Part 8: A Spark of Love....

"My diary was like a lifeline to me...So there were no double thoughts about getting it back......I had to go and put an end to her hide and seek game..

I just hope that this isnt one of her pranks.."

Chaitanya thought as he tossed on his bed up and down......Sleep wasnt happening!.....He was restless and he very well knew that he would remain so till he gets back the diary......So he didnt attempt doing the impossible....instead he kept looking at the clock and waited for the dawn!

Next morning, he was bang on time at the station and waited for the girl who had robbed him off his sleep!

He had almost concluded that she had played again with his precious possession....just then he feels a light pat on his shoulders.....he turned around to see a girl whom he vaguely remembered having met before......She didnt wait for him to acknowledge her arrival or greet her......She spoke up right away not allowing him enough time to take in what he saw......

"Hi, I am Abhilasha......Sorry to have kept you waiting....your diary"

She holds out the diary to him and he gets it, actually snatches it greedily, in a jiffy......He starts flipping through the first few pages as though checking if everything is ok........
In the hurry, he doesnt notice that an fully overloaded hand bag which she had held fell down....

After a round of checks, he comes back to the present moment and looks up at the girl.....but she was nowhere to be seen.......just then he realizes that she has bent down to pick up the things which fell from her bag............

The diary puts him back to senses, all his manners and human instincts are back in him.....
In an impulse, he kneels down to help her.....again, in the hurry, their heads bang with each other and both scream in pain......."Ouch".........she finds his gestures funny and laughs at him which slightly embarrasses him......
He apologizes and bends carefully to pick her things up.......Thats when his eyes fall on a few music CDs.......He finds it hard to believe that most of those were his own creations....but he was too surprised to react or speak up........He knew that his songs were famous and well accepted but when he saw it here, his joy knew no bounds..........He just picks "heart beats" and looks at it with a sweet smile on his face.........

Abhi sees him smiling at the CD and wonders "What makes him smile? may be he likes music too"

"its from a chennai based band.......awesome music, you know!! And the lead singer is just out of the world.....I suggest you should listen to it too......good for you...[grinning]....I mean good music always comforts your restless impatient mind.....and calms you down.......Music therapy!!"
she looks at him sarcastically subtly hinting that he is impatient, restless and disturbed!!!

Chaitanya isnt one bit angered by her sarcasm...on the other hand, his cool self surfaces and he decides to play along........He decides not to tell her anything about himself immediately......He thinks about the irony and smiles to himself!

"Who is the singer??" he questions hiding his mischievous tone well

Abhi, who was silent and didnt have any interest in speaking to him finds the topic inviting.......She enthusiastically replies "No idea.....i guess he prefers to stay under wraps....I am just dying to know more about him but.....[pausing] he looks more like a distant illusion!!"

"Really? is he that good?? then i must grab a CD soon and hear him sing!!" Chaitanya happily remarks with a grin!

She forgets that she is talking to a stranger and replies dreamily "yes you must.....i am sure you will love it.....[pauses] as I do..[a light blush creeps up her face as she talks about him......Chaitanya doesnt fail to notice that]....he is just tooooo good!!! I just love him.....[pausing] i mean his music!"

Chaitanya is enjoying the conversation and he feels elated hearing a beautiful girl praising him so much and that too without even knowing him!! He feels a strange connection to the girl before him......be it infatuation, crush or love, the fact was that his songs had left a strong and deep impact on her.......and that realization was giving him a ecstasy!!

She suddenly snaps out of her trance realizing that its time for the train to leave........She snatches the CD and bids a quick bye and gets into the train..........Even before he realizes that, she is gone and the train starts moving......
He sees a distant image of her waving at him as the train moves......

An unique feeling engulfs him.......He didnt know what it was.......it was a new experience......he felt a sudden vacuum and he realized that he wanted to hear more of her chirpy talk which meant that he was missing her presence..........She didnt know him but he wanted to know more about her......he didnt know the reason for the eagerness but he was dying to know her better!

It wasnt because she was appreciating the singer in him....that was for sure......there was something in her that attracted him! No girl left such an impact so far.....So she was a little special......how special? it was something that time would only tell!!

He walks to the nearby garden and settles down  in a secluded comfortable place......he opens his diary to pen down his emotions, his feelings.......

He completes his writing and closes his eyes.........he could see the girl of his dreams, his inspiration, his imagination before him.......She was wearing a pure white dress but he couldnt see her face..It was veiled with a silver net....She walked away and then turned back....her veil uncovered and a part of her face revealed.........
her eyes were sparkling and a sweet smile on her lips.........
He opened his eyes with a startle......."Wasnt it the same girl whom he saw at the station, Abhilasha??"

[To be continued]