen at college. Was in casuals, came for her admission perhaps. I somewhere had hoped she would end up in my branch. Not that I would have tried my luck real hard with her. But the possibility looked rather alluring then and even now. 'I can ask her to help me out with the gift. She should know. But will she help? No harm in trying.' My mind was racing a little too fast and I had hoped in the right direction.
I looked out for her. She was in the book section, flipping through some pages of a book called 'Atlas Shrugged'. Now if somebody as lovely as her was even considering the remote possibility of finishing that book, it really was one heartbreaker. Amount of her time the book would have eaten up. 'What a pity, must be one of those bookworm kinds.' I went straight in her direction. Probably was at an arms length now, when I got shot.
"You got Fountainhead" she declared. I was caught somewhere between the region where one is totally confused and a little disgusted. 'That is such an unusual comment. Since when did my hair start to stand up?'
I was struggling with words. A mere "What?" was all that I could manage.
"Fountainhead. You got that copy?" she replied. "I have been looking through the stack here unable to find one..."
For a moment I was relieved. She wasn't really referring to my hair after all. She wasn't able to find a book and needed help. Now that I was standing around her, she picked me and asked. Which is something that everybody does while shopping. They ask for help. But just then with a sudden jolt something struck me. 'She thinks I work here man!'
I wished "Fountainhead" wasn't a book anymore. The comment was really a far better alternative. I didn't even have words to struggle with now.
"Hello! Do you have a copy?" she asked again. I really didn't know what to say. I was giving a new spin to the word 'trance' by then. Staring straight at her I let many moments pass. I guess she was waiting for a reply.
"Ok fine. Never mind I'll find out myself" she finally said.
I had recovered by then. I was somewhat ready to say something. Again all I managed was a mere "What?"
She gave me a black look, all ready to set on the warpath.
"Do you have a hearing problem?" she asked rather innocently.
"No." and thank god it wasn't a 'What?' this time. "In fact I came here to ask you for help. But things turned out drastically different from what I thought. So I think I will just continue without bothering. And... just for the record, I don't quite work here". Now that was more like me.
"Oh, I am so sorry. I didn't know..." she stopped and put the book back into the rack and continued. "I was a little too involved in searching the book and probably didn't notice. I hope you are not mad at me."
Well I surely was but I let the better part of my self take control and kept a straight face.
"You said you wanted help. I will be more than glad to help" she said. Well it was the kind of offer I wasn't in a position to reject.
"Well had to pick up a gift for a friend of mine and I don't quite know what she would like. So I thought..." I hadn't finished.
"Oh, that is no problem. There is a plethora of things to choose from".
A little later we were busy finding something good that fit my rather modest budget. Which was a tall order really. But we continued nevertheless. I introduced myself and so did she. I was suddenly not concentrating on the finding part of things much. Running up and down the store along with her was suddenly like a saunter in the cool breeze. I was enjoying it for some strange reason. She seemed simply and fairly sober. Long hair, slightly curled near the end. The tint of blue in the iris was fascinating. Now who would have not enjoyed the walk?
"So what do you think about this?" she asked. It was a white soft toy.
"I think a little more work and cotton will sell like gold. I fail to understand what makes it worth so much money." I said.
"You don't just pay for the cotton inside or the cloth outside, you pay for the effort. How many people can make cotton look so good?" She said. Here was something I hadn't thought about. I agreed with her, but didn't want to give in so easy.
"But I don't find it good looking. I think it looks rather dumb. Does it still justify the price tag" I asked.
"Yes it still does. To me, it does. Sometimes things are not all about price tags. It is more about what you like. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder!" she replied.
"And you do have beautiful eyes" I said quickly without a hang back. Surprisingly it didn't take a lot of courage. She didn't know how to react. So after a short "Thank you" a rather uneasy silence had grown around us. And it seemed to get heavy with every passing moment. Someone had to break.
"I think this will be just right. I will buy it" I said.
"Ok then. Job done" she said.
"Ya, it was fairly quick and easy. I wonder what was taking me so long. Anyways thanks a lot for helping" I said.
"Oh anytime! It was easy. And I am really sorry about the misunderstanding."
"Big deal. I do it sometimes too." And we laughed it over.
"So would you go and find your book now?" I asked.
"No. I think they don't have it. Probably will come some other time" she replied.
"Good" I said.
I had got what I wanted but didn't want to leave this early. We started towards the cash counter, paid the money and got the gift all wrapped up. And all this while, no one spoke. If I had the money I would have probably made up a birthday and start hunting for another gift together. But had no such luck.
We walked out of the mall.
"So... bye then. See ya later" I said and turned to start walking. 'Was it too quick? Was it too harsh? I didn't even wait for her reply. I mustn't be this rude'. I was about 30 feet away now. I turned. She was still standing there watching me. I walked back.
"Still standing here?" I asked
She was just staring at me, trying to read something.
"Hey, what's up? Do you have to cross?" I asked.
She looked away and looked at me again.
"I have this phobia about crossing the road. It scares me especially at night. All you see is light moving fast."
"Can you help?" she asked and how could I have refused.
"Sure. Stay onto my left till we reach the divider and then switch over to my right."
"Fine", she said, still a little worried.
She was standing real close to me now, barely avoiding a touch. We were waiting for the road to clear up a little.
"I am sorry, you will have to cross twice", she said.
"Its fine", I said with a big smile.
"Okay lets go", I said and moved forward but she didn't. I went back again where I was standing.
"Sorry." she said and clasped my left arm with both her hands.
"This will be a little more assuring. I will not be left behind" she said cringing at my side.
We crossed the first lane and reached the divider. She did as I had told. Switched over and held my hand even more tightly now. We didn't need to wait much and quickly crossed the road.
Now on the other side she was still holding my arm. She was much closer now and I liked every bit of it. I could smell her perfume. I was seeing her up close. Saw that there was something that needed to be told or perhaps something needed to be understood. What was it? I haven't figured it out till this date. Sometimes we weave out a life with incidents that transcend comprehension. This was one of those.
Nothing disturbed us then. No cars whizzing past had anything for our ears. No glaring eyes of the passer-by had any value left. No sound of music was sweet anymore. Nothing...
|
Submission Name: The Gloaming
