Gone By (2 page)

Gradually my rhythm got slowed down with the passage of night hour, and had no sense when my blurred vision turned dark and I finally fell into sleep. The time almost elapsed to mid night. It felt that the whole city was under the magic of silent and holy spell.

The beautiful white rays of the moon, penetrated hard through the ventilation, it made the whole room gleamed in blue light. Some light fell over my face, spreading out, scattering the joy of a Man who is lonely, sleeping in grieve, missing the one whom he loves. The dawn broke out. And I was still with my legs spread on my bed, those blurred eyes of mine still needed some rest. Unaware of the fact that the sun had glared it’s bright rays but my body still ached to go to sleep. The white rays of moon had turned into yellow morning lights. The ventilation of the room allowed the incoming sun rays to pass through it. It made me feel the heat burning on my face, scattering all over the four walls. I could loosen my resting eyes, took a glance of my wrist watch. It was 8:30 am the next morning. I stood quick on my feet.

“Ahh!!! That was a beautiful dream” I groaned.

I pulled the curtains of the windows aside, taking a view of deep stretching blue water spreading endlessly. The hotel had exclusive access to the beach. I smeared my eyes wide open to feel the fresh air blowing from west Arabian. Held a deep breath to fill my chest. I supported my body with some glasses of water, which I considered to be a healthy habit and drank few litres. For the moment, I didn’t realized what had happened the last night. But with each new day I began to grow more passive and decisive. It used to be like she was my morning thought but now I miss her every day. I decided to step down out of my room to join the gym party. I took the empty elevator that was available just next to my room. Slid down a floor. There at the entrance of the gym hall, a man holding a clipboard with jotter noted down some names on it and was busy scheduling it.

“Sir, would you need a guide for the day” he asked me.

I jumbled up for a moment. Perhaps I shouldn’t be requiring anybody, but I had no one who would spent the day with me. I thought it would be much better if there were crew members going for  sight scene together . I finalised to insert my name. So did the man scripted my name on it. I walked in to the hall. The man handed me a card with all the timings and the charges that would require. I could glimpse out at his note sheet, there were almost 75 people who would be guided for the sight scene across the city.

I proceeded for my morning regularities. Some push ups, also some heavy piles of dumb bell exercised on my arms. I ended the gym class shortly. The time mentioned in the card was 10:30 am. Where all should be getting ready by then for teaming up. I had freshened up to catch up the crew quickly. At most I could dress myself at my most prolific attire. That suits me the best was my blue jeans pant with shades of lining scrolling parallel. And the mismatch white shirt folded up to my elbow. I stood before the mirror reflecting my new image. The feet covered with the most toughest leather shoe which fitted with the dress I was on. I wore my glass spectacle, now I can’t deny the appearance in view of most as the studious student. I grasped my Nikon Camera, and stepped out of my room to join the guided mob. All were assembled at the reception hall. I managed to reach down the floor in time. I wanted to look smart and elegant, so somehow I could inhibit that outer expression. The Man who was guiding us called out my name to locate me. He called all of them for more than twice. But there was one person went missing till now. He voiced out again....Isha....Isha. Yet, there was no response from her. We were waiting for her. To pass the waited time I sat beside an old woman where the sofa was placed. She was also a part of the team. I grabbed a magazine from the front table, started to flip pages to find any interesting that would value me. It was the last day of my vacation trip to Mumbai. The next day I had to wake up early to travel down back to my institution.

“Where Is she” a man growled from behind. We almost got late by fifteen minutes. The bus outside had been waiting. Apparently all were exhausted waiting for her.

“Oh!!! I’m extremely Sorry” she buzzed out from the front elevator stepping out hurriedly. “Please forgive me for the delay” she pleaded again to all.

The person to guide instructed us of various safety and expenditure. She looked more of a kind an exotic Indian Girl.

  “Wow!! Isha that’s her name”...I niggled.

We were escorted to the bus. Placed us in a queue before the entry. I could figure out she didn’t knew how to speak Hindi. She gestured her way in American accent in every English words she spoke. I stood watching her. For some reason She captivated me, and I kept on blinking my eyes with prolonged Interest. Everyone got settled down occupying their respective seats. I took the window view. The other beside still in no demand, left empty. A minute later..

”Hey! Can I sit here”.

I turned my face to sense  from where the sweet voice interrupted me. My breath dropped out, shiver in my spines, stammering to lips out my words, with the raised eyebrows I kept my long stressing gaze on her.

“Hey! Are you Ok..Can I sit here” She squeaked again. She looked very pretty and attractive. “That’s Isha”...It whispered in my heart.

“Oh!!!!..yeah...yeah...it’s empty”  my voice fumbled. She rested her body then.

“What you never saw a pretty Girl” She smirked at me.

I had no idea what to reply, words remained silent just nodded my head stretching from east to west. She smiled out. We were ready for the day. We got started with the bus. Our inner spirits were high. Excitement rolled on everyone’s eyes. So was I with the charm on my face .Besides, the other reason was Isha. For the moment it inverted me to think about Anannya. It was Isha all around. I could see no Anannya in her.

Our first destination was a fort, some few kilometres away from our location. The Bassien fort near Vasai just North of Mumbai. Our Bus headed towards its route. I peeped out of the bus window. Traffic never seemed less but with rise of the day it increased. The red signal kept glowing as I could notice few metres away.

“Are we stuck in the jam” Isha toned out.

Her voice instantly touched my ear. Couldn’t even digest to reply in hurry. That husky sweetness appeal in her tone pulled my attention towards her.

“Yes! Guess it may take minutes to clear out” I winced.

