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Title : A Fiction Love Story

Author : raghu yadav

I wondered how you said goodbye to a woman with whom you made love, for the first time. Goodbye, she said. We both got what we wanted, didnt we? She didnt wait for my reply, but picked up her bag and went away. I remained tongue-tied too confused to react. It had been my first experience. How was the trip to Vizag, asked Sanjiv, welcoming me to his living room.

I started talking shop. Sanjiv opened of beer and said, All that can wait till tomorrow morning in the office. Anything exciting? Any conquests? Yes, I said. But you wont believe me. interest. Probably he did believe me. Tell me, he said I told him, very briefly. He listened with

He handed me a beer mug as we walked towards the balcony. We sat down, said cheers and took a long pull of beer. Tell me everything, all the juicy details, Sanjiv said, in an almost peremptory manner. I told no choice. Sanjiv was my boss. This is the story that I told him. Sunrise , on the eastern coast, is a resplendent spectacle. I stood on the beach to behold the breaking of the suns upper limb over the horizon of the sea. It was a breathtaking sight like the unfolding of crimson petals of a gigantic flower. It was my first morning in Visakhapatnam Vizag as it is popularly known. I turned to walk back to my hotel. I saw her almost at once. Our eyes met. She had capricious eyes. I smiled. She smiled. I felt instantly attracted to her. She looked so nubile, and the same time voluptuous. I just couldnt take my eyes off her. She gave me a canny look, then suddenly turned around and walked away. I looked at my watch. It was precisely 6 oclock in the morning. For the next ten days, I never missed my rendezvous at sunrise with her. In fact, it was the only event I used to look forward to. But I never made any attempt to talk to her. Dont ask me why. Maybe I was too shy, or maybe I wanted to keep our relationship that way beautiful, fragile. I felt sad when my stay in Vizag came to an end and as I saw my Sunrise Sweetheart walk away from me on my last morning at the beach. 1. That evening, I stood on the railway platform and scanned the passenger list on the reservation chart pasted on the First Class coach of Godavari Express. No matter how many times I begin a train journey, there is always an intriguing interest in seeing who ones fellow-passengers are. I was in coupe compartment E. The other berth had been reserved in the name of a Mr Rao Male Age 58. Bad luck, as

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usual. Might as well pick up a book. I went to the bookstall and bought a paperback Great Short Stories. The cover was attractive and the title appealed to me. I wondered how Short Stories could be called Great.

The train started, but there was no sign of Mr. Rao. I opened the book and started reading. The ticket collector entered. He checked my ticket and said, The other passenger has not come. I will adjust you in some other compartment. But why should I shift? I asked. There is a single lady on the waiting list. I dont know where to put her, the ticket collector explained. Suddenly she entered. My heart skipped a beat. What a coincidence! It was she My Sunrise Sweetheart. She gave me a warm friendly smile. The ticket collector stood up and spoke to her, Please sit here for the time being, madam. I shall try and shift the gentleman to some other compartment in case there is a vacant berth. Its okay, she said. We know each other. Well travel together. The ticket collector looked visibly relieved, thanked her, and went away. I stood up and helped her secure her baggage. I offered her the window seat. She sat down and we started talking. I found that she was easy to talk to. I experienced a strange feeling of elation. In these moods, there was so much to say the words simply came tumbling out. I told her everything about myself. She was a good listener. Time flew. I soon realized that she was looking at me with undisguised affection. She radiated an extraordinary sensuousness. I was aroused. But it was she who made the first move. I paused and looked at Sanjiv. His eyes were gleaming in anticipation for the juicy bit. But I was not going to oblige him. It was too personal. Did you get her address? Sanjiv asked eagerly. No, I answered truthfully. What is her name?

