A walk to remember

December 1, 2008.

It was such a pleasant day that even the sky smiled at the earth. The Bangalore train left the Vasco station at 8.45 in the night carrying the queen of BITS :)… Waving the moving train, butler wished 5 days to go away fast...It was on 6th she was coming back...Mr. Butler was left alone in the station when the train went out of sight. He dialed a number and didnt have to wait for long for the answer. It was none other than the ice cream girl of MIB, Miss. Cornetto at the other end. She had gone to get some work done. She was just outside the station. “Can you see a waving hand? “ Butler’s query was answered not by words but by a click sound. Butler saw corny coming running. “Now what?” asked Butler “Pav Bhaji?”. “Hey, wen is the last bus? I don’t want to spend money on auto just like that.” She has a point. Last bus is at 9.15 and then why spend 120 bucks for an auto? “Ok. Chalo bus stand”..

“Where is the bus?” corny demanded to know..“Its jus 8.55. It will come.” Even butler wasn’t sure although he said so. It was supposed to be there from 8.45 waiting for people. Today something is in store… thought butler. Some 2-3 people were there waitin for the same bus. “Bhaiya.. when will the bus come?” “We are also waitin for the same bus. Don’t think it wil come”.. Wah! Seems like we will have to be extravagant..butler said to himself.. hmmm… Corny was in no mood to compromise about taking a taxi. Did she start hitting on her forehead? Hey no.. she was calm and composed :P

One bus conductor asked them to get into his bus. Hmmm cant do that without asking where that bus was going although they were desperate to get a bus. So asked the usual question "where to?" It was going till dabolim airport. Hmmm not bad. Just a little over 5 kms from there to campus. Can take an auto or taxi from there although they might charge more than an auto from vasco where bargaining is not prohibited. Still without much hesitation they got into that bus. Tried asking the conductor to drop them near the campus. But he was not in a sympathetic mood as he had had a fight with his wife in the morning and so the request was not granted. Discussing what to do after getting down, they sat in the bus. It dropped them right infront of the airport.

The scene was not as contented as expected. It was a little over 9 and there was no taxi as such asking for permission to serve the duo. After some time 2 bitsians were seen standing at the airport junction showing hands to whatever vehicle passed by. Not even lorries were left without a try, let alone cars :P .. but all in vain.

Time was running out of hands. It was 9.15 n still nothing positive happened. Cant wait any longer here. Butler suggested to walk. Corny nodded her agreement saying she had once done that. But it was well before she learnt how to differentiate right from wrong - ie, just after landing in BITS. But butler very well knew that corny's support for his decision didnt come out of the nice experience she had then but from a heart which felt so insecure after enjoying the beauty of the airport from outside for more than 10 minutes.

And they started walking. The happiness of venturing out something adventurous was well-lit over their faces. Corny demanded to hear some nice story. Butler who was very fond of stories and who used to get excited about the story of 2 kings who fought judicously using their men against each other, started reciting the same old story. Corny's expression clearly suggested that she was in no mood to listen to the saga of the 32 warriors fighting bravely over the black n white square battle field. Butler who could never pause once started saw corny's expression turning out from a little more than a raised eye-brow to i-will-kill-u-if-u-dont-stop-now look. Understanding the threat for his life butler managed - "hmmm.. although this story is very interesting, i have something more interesting to say". And there blossomed 100 roses on that beautiful face. Butler who knew corny was fond of jungle and animals, started telling something in that line. And they continued their walk.

The clock was ticking away and they were not reaching anywhere. Had to pass through some places where nothin but a quarter moon lit the pathway. When reached a place where there was no living being to be seen corny started looking terrified. She kept on looking behind to be sure that no bike or car is following them. She warned butler about the chance of being kidnapped by some underworld people after being made unconscious by spraying something on the face. Butler who never had thought of it before gathered some courage to make certain corny will be taken care of at any cost. He ensured to use his skills in martial arts to good effect if forced to do so. The name of each martial art which butler had known reading or hearing somewhere and still werent sure of existence were named one by one as weapons in his armour which made corny's face brighter and brighter. She was relieved to have understood that she was with a man who can fight for his friend with anyone while butler was trying to recollect those names fearing he would be asked to list them again.

Suddenly corny felt like a car chasing them. It was an indica and the number plate was white confirming its a private vehicle. She started shivering. The car overtook and came to a halt some 100m ahead of them. Corny stood still like a lamb in the stare of a python. Butler feared he couldnt help laughing but tried to control himself. 2 guys came out of the car and they started walking to the shop nearby which later understood to be a liquor shop. Butler who had taken a decision not to drink thought of buying something just to befriend those people. Realizing butler had slowed down, corny started shouting (in a low voice in fear of others overhearing :P) to push him to speed up and somehow managed to win the battle.

Long before they reached the bogmalo junction which meant they walked a little less than half the distance, corny had been exhausted. So at bogmalo junction corny somehow wanted to get a cab. The fighting dogs there didnt do any good either. Corny's heart was beating louder than their bark. So butler went on asking whoever seen how to get an ambulance to take this frightened patient home. Having wasted some 15 minutes there, both realized the fact that they dont have enough money in the account to pay the fine which would be imposed if they had to reach the campus even just a few seconds after 10.30. So they restarted the fight to accomplish the mission impossible.

On the way corny's mobile started ringing and the expression on her face seemed like thats someone who she never wanted to hear from. Butler was informed that it was her mom calling. "Pick it up, na?" he asked innocently. He was told that she was not supposed to have an evening walk at that time and mom thought her daughter was safe inside the walls of her hostel then. But butler didnt understand the trick in not picking up. "Arey, if she hears the sound of the vehicles, she will become suspicious re". "Hmmm, but its us who are circumspect and your mom wont even think of the possibility of you being out like this, let alone she listening carefully to the sounds of vehicles passing by". "You dont know my mom. She is too smart for my own good" came the immediate reply. Butler was forced to nod his agreement. The phone kept on ringing and corny kept on not picking up.

Corny told butler that she would rather call her and talk than picking up her mom's call and the logic behind that was quite simple. Her mom generally tells the long stories only when she calls and Corny's calls dont prolong that much. Corny after making sure no vehicle was going to pass by in the near future called her mom up. "Yes mom, i was in the loo when you called. Whats news?" - Butler wasnt sure how she managed. Corny hurried through the answers for her mom's querries calmly. Meanwhile 2-3 vehicles passed by and corny was smart enough to cover the phone with her left hand not to allow any unwanted sound reach her mom's attentive ears. They kept on talking for some considerable time and corny started getting impatient to cut the phone. She managed to say something which her mom yielded to and the conversation came to an end. Corny was quick to point out that her mom would be calling back in less than 10 minutes from then and so they better walked faster. Butler had no reasons to object.

The sight of MES bus-stop brought smiles back to corny's face. The little distance left over was known very well for both of them and they even knew the number of trees on the side of the road although it summed up to 0. The remaining journey was less eventful and more enjoyable with corny being in her amazing-self which butler knew very well of. When they passed through the gate it was still 10 minutes to the deadline. The not-so-surprised looks on the face of security gaurds made corny and butler believe that nothing was out-of-ordinary inside the gate. Butler noticed the relief in corny's face when he offered her a hi5!! Mission accomplished!!! O.o

Star Cast :

The Queen - Its not that difficult to decipher.

Miss. Cornetto - The only demand she put forward was not to reveal her name. So the reporter keeps his word. :P

Mr. Butler - No prize for guessing this one right :D

P.S. - The last person i want to read this blog is corny's mom and the second last person Miss. Cornetto the reasons being quite obvious. :D