It was a chilling evening of the year 2014. In the new city, didn't even have a friend to ask out for a coffee. So, decided to come out of my hotel and walk the lanes to Park street, the famous street of Kolkata.
The bright road lights had witnessed the bright Christmas celebrations and was eagerly waiting for the new year. I could see groups gathering for selfies, sharing momos, adoring the lightworks of parkstreet. Walking in a dreamy trance, didnt realise when I reached my destination. The Flurries was abuzz with people of all age. The love for cake, pastries, coffee and christmas was evident and beautiful.
I ordered a cup of hot cappuccino and some cookies. I was sipping my coffee, and suddenly i noticed this female with knee length black leather jacket. Her brown flowy hair occasionally fell on her chiks, her hands were moving in rhythm with her conversation on phone. She was done with her coffee. I realised I too had finished. She stood up, picked up her four-wheeler suitcase and kept walking towards her cab, towards the main junction, where her cab was waiting. I kept looking at her, what ease and what a style of a beautiful, independent and elegant woman. I kept looking at until she fazed away. She was gone, I felt a sudden vacuum in my heart, felt wish I could speak to her once!
Saddened with the thought that won't be able to meet her again, something struck my eyes, it was her small blue purse on the table she was sitting. It felt like a blessing coming directly from the stars above. I was swift to open the purse. Yes! Some cash, credit cards and her ID card, enough for making her a comeback. I called her, she recieved the phone in a subtly strong voice, I somehow gathered myself and mentioned about her purse she left at Flurry's table.
She paused for a while, thanked me and requested for a best possible way to meet the earliest. Her flight to Mumbai in 1.5 hours. The selfless "Hero" woke up in me. I offered to meet her directly at airport and hand the purse over. And incase I can't reach on time, I would courier it to her office mentioned in the is card, and she had my mobile number to track me down for any mischief.
She thought for a moment, and agreed. Without wasting any time, I opened my ola app, booked my ride, and zip zap zoom. I kept my driver Santosh on his toes. Santosh with a smile kept showing me the map. I reached Dumdum airport, bang-on in 55 mins. Before I pay my bill, I rang up the lady, she was waiting outside the airport. Came running getting my call. I knew it was for the purse and not for me, still kept looking at her animatedly. I stood still next to my cab. Shilpi came, thanked me zillion times and waived again vanished. She was gone again.
Now it was time to pay for my ride. I looked back, Santosh smiling at me said that the destination was not entered in the journey app. So, if I wish to continue my journey back to parkstreet in the same cab. I was more than happy to oblige. I felt a friend was there standing by me in the unknown city in search for an unknown soul. I thanked Santosh. He smiled and said, you haven't lost her yet. You have her phone number, and continued driving the car. I kept thinking about Shilpi, Shilpi, Shilpi..
#short story #romance #kolkata
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