The Girl with the Glasses
There is no pleasure more than in being able
to express your story to other being(s).
Hence, we write, through the night;
Cause if you can light the sky in the bleak
of the night,
then the future is indeed bright.
***
I was engrossed in completing my edit on a latest story, when a steady voice from one side kept me distracted.
Peaking by my right, I had quite the surprise; It was the girl in the glasses!
Now that she has had my attention, she continues “…Hey…thanks”
I was held perplexed by her presence, which perhaps left her confused. And why not she be?
There I was looking at her, drawn by her allure, mesmerised by her demeanour. Those round glasses on were the perfect ornament to her face, sitting gently on her nose which she adjusted with her calm fingers; just perfect! Perhaps my jaw dropped a little then, which I might have never realised.
She must have!
Hence, she continued with a wry of a smile: “umm…thanks?”
 |
| Pic Courtesy: Avah Drawing |
Ever realised looking at someone, that yes, yes, they might be the one and then shrugging off your thoughts thinking that they might be too good for you?
Funny isn’t it? Cause you didn’t even know that person then, yet you imagine a lot of things with them.
It’s the angels of heaven and hell on your shoulders. Where do you live?
“For what? ...” I revealed to her as I tried hard to come out of my zone.
“…I mean, I am sorry, but I am not able to get a hold of the reason for you to say thanks!
“You did hold be alright...!” she quipped (laughing hysterically).
“What happened there?” I tried to chuckle with my speech as I was still trying to stay put, though I was quite sure that me chuckling was the least attractive trait of mine. What if she finds that as rude?
Nevertheless, she was in control!
“It’s for the help back there…in the baggage check-in…you helped me remember?” She said (smiling).
“Ah” (realising) “That’s nothing” I replied feeling a bit shy.
When was the last time you got thanked for? I have to say, it did feel nice.
That’s when something happened.
She continued
“You helped me when no-one did…so thanks, again, Manav” (smiles again). More smiles…that’s promising right?
“Sure, you are welcome”
That’s when it hit me – She knows my name! How?
I was about to ask the question but then it came up to me slowly when I saw her yank out a book from her purse. It was surprising as to how it fit in the purse; you will be surprised how much they can fit in their handbag.
The book seemed familiar though. The cover said it all, the bold heading in the front with crisp short details at the back, having a picture with the name of the author, the picture that I was particularly not fond of – that’s my novel!
Oh, hell no!
Fear and panic are quite straightforward: something happens, or is projected as going to happen, that causes an apprehensive or frightened response. But things don’t work that way for me, for getting noticed in public gives me anxiety, even though Pete has been helping me get through this.
Can I get a picture? Selfie? Can I get an autograph? Could you sign this for me please? When is the next book coming? Why are you not writing?
You see, an anxious person's mental landscape will fall to chaos over all manner of things, however tiny or inconsequential. I want my peace!
“I am just through with some chapters” she explained while pointing the book towards me.
Disconcerted, I replied: “Oh”
It is a bit different than previous times, at least I am not bombarded with questions or pictures, yet!
A second of pause later I replied again: “How did you like it?”
Beaming she proclaimed: “It’s a great read, I like the character of Poorva”
“Oh, Is it? …” (smiling)
“…well, good then, carry on”
She has no idea what those chapters later in the book would reveal! Guess I would not want to disappoint her by spoiling any. I gave a faint smile - about time!
“I never liked my picture taken for the novel, one of my least favourites…but I guess the publisher liked that the most of the lot…ha ha” I tried to joke to relive myself of the panic and with my rapidly beating heart.
“Well, it’s nice; I like it. I found you so easily among the crowd” she replied.
Sneaky stalker huh! I was not the only one.
There was a brief pause, I guess we both found it a bit awkward, though she finally broke the silence.
“Can I ask you a question?”
I chuckled(again!) “Well, wait…we are already having a conversation, aren’t we?”
She laughs.
