As per the plan, Akash finished and handed over his on-going site within a week. It was a grand opening ceremony. Everyone lauded the creativity and the efforts taken by him. With people promising to get their premises makeover from him, Akash was happy that all had gone as per his plan.
Now he looked forward to Mrs Lavanya’s site. He again had a tough time not falling for her looks and beauty and keeping the relation strictly professional. Thoughts of her were luring him to be scandalous.
Someone suggested him to visit Bundelkhand. There were many historic places around there along with world heritage site of Khajuraho temples. He liked the idea and contacted his travel agent who somehow managed to book his tickets. He also made sure that he was booked into good hotels and had cars on rent.
He had 2 days to kill before the trip. He spent those in shopping for his trip.
He was booked in a first class and was surprised and happy knowing that it was a coupe. His co-passenger was missing. It was a night train. He thought it was good opportunity to get some much needed sleep.
He slept off. Sometime during the night travel, the train kept halting as per schedule and he was unaware and far away in dreamland. He woke up in the morning as the train pulled up at a scheduled halt. He looked around. Someone had boarded the train during night and had occupied the other berth. He was curious as to who was his co-passenger. The person was still sleeping, head covered in the blanket.
He got off the train to stretch his body. He saw a tea vendor and bought a tea from him. He now felt awake. He loved the taste of this “Kulladwali Chai”. He couldn’t resist and bought another cup of tea from him. The train was about to move and he boarded it again – still sipping the tea he had bought. Standing in the fresh morning breeze as the train rumbled on.
He returned to his seat and looked at the sleeping co-passenger. From the figure he could guess she was a woman. But the sight of her face eluded him as she had covered her head with a blanket. He went to the cloak room in the bogie and freshened up. He could only imagine that his co-passenger was beautiful.
Finally, the person woke and looked at Akash and smiled…
“Good morning. I’m going out to freshen up. If the railway vendor comes to take the order, ask him to get a coffee and an omelette for me – please…” saying thus she vanished from the coupe to the rest cabin.
He gawked at the confidence shown on a stranger by asking him to order her breakfast. And to think about it – they had not even introduced themselves. The railway vendor did knock on the door of the coupe. He placed his order and that of the stranger’s. Still, not believing, that he is indeed doing so…
The stranger returned and he could now take a good look at the co-passenger. She was in her early twenties. Good looking and confident of herself. She had a nice gloss of hair falling over her shoulders till upper back. Strangely, he did not find his flirtatious feelings surging through him.
She seemed hungry and gulped at her breakfast. He looked at her – she was that cute kind of a girl, big brown eyes and a sweet smile.
“Hi – I am Ayushi…” she introduced herself.
He was taken aback by this boldness. It was normally him who started a conversation with females and then charmed them into submission – be it business or normal flirting. Here, it was reverse – she had started the conversation.
“Hi – I am Akash. I am an Interior Designer and Decorator.”
“Hmm – That’s nice. Where are you headed? Delhi? Lucknow? Agra? or Bhopal?”
“Oh! I have taken some time off for myself and am going to Jhansi and nearby. I am planning to explore Bundelkhand. Study some architecture there and if possible collect some artefacts for my clients. What about you?”
“What a co-incidence. I am going to explore Bundelkhand too…”
She chirped enthusiastically, “I am a student of Archaeology and soon will be working on a project that explores Bundelkhand.”
“Aren’t you afraid of venturing like this alone?
“It’s a project for Government of India, Archaeological Department and wherever I go, help is available there. It’s sponsored by them. The locals who work with the department are always there to help and guide.”
“You are too young to get a government job. But that’s a comfortable setup.”
“It’s a department with difference. You need to have an eye for archaeological findings – age doesn’t matter. And this is just a beginner’s work for me… your profession sounds interesting. Tell me more about it.”
They kept on chatting and were friends by the time train pulled up a Jhansi. Their itinerary was almost the same except she was to stay on for another 2 weeks after he left. She was to pick up any clues that could lead to more undiscovered places…