I could sense she was gathered with boredom. From inside her bag, she took out a novel to read to compensate the waiting time.

“So you love reading books” I asked her putting on my interest.

“Yeah!!! It’s my hobby, especially When I travel” she squeaked.

She flipped some pages ahead, perhaps she had left a marked from where she had to start the page to reread again.

“Uhhhh!!!! So, what sort of genre you love to read” I shrugged .

She showed me the cover page of the book. It was nothing but all famous and one of the most read book of all times
Message in a bottle
from famous author Nicholas Sparks. The green light blinked by now and we were heading ahead.

“So, Where you come from” She flattered.

It seemed she was in hyper interest to know me. I realized her wish and answered.

“For the moment I came from nearby city Pune”. She nodded her head on my reply.

“Are you first time in Mumbai” I questioned her.

“Yes, In fact in India”.

She was very much responsive. My eyes dazzled at her with confusion. She looked more of modern Indian type, yet she’s first time to Mumbai. It geared my eagerness to know more about her.

“How’s that possible” I muttered with interest. She smiled at first.

“Confuse, I’m a tourist from foreign land”.

My lips widened in surprise, eye brows raised.

“You need to share your story” I sounded funny. She giggled out and puts a smile on her face.

We were almost there at the spot of destination. Just few minutes away and then we would be viewing the most beautiful scene, the Bassien Fort.

“So, do you like India” I gestured her with a smile on my face.

With no idea on my mind I just wanted to make her feel comfortable with the people and the surrounding around.

“Yeah!!!! I do” she scoffed.

Our bus came in through the gate until it halted in a parking lot. We were given a ticket with some cost for the sight scene. Everyone was in layers of excitement, so was I. We scrolled out of the bus in hurry.

“Can you spent the day with me” Isha muttered with deep scornful look at me.

My eyes melted drawing deep at her innocent face. For I knew She was all alone here, on the other hand she had no idea about the place and the language. Though she was an exotic Indian, she needed a friend to assist her for the rest of the day.

“Surely, My majesty” I agreed with a smile.

“Hahaha!!!!!..You’re funny guy” she laughed.

“Is that so” I chuckled.

“Yes...Indeed. You’re nice” she passed a glimpse of her chubby expression as we walked together. We headed our steps and with every interesting view I clicked with my Nikon camera. So was she doing the same thing. Whenever she approached near me I could smell the fragrance of her million dollar scent, which was just intoxicating. We almost had hundreds of negative collection on each one’s reel. I could feel that she was more free with me rather she exchanged more talk with me than all other by whom we were surrounded with. In the process of clicking photos, I quietly diverted my sight out of her. I managed to go deep inside the fort for more collection of historical pictures for my own magazine that I planned for. After minutes later I fizzed out to look for her. She was still busy with the camera on her hand.

“You are a good photographer” I sighed as I walked towards her.

She turned back holding her camera with her left eye placed on the aperture and the forefinger on clicking button.

“Hold there” She scowled loud.

She flashed the camera. My eyes tuned to shutter it’s lid for microsecond with the flash.

“Uhhh!!!!” I shrugged.

“Hahah...I’m going to keep this as memory” she squinted as she walked towards me.

“Where were you???...I was looking for you” she interrogated hastily.

“I was inside the fort for more pictures” I answered her slowly.

“Were you petrified being left alone” I asked her solemnly.

“No, I was Ok” she shrugged.

I could see at her eyes she felt the loneliness of being left alone, yet she walled her inner confrontations.

“I’m sorry” I made an apology.

“It’s ok..I’m fine” she spoke in soft tone.

We almost spent for more than an hour. I had no exact idea where we would be travelling next. The day had almost shifted to its full noon and she was walking alongside me.

“So do you know anymore fine places in Mumbai” she asked dryly.

I wasn’t sure enough too, as I had been very rare person to Mumbai.

“Yeah!!! There’s lot” positioning my Nikon camera to take a flash of an open space surrounded by worldly birds chirping out.

“You like nature” she squished.

“Yeah!!! Very much. I do spent some photography with nature” I replied her with some enthusiasm.

“So, what’s your other interest in escaping out from those bookish world” I hinted her with a gentle tone.

She was very much peddled by my question. Her forefinger smoothly placed on her chin evoking some answers to reply. She was in chronic thought what would be her other fields of interest. “
Crap
! Did I asked her awkward” my subconscious slammed me as we walked together.

“Well, I have no idea on my other interest” she chuckled with a sort of embarrassment within. “So, do you think I’m good at any of activities” she grinned.

“Hahaha!!!!! Miss Isha, how would I be knowing your field of interest” my voice crisped out dryly.

“Yeah!!! It was obvious, how would you know” she laughed.

We were heading towards the bus now for the next location. Every section of our tour has been divided timely. And we ought to follow according to it. I had no plan, if I would be spending the day completely with all this old generation people. On the other hand I couldn’t leave Isha all alone neither I wanted to. The company of old generation was very outrageous to me but somehow I had to keep mingling among them. So did Isha too. We came closer to our bus. All we needed was to step in to our respective seat. More family parties yet to come. The bus driver blew it’s horn signalling for the departure. We waited outside until all were gathered to move in for the next destination. I was in seismic conflicts on my mind.

“Should I spent the day alone or with all these” my subconscious flourished inside.

I have now the every reason to spent not alone but with Isha beside me. Thereby, I concretely decided to cancel my next visit with the crew. All I have now with me is Isha. The only thing that remained now was to pertain her and to persuade her on my way. She stood just beside me. With my eyes glaring deep at her.