“Yes, now we do” (smiling) Sweet!
I have now shifted my posture to face her.
I feel that it is quite rude sometimes to not face the person, when you are having a conversation; otherwise what is the point of having one anyway?
It gives a sign of welcome and I felt that I should give her that! and so, I tried myself to get involved more into her conversation.
“So, you had a question!”
“Ah, yes I do”
“And…that is?”
“Yes…ahem…” clearing her throat as she was ready to frame her sentence carefully.
“…so, where are you lost in?”
I was dumbstruck.
I replied “Excuse me?”
“No…I mean I am sorry…I just noticed you thinking for sometime now, so I felt that you must be into something”
It was rather embarrassing for her to notice me prodding over my thoughts.
Getting back my composer, I smiled back at her and said: “Seems like you were watching me for some time”
She smiled (shyingly) saying: “No, no…not that, it just caught my eye”
“Ah…I see”
“Yes, that’s how it is” (laughing)
***
“Well, a lot of places in fact…perhaps a story requires various inspiration with a deep sense of meaning”
“Interesting” She says, pondering over my eyes like she wants to look into my soul with her precision glasses!
“You are from around here?” I asked out of curiosity.
“Ah, no…I came here for a trip with my friends here. Semester break!” she grinned.
“I see!”
“You?”
“I do stay here work, though I belong to a different state”
“Oh, really? I used to think authors only write whole day”
(smiling) “he he, some do that and then there are folks like me as well”
I could sense her friends wondering which whom she was taking to as she gestures to them that she will be joining them in a while.
“I guess your friends are waiting for you” (smiling)
“Ahh…yes, they can wait…he he…” (shying) “…who would have thought that I would get a chance to meet you in person?”
“I did try to keep a low profile”
And we burst out laughing.
But as every good story comes to an end, so did our conversation with a sudden announcement from the departure gates
Indigo flight 6E 2622 for Delhi is ready to depart
from gate number 4. Passengers are requested to please carry boarding pass and identifications
while boarding. Thankyou…
It went on for two more times, also in other languages.
“Guess, it is time for me to leave” (sighing)
“oh, hey, okay…have a safe way back home” I said. I was kicking myself for not having the courage to ask her name while having all those conversations.
I felt the moment was gone then, and the girl would become another one of those random people; just when she parted by saying
“It’s been really nice to meet you…my name is Stacy by the way. Stacy Anastasia”
I smiled within. Yes, finally a name! even though I would have hardly done anything with knowing that name, yet it still gave me immense pleasure.
“Well, Stacy, it has been nice to talk to you as well”
“umm…people call me Anne, but yes, you do can call me Stacy. It’s in the name…he he”
(smiling) “Then, Anne it is!”
And then while she was departing, she left another comment
“I will ping you?”
“he he, you can, but, how would you?” I tried playing around the idea to get her number in a cheeky way.
“Ah, no worries, I follow your page” and she went out laughing. Well played girl, well played!
What followed for the next ten minutes can be called bizarre; I was fixated on this girl who slowly walked across the hallway, looking back twice towards me smiling and then eventually mingling with her group.
I could see her being swarmed with questions from her peers, just like being quizzed by a crowd outside an examination hall.
Perhaps the common questions were: Who was that guy? or perhaps, who were you talking to?
There was a giggle among the fellow girls in her group, the topic I was so anxious to know at that time.
Eventually her queue started to move towards the flight deck and by the time her peers knew of the man that their friend was talking to. While everyone in their group were a bit lost looking towards my face from their distance, she was merrily waving me goodbye, even though indicating that soon she would make contact.
Cause what began with an unwanted course of event, with a brief moment of anxiety; turned into a steady conversation, which slowly changed things. Yes, rather being just the end, the conversation has now has just begun!
***
Peering into my watch, I checked the time. One more hour to go!
I have many people to meet and a reception to attend to soon.
Yes, it’s a long way back home.
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