I dont know, I lied. Of course she had told me her name Anita but I wasnt going to tell him. What did you do in the morning? You two must have at least talked something. There was no time," I said, When I woke up she had gone to the toilet. By the time she came back, the train had reached Hyderabad . She said goodbye and got down. I paused. Then I said hesitantly, I managed to put the short stories book in her bag when she had gone to the toilet. As a token of thanks. Sanjiv laughed, surely you must have written your name and address on the book. Along with your message of thanks and love, of course. No, I said. Frankly, I was feeling quite confused and perplexed, probably scared. And I was in a hurry to confirm my reservation on the connecting train to Mumbai. You are a bloody dope, a clueless poltroon, Sanjiv exclaimed with visible disappointment. She was a long term

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investment. You are a real dope to have lost her. I wish I was there in your place. Sanjiv prided himself in being a Casanova. He often boasted of his exploits and conquests. As far as I was concerned, I genuinely cherished my one and only experience. A mans first love has an enduring place in his heart. I could never forget Anita; her face, her eyes, her body, the swells and peaks, the nooks and crevices, her touch, her extraordinary sensuousness. The flight from New York landed in Mumbai at the unearthly hour of midnight. I was returning toIndia after a longish stint abroad. Sanjiv received me at the airport. As he drove me home. He dropped the first bombshell, I got married last week. It was a rush affair. Love at first sight. We had to keep it low profile opposition from both sides, the usual stuff. I just couldnt inform you. I congratulated him. What are your plans? he asked. Any luck abroad.

I am going to try and find that girl I met in the Godavari Express, I said, with genuine nostalgia and yearning. Sanjiv burst out laughing, I didnt know it was that serious. Maybe my wife can help you. She is from Hyderabad . We reached Sanjivs flat. The door opened and Anita stood in front of me bold as brass. I was dumbstruck. I certainly hadnt bargained for this. Sanjiv and Anita! The coincidence was unbelievable. I started at her incredulously. I cannot begin to describe the emotion I felt, but my heart ached and my throat went dry. Meanwhile, Sanjiv had taken my bag and gone inside. Then I felt a tinge of sadness. A mans first love fills an enduring place in his heart. I looked into Anita eyes. She pointedly avoided my glance. I kept starting at Anita. She looked ravishing. Her beauty had enhanced with age. Her low-cut blouse, which accentuated the curves of her shapely breasts, made her, look temptingly desirable. Her crumpled sari and disheveled hair added to her sensuous appeal. But there was not a trace of recognition in her eyes. We just stood there in silence, deafening silence.

I was at my wits end when Sanjiv suddenly appeared and said, Hey, Im sorry I didnt introduce you two. This is Anita my wifes best friend. And this, he said pointing to a young attractive woman who had emerged from the bedroom, is my wife Rajashree. I cannot begin to describe the emotions I experienced at that moment. I just burst out laughing. He is a crazy guy, remarked Sanjiv to the ladies. Must be the jet lag. Lets go to sleep. Whatever is left of the night, that is! I looked at Anita as she walked away. There was still no trace of recognition in her eyes. I felt angry and disappointed. I would tackle her in the morning. I switched off the lights and went to sleep on the sofa in the living room. I woke up with a start. I could sense that there was someone standing near me in the darkness. I at once knew who it was. Thanks for the book, Anita said, and abruptly walked away, vanishing into her room.

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I got up and switched on the lights. The paperback on Great Short Stories was lying on the table near the sofa. I slept late, almost till noon. As we sat for lunch I noticed that Anita was missing. I enquired about her. She has gone back to Hyderabad by the morning flight, said Sanjiv. Rajashree, Sanjivs wife, spoke, Poor thing. She had come to see a boy but it didnt work out. I feel sorry for Anita. She is almost thirty, four years older than me. And shes still unmarried. Yet she keeps rejecting boys! Maybe she is waiting for someone, I interjected. Give me her address. Shall I book you on the evening flight? asked Sanjiv with a canny smile. No, I replied, tongue in cheek. I prefer trains. And I made it to the station just in time to catch the Hyderabad Express.

[This is one my earlier amateurish attempts at writing. At that time, twenty years back, blogging was non-existent, and the only way to get someone to read your writings was to try and publish it in one of the magazines, and unlike today, when it is so easy to communicate and blog ones thoughts and writing, thanks to creative vehicles like Sulekha, at that point of time writers were at the mercy of editors. But as far as this piece is concerned, when I read it now, Im not surprised it was rejected. Now, Im blogging it here. If you like it, do comment. If you dont, do send in your brickbats to help me improve my writing. Maybe, this can be a lesson in how not to write a short story!]

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