I woke up suddenly, feeling uneasy. The girl who was sitting across from me on the train was gone. I felt annoyed with myself for falling asleep. I grabbed my luggage and got off the train. Dadu had called earlier, saying he had sent Pablo to pick me up. You might be wondering who Pablo is. Well, Pablo used to be a bodyguard for a Mafia family in Italy. Dadu liked his work so much that he brought him to work for us. Yes, some of our business involves Mafia-like stuff, but Dadu handles that. He keeps me out of it, but I know he'll probably pull me into it eventually.
I pushed those thoughts away and looked around for Pablo. There he was, standing next to a chai stall, looking tough as always.
Pablo: (Taking me in a tight hug that could easily crack someone's bones) How are you my Boy??!!!
Veer: You know what Pablo I know you're bone crusher I bet I've grown muscles too!😉😁
Pablo: Still its my job to protect you sir. (with a stern face he looked around as the station started getting crowded). Shall we?!
I forgot to tell u that ,Pablo has split personality disorder or may be he's a bipolar. Sometimes he acts like as if am his son and sometimes like he's my boss. Even when dadu's not around he would still call me sir. I think I should hire a doctor or therapist to treat this disorder of his.
Veer: (Giving a nod ) Oh C'mon Pablo people don't even know me here.(heading towards our car)
Pablo: (opening door for me) Yeah, but soon they will.(with unsettling and concerned expression).
Veer: Okay Okay chill out. I just came can u just relax i just came.
Pablo : Sorry sir.
Veer: Well apology accepted. You haven't changed a bit.
Pablo: Well I am certainly not and I won't.
Soon we reached the palace. Everything feels so nostalgic. It's been decades I haven't visited India. As Jaipur is also known as Pink City, as far as I remember Palace was not this Pink, I should accept that Dadu's handling all of this like Tony Stark, never disappoints.
I had always hated this place since the day Maa and Baba died. Returning here brought back painful memories. But as I stepped forward, flowers rained down on me, a sign of hope and love. I was the only hope Dadu had left.
Dadu: Well here comes my Boy. (Getting me in a tight hug).
Dadi quickly interjected: "Are Arati to utarne do uski. Badi dur se aya ha, Nazar bhi utarni hai" (Let me perform the arati for him. He has come from so far; I need to ward off the evil eye).
Bending down, I took their blessings. "Khamma Ghani Dadu-Dadi" (Greetings, Grandpa-Grandma). Dadi kissed my cheeks warmly and then pinched my bicep, as if checking how thin I had become.
Dadi: Vaise kuchh khata bhi ya nahi tu? Kitna doobla dikh raha hai, Koi achhi si larki se shadi kar k apni Bindan/Bindani toh aaj ye noubat na ati! (Do you even eat anything? You look so thin. If you had married a good girl and brought her as your wife, we wouldn't be in this situation today).
I laughed softly, trying to lighten the mood. "Dadi, aap ho na uske liye aap mota krdo mujhe" (Grandma, you're here for that. You can fatten me up).
The nostalgic feeling of the palace, the scent of marigolds, and the warmth of my grandparents' embrace brought a sense of comfort I hadn't felt in years. It had been so long since I last visited India, and despite the sorrow tied to this place, there was also a deep sense of belonging.
Dadi: "Pehle jao naha lo, khana khane ana jaldi niche."
(First go take a shower, come down quickly for food.)
Veer: "Dadi raat ko khaunga pakka bahot, par abhi mujhe sono dijiye, plane se utra aur vaise hi train mein chadha hun. Please..."
(Grandma, I'll definitely eat at night, but please let me sleep now. I just got off the plane and then straight onto the train.)
Dadu: "Vasu, sono do usko bad mein khilana jo khilana hai."
(Vasu, let him sleep. We'll feed him later whatever needs to be fed.)
[Dadi was glaring at him before she could speak further, I left for my room.]
I quickly showered in the scorching Rajasthan heat. The hot water eased my tiredness from the journey. But hey, did you forget about her? The girl I met on train—not that we really met, but she's stuck in my mind like a vivid picture.
Her eyes were intense and mysterious, the only parts of her face visible under the scarf that covered the rest. They still linger in my memory. Her long hair flowed in the breeze, with delicate lashes framing them perfectly. Her perfume lingered faintly, mixing with the soap's scent as I washed off the day's dust.
I can't stop thinking about her. The way her scarf wrapped around her face, leaving only her eyes exposed, made her even more intriguing. And that tiny mole peeking from under her waist—what the fuck is wrong with you Veer! Why can't I stop thinking about her??
Am I going crazy? It feels weird to be so drawn to someone I barely know, but I guess it's just normal guy stuff, right? I mean, her presence, her scent—it's enough to drive any guy a little wild.
As I lay on the bed, her image won't leave me alone. Does this happen to you too? When someone leaves a mark on your thoughts, and you can't shake it off?The tiredness from the day and thoughts of her blend together, easing me into a peaceful sleep.
Write a comment ...