EBONY PART 5

Anoop coming from bathroom said,“I think I have to leave now.”

Bathroom was attached with the room. He started collecting his belongings. Nisha also collected all her belongings and put them in her bag. Everyone was quiet for a moment.

Nisha: Do you know the way?

Anoop: Yes, I know. I will take a bus from here which will leave me to Rishikesh or Haridwar. If the bus leaves me in Rishikesh then again I have to take a bus or auto to reach Haridwar railway station.

Nisha: I must leave up to some distance but I cannot.

Anoop: It’s okay. But I’m thankful for all the things you did and took great care of me.

Nisha: Thank you for coming to meet me and especially for bringing the flower.

Anoop picked his bag. Nisha picked her bag. Anoop went outside of the room. Nisha held lock and key to lock the door.

Anoop: Open the door, I forget something.

Nisha: What?

She opened the door. Anoop went inside. 

He said, “Can you help me, I didn’t find.” 

Nisha said,“What is that? Will you tell me?”

Anoop asked Nisha,“Can you come inside first?”

Nisha went inside the room. Anoop pushed the door of the room. He hugged her tightly and kissed her. Everyone was quiet. Nisha picked her bag and Anoop picked her bag again. Nisha locked the door. They both started walking on the road.

Anoop: Room was very comfortable. It was a quite place.

Nisha: Yes.

Anoop: The food, you took, was very tasty, especially the kidney beans.

Nisha: Yes!

Anoop: Why are you so sad?

Nisha: Will we meet again?

Anoop: Off course, we will meet. It may be in a different place. Then again we will talk a lot and again  i will give you a red rose. Then again you feed me something tasty tasty. we will remind all the memories we built and talk a lot.

Nisha: Let’s see. You just remain the same as you are now.

Anoop: See, I will never change. But I will be posted in a city, I do not know and you also move to some other place after your end of college. But we will be in touch and meet whenever possible.

With all this conversation they reached to bus stand. Nisha opened her bag. She had something for Anoop.

Anoop: What are you searching in your bag?

She gave a box to Anoop.

Anoop: What is it?

Nisha: It is something which reminds you about me every time.

Anoop: Sweetie, I don’t need anything to remind you.

Nisha: Look your bus arrived. But it will go to Rishikesh only. After that you have to change.

Anoop: No problem, I will. You take care. Thank you for everything.

Anoop extend his hand to shake with Nisha. He kissed on her hand and moved towards the bus.

Nisha was standing there looking towards the bus for a moment. Anoop sat on the bus. He waved his hand looking towards Nisha. Bus started moving. She felt alone. She thought to go back to hostel. These two days were going to be the best days of her life.

Anoop in the bus was also sad. He was excited to open the box. First he took the ticket and made himself comfortable. He opened the box. It was a book, two states by Chetan Bhagat. He felt so great. It was first time in his life that someone gifted him a book. It was a love story book. 

Anoop was happy to meet her. He felt that he got so much love from Nisha even more than his ex girlfriend. He got everything which he wanted from ex girlfriend. But he also knew that they might not meet again. As he had to attend his job in a place he didn’t know. As he heard from his seniors that everyone got stuck in job, no social life, no personal life you have only two days, weekend to breath. You would hardly get leave to go to your native place.

Anoop also did not know about Nisha’s future, what she would do? where she would live etc. But Anoop was sure that he didn't have or want to have a future with Nisha. He did not love her as much as she did.  Anoop unintentionally promised somethings with nisha. but he did not want to spend all his life with Nisha.

Nisha always got taunt for being black. She didn’t have good friends. She do not have anyone to talk about herself. She did not have anyone who could care her, love her and appreciate her for her actions. She found everything from Anoop what she desired from a friend.

Nisha reached her hostel. She was sad. It was time to go to mess for dinner. She felt alone. She did not have many friends. She was taking dinner with her roommate but she was busy talking to some other girls. In the mess everyone got time to cook another one’s story. They got chance to gossip and talk about other’s affair. But with Nisha there was nothing to talk. She did not have anyone to talk or someone who can talk to her. She every day took her dinner and go back to her room. This day was also one of them. She went to her room. She wanted to look the rose which Anoop gave her. She opened her Almira and touched the petals of the rose and again put it inside. She was not in a mood to study. She switched off the light of her side and lied down. She was remembering everything when she was in Lucknow. She always found her happy whenever she reminds her HAL days. She got a sleep, while dreaming.

Anoop was in bus. He was confused. Sometime he read the book and sometimes he enjoyed the scenery of mountains. He enjoyed the bus’s turns while looking bellow in the ditch. Sometime he felt fear and sometime he enjoyed the push from the bus.

With all these things he reached Rishikesh bus station. Here he changed for Haridwar railway station. Firstly he did not find the platform where the bus for Haridwar railway station parked. He asked from a man. He indicated towards a bus on which Haridwar was written. He moved towards the bus and grabbed a seat. It was very crowded place full of chaos. The bus would depart after thirty minutes. He thought to take a tea. He also thought to take a dip in Ganga river if he had time.

The bus departed, Anoop again opened and tried to read the book. It starts with some lovely lines. Anoop enjoyed the book. He kept on reading it.