bus rides | an indian short story

three

while going back home, he took a cab to the bus stand she got off at earlier that morning. since he didn't know which bus she would get or whether they would even get the same bus, he didn't want to risk it.

he waited at the bus stand for a few minutes hoping that she hadn't left already.

five minutes...ten minutes...fifteen minutes...twenty minutes...he kept on checking his watch.

finally, he saw her walking to the bus stop with a friend. before she could see him, he shifted his eyes and looked ahead.

as she drew nearer, he heard her voice. it was even more beautiful than he expected it to be. it was soft and sweet. but when she saw him, she stopped talking to her friend and turned red with shyness again.

the same process continued with him as a bodyguard behind her.

but the bus was full which left both of them standing in a crowd of people. it made it hard for them to look at each other as she moved ahead and he was left behind.

even while getting off, it was so full that he had to get off from the back while she made it from the front.

they didn't even turn to look at each other to avoid awkwardness.