Five Days and Bluetooth

Monday saw her cursing her way up the stairs. Her first day at college is a lot more packed than what she had in mind. Plus, the fact that she could never get her bearings right didn’t help. She got lost in the college compound today, twice. Not counting the one time when she could not find the lift to go down the main administration building. And now she is already running late to catch the train. In a few minutes the rush hour starts, and she does not want to get stuck in it.

Too late. People are already queuing. She let out an audible sigh. To be stuck inside a train with people jostling about for half an hour is unimaginable. Not to mention the awful mixed smell of end-of-day perfume and sweat. Yuk. There was no other option. If she called a cab, meaning she is burning a hole in her own pocket. The fare meter in the taxi must be whooping with joy the moment she got in. The roads, too, must be overwhelmed with cars. She called her mother and informed her of her late return today.

Without thinking, she moved towards the very end of the station and sat down on the ceramic-tiled floor. It was a relief to be away from all those smelly people. She pulled out a novel she is currently reading, and in a few minutes was lost in the plot. She took breaks once in a while only to sip some water from a bottle of mineral water she bought.

The steady flow of people still did not thin down even half an hour later, but she was still determined to wait. Her back was already stiff, thus she stretched. Her gaze then falls on the platform opposite her. A boy was sitting there, at the exact opposite place where she was sitting. But he was not reading. He was sitting there, with a very bored expression etched on his face; it was almost painful to watch. His bag was laying there next to him, and from the looks of it, it looked like he had thrown it unceremoniously onto the floor.

She almost smiled at the expression on his face, but bent down quickly towards her book. Anyway, it couldn’t be helped. More than once she stole a glance or two at the boy. He was half-sitting, half-lazing down there, magnificently bored, a little bit disgusted, and his frowning eyes never looked away from the queuing people. He had hair falling into his eyes, and he pushed them away impatiently with his fingers. His feet were tapping away to some rhythm. She adjusted herself a tiny bit to the right, and saw that he had his earphones on.

Sensing the small movement, he turned his head and looked right at her. She nearly freaked out. Quickly she pretended to resume reading. After exactly two and a half minutes later she looked up, pretending to have a drink and in a split second regretted her action. She could then see that she is now the main object of his scrutiny.

The water bottle shivered a little in her hands. ‘You are being stupid,’ she told herself. Never before she had ever experienced this state of nervousness under the gaze of a stranger. Was it also due to the fact that he is quite good-looking in his own way? Could it be ... She sighed. ‘No,’ she told herself firmly. She had long before given up hopes on getting a boyfriend. Her friends told her she is a bit too choosy. But for her, some characteristics are not wrong. A person always wanted the best for himself.

She tore her gaze away from the book she was pretending to read and looked towards the waiting people. It was nearly six. With relief, she saw that the lines are thinner. Getting up, she brushed her trousers and saw in the corner of her eyes that the boy was doing the same. As fast as she can without attracting attention, she hid herself in the crowd. And not one minute later the train arrived.

On Tuesday, she was earlier. She sat down on the waiting bench, and threw a look at the place the boy was sitting yesterday. He was not there. A little bit disappointed, a little bit relieved, she scanned the platform opposite. And saw him looking directly at her, earphones on, leaning against a pillar.

Quickly she averted her eyes. Her heart started hammering and she fumbled in her pockets for her cell. His gaze was still there, looming on her. Braving herself, she lifted her chin and stole a look. There, he quickly looked away. She bit her lips to prevent from smiling.

All too soon the train arrived. She got up, slung her bag over her shoulder and got in, turning her back towards the platform opposite.

Wednesday rained heavily. Her brother had promised to pick her up from college, but called to cancel as soon as the rain started to pour. It was useless, really, seeing as her brother only rides a motorcycle to work. Let him be wet, she preferred the dryness of the trains.

Brushing the water away from her clothes, she tried as casually as possible to look for the boy. It was beginning to be a habit; he was already part of her daily routine. But alas, today he was nowhere to be found. She sat herself on the bench, feeling as gloomy as the rain. Unconsciously she took out her cell, merely looked at it and kept it away again. She had been there not thirty seconds, but she had already started cursing the rail company for having very slow trains which are altogether not enough to ensure that the increasing number of passengers every day may travel in comfort. She got annoyed at the person standing in front of her, who is blocking her view from the platform aisle opposite. More than once she huffed irritably, all the while tapping her foot impatiently.

A lightning flashed, and then a loud thunder stroke and she jumped a little. She looked at the heavy rain pouring cats and dogs, and suddenly had to hide a smile at imagining cats and dogs falling from the sky. Then she nearly knocked herself on the head for the sudden mood change, but at the last moment caught herself. It will not do to be seen doing crazy things in public. She turned away. Almost at the same moment she saw him, his hair wet, climbing the last stair step.

Her heart jumped from joy. Why is it such a pleasure to see him, she was not sure. He pushed his sloppy hair impatiently from his forehead, looked at his watch, and then turned to look right at her. She was petrified, their gazes locked. And unexpectedly, he smiled at her.

