Honking....

As the bus moved towards ghats....

He was unable to believe what he got to know....

Being baffled he asked

What are you ? Karti kya ho ?

Translator ho ???

Wo hoti hai na filmo me serious type ki

Interpreter with UN

He asked dramatically in a serious tone.

While she laughed and exclaimed loudly.

Wow...

He looked at her being shocked and said.

What really ?

She smiled appreciatively.

Great guess...ha

He patted his back and said

Mind blowing.

While she shook her head and continued

Mere Mom hai interpreter UN ki saath.

Great man... I was close

He showed a thumb up while she simply nodded smiling.

The smile was not leaving her face for a change.

While I am just a traveller. I was here for the story about Wali tribal nearby.

Ohh wow that's nice.

Tum kya karti ho ?

She asked him.

Mein....

Ghari o ka interpreter hu

( I am interpreter for cars)

He joked while acting serious while she stared at him in confusion until he laughed and said.

I work with cars, design, mainly customize stuffs.

So I have a workshop in Pune.

Hilton me ek conference attend kar ki aaya hu.

(Had to attend a conference in Hilton).

Bohot important meeting ki liye Mumbai, I have to reach par my car broke down and hence.....I guess I am here.

In this lovely bus

He concluded with a tuch sound raising his hands while she listened to him.

She looked away while he said

Not that I am complaining...

Actually I am glad....

Which made her look at him again with a smile or probably she was blushing.

They stayed silent for a while until she said poetical making him smile more.

Is duniya ki shor me jab tumsa kyone mil jata hai, kuch baate ho ya na ho unkahe, dil jarhol bhal jata hai.....

(Through noise of the world, when one finds someone like you....spoken, unspoken thoughts remains....but the heart find some joy too...)

They looked in each other eyes lost in their new world.

Until he said...

Ase important moko par mera phone hamesha kyu baja jata hai.

(In important moments such as now....why does my phone has to ring)

While she laughed and looked away.

Ek second.. I am so sorry.....I need to take this call.

He frowned picking up the phone almost yelling at the poor guy on other side.

Haa Akhil bol...

Haa...

He said making a bad face.

Ghari thik ho gaye...

(Car is fixed).

Mein....mein yaha...wo Parvan wali junction ki pass hu.

And next thing made him shock.

Tu bhi wahi hai...

Acha....toh...

He said sadly

Thik hai larle pick up.

(Fine...okay...then pick me up)

He said while she looked at him and then looked away.

Disappointment was something seen clearly on her face but yet she pasted a smile and asked.

So...huh...problem solve haa ???

While he was equally feeling the same emotion as he answered.

Look's like the bus ride is over.

Both faked out a smile and looked away in opposite direction thinking something until the guy said...

Can I ask you a serious question...

Like it's time.

He asked seriously while the girl looked at him waiting for his seriously question until he said.

Tumhara naam kya hai ?

( What's your name ?)

She looked at him unbelievable and blinked her eyes many time to make sure he was serious.

Until he continued

No....I mean....it's not something like...urmilla....or kamla....sarita

jaisa toh nai hai....because I can't be serious about a girl called Urmilla....

He asked while she looked at him and said laughing...

Seriously....

While he repeated...

Seriously

That is your question

That is my question

And he was not ready to stop there while he continued....

No agar mera naam shakti....Dharmesh...Pankaj jaisa hu aa toh.....

(If my name was something like Shakti, Dharmesh or Pankaj...)

Kya tum yeh bus chokar mere saath bhar ghari mein aaoge...

(Would you get off this bus and come with me in the car ?)

He asked in a flow while the girl stared at his face and then smiled looking away.

While he looked at her and nooded.

Yeah...

Shaking his head or probably scolding himself for such a stupid way to try to convince her.

While he couldn't think of something better.

This was the weirdest proposal anyone would ever made.

And he was a complete fool he thought.

But how could he give up....

He tried again saying something more stupid...

Aur kirpiya gur ki je yeh mein hindi mein kab se vartelap karne ki korshe kar laha hu.

(And please note, I am 'conversing' in Hindi)

She looked at him and said

Mein yeh note kiya hai....jab kise ko hindi nai aate na huse yeh shab vartelap bhoto achese ata hai.

( I have note this...when folks who lack up in Hindi vocabulary....end up using this word 'conversing' quite well).

He said defending himself.

No mujhe locatkamene bhi achse aata hai....

(No...I know the Hindi word for locomotive engine too...)

She laughed more on his attempts.

While he forwned and said...

Agar tum Hindi se aapna dhany herta aoge toh acha hoga kyunki yaha hamar future decide horaha hai....

(But it would be better if you stop focusing on Hindi...because our future is at stake here).

That's alot of pressure on my name.

She too played along.

Yes it is.

He said lost in her as her hair flew around saying it's own story on the unheard tune of their heart's.

Fine.

She sighed and then looking in his eyes as she said.

Nandini.

He looked at her and then stayed quite for a while until he asked seriously.

Toh Nandini, tum Mumbai ja rahe ho...toh kya mere saath chaloge.

(So Nandini, you are on your way to Mumbai ?....Will you come with me ?)

She looked at him and said

Likhi tumhe toh aapna naam bataya he nai, sabhi toh hushe pe depend karta hai.

(But you didn't tell me your name yet. It all depends on that isn't it ?)

She too played along while controlling her smile while he stood up taking his blazer and bag.

Right.

He chuckled and nodded.

Manik....

Manik naam hai mera.

Mere Mom ne bhohat pyaar se raha hai.

(My mom has kept with alots of love.)

But if you find it too old fashion you can call me....

Before he could continue she cut him by saying.

I like old fashioned....

Hindi is old fashioned.

She said carrying her handbag around her arms

While she stood up and moved out.

He smiled and gave her space to move out before him.

Dharkhni hole hole chupke se khete hai kya....

(What does the heartbeat say slowly...softy ?)

While he stood there looking at her lost in his thoughts.

Hulche ne de maan aise....ek pal me khamakha....

(Our mind have intertwined...In a moment...Oh so randomly)

She turned around to see him as she reached near the door and found him there at their place, standing looking at her lost.

She asked him with her eyes what happened to which he nodded in a No...

He took his blazer and turned to his side to find the kaka (old man from where the journey started) smiling at him waving a bye to which he too smiled back.

Lamha yeh kaisa aaya... ghula sa gaya tujhe me saara....

(How this happened ?....Where it has become all about you....)

The Bus went into a tunnel and then Nandini opened the door while getting out along with her Manik who closed the door while they stood next to each other looking at the bus.

The boy who's windmill he had made smiled at him and waved a byee to which they reciprocated with their smiling faces and hearts.

Tu khahe toh es pal me....jee le jee bhar ke....

(If you say in this very moment....Let's live it....Let's be it....Shall we ?)

Hmm....hmmm....hmmm

The bus left while they walked too, to their destination smiling, laughing, teasing each other.

Mostly together.

To a new journey.....together...

Maan kheraha thaam ja sara....

(The mind say....take it slow)

Dil yeh khahai.... jaa huraja.. kuch dur ab yuh he sahe....

(The heart say...let it flow)

They laughed together as Manik jumped on the sand throwing on Nandini while she did the same.

Carefree and happy they were together.

Chalti hai aab hum aavo na khahe...

(Can we go distance....and walk that walk together).

Walking into a new phase of life together.

Lamha yeh kaisa aaya....gulsa gaya tujhe me saara...

tu khahe toh es pal me jee le jee bhar ki.....

Hmmm....hmmmm....hmmmm...

A new journey started.... with the end of one milestone in their life.

To a beautiful forever.....together....

Hamesha.....

************The End**************