I was in my final year of engineering. During the college holidays, I had to return home. The usual mode of transportation was the train. A few morning trains ran then, and it would take 2 hours to reach my destination.
Somehow, I made it to the station on time and waited for the platform announcement. I didn’t know the exact train name and number. I only knew the train was the 2nd DMU. I went to the inquiry to ask about the train I was looking for, but to no avail. The person sitting behind the counter was rude and gave me no information.
So, on the platform, I asked people about the train. Coincidentally, a train was on platform 2, and people were boarding it. I asked a few passengers about the train and whether it was the DMU I was hoping for. Nobody responded.
Suddenly, I noticed somebody casting glances at me from the window seat of that standing train. My instincts forced me to look back, and I discovered that a beautiful girl was the culprit. When both eyes met, she instantly turned her sight in another direction and shied away. It was embarrassing but cute.
I was unfazed by my failure to catch my train. For some reason, I decided to sit on the bench close to the window. I wanted to get her attention. I was young and in my final year of engineering studies. The recklessness was apparent. We both played peek-a-boo a couple of times. The girl was flirting or playing with me. I didn’t know that time. For me, it was a win-win game, and I loved it. While I was busy in this delusional, foolishly romantic act, I didn’t know what my next move would be. Incidentally, the train started moving. Her eyes wondered what I would do on the platform without interfering with her business.
At the same time, the announcement began on the platform. The train I was looking for was the one that stood before me, with my beautiful platform-mystery girl! The train was moving faster, so I ran to catch it. The girl saw it and, with a wave of her hand, told me to run faster. I couldn’t run and missed the train.
From a long distance, I noticed her near the window. She burst out laughing and gave me the thumbs-down hand gesture. She was playing that day! I also laughed and moved on to get on the next train. I haven’t seen or met her since then. I have no wish to cross paths with her in this lifetime. But I still remember the charms of the sparkling eyes that got me then.
The Witty Stride 