Platform Number 3 !

It was 30 past 9 in the P.M. and the moon was smiling at Bangalore. The cold breeze was teasing the clouds and the clouds were opening up. Minute globules of water were rocketing the troposphere before they hit them. There was a pair of hands locked in each other. A half hearted smile, tears in eyes, and a reluctant step forward; two heads were hanging low daring not to see each other. It is going to be a long month.

She had run in his arms. It has been a month's wait. She had missed him, his affection, his care and his warmth. She had wanted him dearly. He was not feeling anything less to that. He wrapped his arms around her and never let go. Words were few, smiles were lot. Two hands locked into each other. They will remain locked for 40 more hours. Sun rose into the skies of Bangalore watching this beautiful couple.

In her black saree, she looked amazing. In his t-shirt and cargos, he looked like a Yankee. They still made a beautiful couple. At 10 in the morning, both were standing in front of the temple. They had stuck to their routine. Being a believer, she visited the temple on every single trip and he being an atheist, joined her simply to be with her. He broke his vow not to enter a temple, when he first saw her 4 years ago. Love conquered him. He simply could not miss her beautifully closed eyes, her sweet, now praying lips, her cute smile, and her sparkling eyes, when they opened after the prayer, her beautiful hands, now joined together, her beautiful hair and the radiant flower she wore on them, the nice pair of ear rings and her naughty possessiveness for him. He loved her with all his heart and that meant not to lose sight of her even just a second.

Boating was the plan for that evening. 15 Kms out of city, it was an ideal spot for lovers. Enjoying the evening breeze, sipping their shakes, they walked around the lake, hand in hand. There were conversations on hundreds of topics, each not lasting over a minute. Their eyes would meet and the topic would be forgotten. The next topic will be waiting in their heads. Their hired a boat and paid the boatman double, requesting him not to come. They wanted privacy, every bit of it.

It was his way of surprising her. An unexpected gift. Sarees, teddy bears, candle-light dinners, all of them had made into their list. This time it was much more than these. A ring. Not a very costly one, but a beautiful one. He knelt, took her arm into his and offered her his gift. A kiss to the forehead was offered in return. And then came the night, the most difficult part.

She lay in his chest, all arms wrapped around him. His arms were holding her like chains. He had no idea of letting her go. She had the privilege of biting his ear, and he had the privilege of kissing her in her lips. But Lust never found a way in between them. Anyone watching them sleep would have compared them to a couple of kids sleeping cutely with no tomorrow in mind. To them, at that moment, the World was six foot by four foot.

A good lunch and a beautiful movie, made their next day. They roamed the city carefree and had fun every single moment. They never took their eyes of each other. Their hands never separated. But this was all past tense at 9.40 P.M, this Sunday evening. They were walking reluctantly.

Tears rolled down her eyes, when she finally heard it. "Yaatriya kripaya dhyan dhijiye! Gaadi number chey,char,dho,chey, Banglore se Kanyakumari jaanewalee, Kanyakumari express, Platform number theen mein aagaye hein !" The Indian trains which are usually late, arrived at the proper time. Even they did not have any sympathy on them. The engine whistled at 9.55. Roja hugged Aravind and kissed him in his cheeks and boarded the train. He was standing alone in the platform numbered 3, at 10.05 P.M. He was staring at his wedding ring!