I just...fell for her...!! (part 3)

    'Vizag!' announced Karthik.

     'I don't want to go anywhere,' I said plainly.  It was now over a week since I last saw Aishwarya's pic.  I missed her.  Though all I had to do to see her was close my eyes, but reading her comments made me feel a little closer to her.  I reminded her words everytime I felt low and that pacified my heart to some extent.  Now my desperation of meeting  her was inflating but my hopes were sinking deep down.

     'Come on.You like beaches,' he protested.

     I kept silent.

     'For Christ's sake, Sumeet!' Karthik held my hand from completing Aishwarya's name in the search bar, 'stop vexing yourself.'

      I kept silent again.

     'You'll get her if you deserve her,' he said.

     'I don't deserve her?' I asked instantly.

     'Even if you do, may be, she doesn't,' he said irritated, 'let the fate play its game!'

     I looked at him. He nodded assumingly.

     It's so good to have a friend I thought no matter what shit they talk, they end up making us feel good!

     I agreed to come with him to Vizag, not because of my ardor for beaches but for him.

     Vishaka Express departed from Secunderabad at 18:00 and we were allotted the side berths. I was happy that they were window seats.

   We sat silently far long, looking out of the window and glancing at each other in between. Perhaps he knew I was still thinking about Aishwarya and so was trying hard to come up with right words to start conversation.

     'Where does she lives?' he asked finally.

     'Who?' I asked trying to be ignorant.

     He gave me you kow who! expressions. I sighed.

     'I donno!' I said and again looking out of the window, 'only her gender was available in her info,' I added, smiling sarcastically.

     'I was just wondering, if we bump into her in Vizag,' he said smilingly.

     I wished that too I said to myself. I just smiled visibly.

     The sky started painting itself with dark shades of blue and soon it was dark. Karthik occupied the upper berth requesting me to sleep soon. I stretched my legs straight and stared at the dark outside through the window. As the night swept the whole sky, it turned pitch dark all around.  There was few blinkers all over.  The ground reflected the sky, with few distant lights imitating the stars and the dark outline of trees filling in as clouds. This illusion hooked my sanity for long with the cool breeze fighting through the window grill worked as sedative and I slipped into deep slumber.

     I blinked my eyes trying to open them wide.  I saw the hazy figure of Karthik sitting right infront of me.  I succeeded in opening my eyes and bringing back myself from the sleep.  He was smiling bright.

     'What?' I asked, straightening myself.  He shook his head.

     'Go freshen up!' he commanded.

     He stretched his hand out offering a cup of coffee ( I guessed) when I sat folding my legs.  I took the paper up labelled 'IRCTC'. I smelled it and had a little sip, that instantly flashed image of the coffee girl and it brought back the memories of that day.  I smiled.

     'Remembering that girl in the coffee shop?' asked Karthik noticing me smile. I nodded.

     We reached Vizag around 7 in the morning, picked up our bags and got down. The station was cramped with people and was no different from other stations.  We hired a vehicle and started off to the place we booked. 'Suvarna Corals, Pandurangapuram,' Karthik reminded the driver again.

     After ten minutes we were driving on the road approaching its end.  And there it was - the SEA.  My eyes lit up and lips stretched to the ears.  I sat calmly though my heart was throbbing inside out!  We reached our destination which was opposite to the sea with just a road in between.  As I got down from the car I launched myself to the beach, but I felt a hand on my shoulder trying to stop me.  'Lets unpack first!' it was Karthik.

   I obliged.  When I ran to our room I banged into the corridor and stood, my mouth open at the sight of that marvelous beauty!

                                                           

     I tried hopping as high as I can, in an attempt to see the other side of the sea but in vain.  I laughed at my oblivion.

     'Lets go!' called Karthik after we he 10 minutes.  I'm coming to you,' I said to the sea.

      Awe struck me like a lightening at the sight of the water current rising high above and crashing down near my feet.  I moved back, yet couldn't stop myself from moving closer to it.  Everytime it splashed, it swept off the sand below my feet.  I sat there for sometime feeling the cuddle of the tides and trying vehemantly to pull me inside - I fought its every challenge!

     'Thank God, I'm not carrying a cup of coffee,' I heard a voice from my behind.  We were at a restaurant 'Daspalla' to have lunch.  Having ordered a North Indian thali, we were waiting for the waiters to serve us.

     I turned back and much to my surprise, it was the same coffee girl I screamed at in Hyderabad.

     The world's so small I said to myself.

     'Hey,' I said aloud,'What a pleasant surprise!'

     'I hope it is,' she said, 'her brows peaked and smiling weirdly. I laughed.

     'Ofcourse, it is,' I said, 'What are you doing here?'

     'Holiday!' she said, excitedly, 'with friends!'

     'And you,' she added quickly.

     'My friend, Karthik has an interview here,' I said pointing him.

     'Hi Karthik,' she said, 'Have you wondered something?'

     'What?'

     'We dont know each others name,' she giggled.

     'Sumeeth,' I offered for a handshake.

     'Aminy,' she shook my hand, 'can call me Ami.'

     'These are my friends,' she said looking at the group of girls, 'Lavi, Saritha, Anvesha, Jagruthi.' And he's Sumeeth and that's Karhtik.' she added introducing us.

     I said 'hi' to each one of them and so did Karthik.  They responded with hearty smiles.

     They all were pretty, but still couldn't hold my attention.  'There she comes,' said one of her friends (couldn't pick up the right name among those options) gesturing at the door.

     I saw translucent glass door pushed open and then everything was slow motioned.  A girl entered the dining hall, her hair covering most part of her face because of the fan placed just beside; she cleanly removed them from obstructing the face and bounced it back to her head.
 Is that her?!! my heart jumped, I could feel the void in my chest. Is that her?!! it jumped again. I looked at Karthik, his mouth fell open and his eyes were filled with excitement. She walked slowly towards us.
'She is...,' she said, my heart throbbing intensely, 'my friend,' I could feel the cool sweat on my feet, 'Aishwarya.'