Tumne Mujhe Dekha Kya Dekha (You saw only an image…)

Those were the days in early 80’s in Kolkata when I used to travel by Lake Road to Howrah Station minibus. A few of us guys used to occupy the last rows and have our adda all the way from Lake Road to Dalhousie.

There used to be a pretty young lady who used to board the bus at Lake Market and occupy one of the front rows. After the first few days we exchanged glances; she used to smile shyly and nod appreciatively at some of my jokes.  She used to get off the bus at Council House Street.

She was fair, tall and slim and carried herself so well. From her looks I thought she was from Kashmir.

I looked forward to the meeting her each day. As days went by I waited for her to board the bus with bated breath and when she boarded she glanced to her right and always caught my eye; was there a smile! Was it for me! I wondered!

She boarded the bus after I did and got off before I did, so never I got a chance to speak to her.

One day, I boarded the bus after she did. As I clambered up she looked at me, looked away and then looked at me again with disbelief. Her eyes froze in shock and she looked down at my elbow crutch and gait. Rest of the journey she never looked towards me. As usual she got off at Council House Street. She walked away briskly, not looking even once in my direction. She wiped her eyes I thought, but am not sure!

I never saw her again, never got to know her name and never got to know what went through her mind.

I still wonder ‘Tume mujhe dekha…kya dekha’