She nearly melted in the sweet warmth of the smile, all on a cold, rainy afternoon.

The train arrived. She automatically got up, went aboard, then sat at the nearest available seat in the train. All the way back she cursed herself repeatedly for not returning his smile.

Then it was Thursday, and she was a determined girl. She is going to smile back at him today. Or she is going to smile at him, whatever comes first. She skipped the last stair step with a flourish and hopefully scanned the opposite platform. He was not there. Never mind, never mind, she will sit there at her usual bench and wait. So she sat, and waited.

Her train arrived, and she looked at it blankly. Of all the days, it came early today. She made then to get up, but stopped herself just in time. He would not know if she let a train pass while waiting for him. People looked at her curiously, and she glared back at them, daring them to ask why she did not get on board. And the train went, leaving her view of the opposite platform free. He was still not there.

She looked at her watch. Thirty minutes before the rush hour. He should be here by now. Sighing, she took out her novel and began to read, but caught herself reading the same line a few times. She got up and leaned against a pillar, where she can see the stairs on his side of platform. Her mind told her it was stupid to wait for him this way. ‘You do not even know him,’ it said. ‘It is useless. Maybe he went back already,’ it said again. She bit her lips. It is up to her to decide. ‘No, wait, I know he is not here yet,’ her heart protested. Her mind started to scream back. Willing the voices to go away, she shook her head vigorously and ignored a girl standing next to her, who jumped a little at her sudden act.

The next train arrived, and she slowly walked in, though not without a little doubt. The doors were already closing when she saw him running up the stairs. She raised her hand, her mouth already half-opened to call him when she realized that she did not even know his name. But then she saw his disappointed face scanning the insides of the train, and thus waved her hand energetically at him. He saw it. And his face broke into a smile. She grinned back, flowers blooming in her chest. The inconsiderate train started to move and still they grinned at each other.

Friday left her in a doubt. What time will he be going back today? In the middle of the day, or will he wait until afternoon? She walked slowly towards the station after class. It was a really sunny midday, and the heat was almost unbearable. She regretted not bringing an umbrella. But she is really thinking about the boy. What is it that was so special about him? Isn’t he just an unimportant passer-by in her long stretch of life? Who is he actually? A student, maybe, but where? Is there another college in the vicinity?

Honk!

The car horn startled her, waking her up from her thinking. She had nearly crossed the road without looking right and left, her left foot already leaving the curb. Her hand flew to her chest in relief. ‘Always what you have when you got boys on your mind – danger,’ her heart told her. More carefully, she made her way towards the station.

Like every other day, her eyes scanned the area for him. And today they did not disappoint her. He is there, leaning against a pillar, already smiling at her. She smiled back, suddenly turning red and cursing herself for that. He took out his cell and waved it at her. She stared at him, completely clueless. Her expression made him stifle a laugh, and she saw that. Promptly she composed herself, and took out her cell, too, without knowing exactly why she did that. But the boy seemed satisfied. He mouthed something at her. What? She shook her head. He mouthed something again, this time more slowly, and she chuckled at his funny face. He waited. She did nothing. He mouthed something again. She got annoyed.

“If I could read lips, I would have been a secret agent by now!” She said, out loud. A few people sniggered. The boy merely smiled. She had a feeling he could not hear what she said.

True. He started pointing at his cell, his shirt, then at his mouth, grinning all the time. She was more than baffled. He pointed again at those three things. She frowned in concentration. What could he mean by his cell? I have my cell, but I don’t have his number. Okay, maybe something to do with cells. The shirt. What brand is his shirt? Oh, I couldn’t see from here. It is white with baby blue stripes. Wow, the color really suited his fair skin. No, no, don’t get distracted. And the mouth? What do people do with a mouth? Eat? Smile? Bite? Kiss?

The trains arrived, first at her side, then at his. Both ignored them, waiting impatiently for the trains to pass.

The moment the coast was clear, she shook her head at him in frustration. He scratched his head, then shrugged. He started pointing at his shirt again, this time mouthing something afterwards. Something ‘U’.

U? Woo? Du? Blue? Yes! Blue! His shirt is blue, so that explains it. She nodded excitedly. He maintained his cool. Then he pointed to his grin. Grin. Smile. Teeth, maybe? She showed him her teeth, feeling stupid all the way. But he nodded and grinned, then waved his cell again. Ok, next. Now what does the color blue, teeth, and cells have in common?

Her brain is practically whirring.

Bluetooth?

She nearly screamed from her excitement. He was nodding his head, also thrilled. She quickly turned on the Bluetooth device on her cell, and then looked at him.

He was sending her a file, and she approved the transfer.

A cartoon picture of girl waiting at a train station, then the screen turned black, and numbers flashed across the screen. His phone number.

She texted him. ‘Got it,’ she said.

He replied. ‘Took u quite long there. J’

She laughed out loud, and suddenly did not want to go home.