I just hope the answers to these questions do not affect my relationship with Raman.

Did I just say that!?

Chapter 5

6th February, 2014

Now again the handwriting and pen has changed.

This one is Raman's POV?

I cross-checked with the earlier chapters.

Chapter 1 and 4 has same handwriting and written in blue pen,

Chapter 2, 3 and now 5 written in a different handwriting in black pen.

So, Chapter 1 and 4: Ajnabi's POV.

Chapter 2, 3 and 5: Raman's POV.

Happy realization Ishita!

But...what is the connection between these 2 people????

Urghhh...let me not rake my brain at that...I will just read further to find out...

(Author's Note: I suggest you do the same too ;-))

Now enough of analysis...back to reading...

I will read from the beginning now

6th February, 2014

This date! Something important happened in Raman's life too???? Strange co-incidence!

I was in Bangalore to attend a Business Conference.

Raman was in Bangalore too???

The conference was supposed to last for 3 days, but for some reason it got delayed and I had to cancel my air-tickets to Delhi, that was supposed to be on 4th of Feb.

Every time I came to Bangalore, I would make sure to visit Abhi.

But this time I did not have enough courage to face him.

So I wanted to leave the place before he comes to know of my stay in Bangalore.

I asked Mihir to book the earliest tickets to Delhi as soon as I got to know the conference would end on 6th Feb.

Fortunately or unfortunately, air tickets were not available for 6th of Feb.

That meant I would have to stay longer in Bangalore.

Being in the same city and the same area would mean high chances of walking into Abhi.

I didn't want that to happen, so I opted for the next best source available, journey by train.

My tickets were booked and I reached the railway station.

The train, as usual, was not on time and I hate waiting.

So I am not the only person on earth who hates waiting. I chuckled.

I checked at the information desk, when the train would arrive, but they had no clue.

So I thought I should utilize this time for some important calls and I got busy with it.

After about an hour, I was exhausted and wanted to relax for a while.

So I looked for a place to settle down.

I found a vacant bench and slumped on it, closing my eyes and relaxing my nerves.

I was slowly slipping into a slumber when the continuous crinkling of the bangles and chitter chatter of some random people disturbed my peace.

I was annoyed with the sound of the bangles.

Why do women were these noisy things?

I would request that person, whoever was wearing those bangles, to take them away and let me rest for a while.

Was I really going to do that? Of course not!

I am not so mean.

So I decided look for some quite corner where I could relax.

Aww...how considerate!

That's what makes you different from other's Raman.

When I started looking for a place to settle down, my eyes caught the sight of a mesmerizingly beautiful girl, who actually was the owner of those noisy bangles I realized.

The smoky feel inside me erupted again.

You are jealous, Ishita! Accept it!

Whatever! I shrugged.

Am I still asleep?

Was I dreaming?

How could someone be so beautiful?

I rubbed my sleepy eyes with my fists as I was not sure of what I was seeing!

It was true! She was true!

I could not take my eyes off her!

Love at first sight! Is this what is called as Love at first sight????

Whatever it was, I was totally in awe of it and I loved this feeling.

My vision had caught only her and everything around was blurred.

I could see her blabbering something after a gap of every few seconds.

She would frown, she would smile, she would pout, she would chat.

I loved observing every emotion that her face reflected.

Tujhe tak tak tak takte rehna
Teri bak bak bak sunte rehna

Mihir calling my phone said.

Not impotant I thought, disconnecting the call and stood up to approach her.
Kaam-kaaj sab bhool bhula ke
tere piche piche chalte rehna

As I neared her, I saw that she was not alone.

A handsome young man was sitting beside her and with him she was having a friendly banter?

I stopped in my tracks.

The man could be her brother or a relative or a friend or her husband???

That thought made me re-think of my decision to approach her.

Don't act like a cheapster my mind chided.

You can never be a cheapster Raman.

I felt it was inappropriate to go talk to her.

So I decided to retreat my steps and went back to the bench.

See...I knew you wouldn't do that!

That's the reason I respect you Raman.

I had turned my gaze away from her but her face was still etched perfectly in my mind's eye.

You need to get out of her thoughts. She might belong to someone else. I said to mysel.

Seeing her with someone else definitely hurt,

Imagining her with another person for lifetime hurt more.

I needed some distraction to get her out of my thoughts.

Thankfully Mihir called again and this time I thought this is more important.

Thanks Mihir. I owe you this one.

Ermmm...I mean why should Raman waste his time on a girl who probably belonged to someone else.

Is that the only reason, Ishita??? What if the girl was single???

Urghhh...I don't wanna think about it.

Let me just read.

I was half way through the call, when I heard a beep indicating I was running out of currency

"Mihir mera currency khatam ho raha hai, I will get it recharged and call you back" I said and disconnected the call.

I glanced one last time at her, before leaving the place to get my phone recharged.

Someone is burning in jealousy now!!!

No I am not!

Who said it's you???

Whatever!

She was probably having an argument with the man, she looked miffed.

That's none of your business my conscience reminded and I left the place.

When I returned, she was nowhere to be found.

Good! Good!

Her train must have come, she must have left I assumed.

That reminded me of my train!

Why hasn't the train come yet?

Or did it leave already???

I went to the information desk to check and got to know that train would be late by 4 hours.

Train delayed by 4 hours! Is it the same train I was supposed to be on????

Probably!

Hufff...another round of waiting now!

4 hours is too much time.

I could not waste those precious hours just hanging around in a random railway station.

I was probably hanging around with Ajnabi at this time.

I switched on my laptop and got back to work.

It was almost 4 hours when I again heard the same noise that had disturbed my peaceful sleep earlier.

It was her! So she has not left!

Oh! Not again!!!!

I saw her approaching towards the platform with her bags.

He was with her too. So I turned away.

Thumbs up!!!

Then there was an announcement that my train would be arriving.

I shut down my laptop and proceeded towards the platform.

The crinkling of the bangles followed me.

Urghhh!!!!

I half-turned back and realized she was coming to the platform too followed by him.

So they are on board this train too.

Good she was accompanied by that man!

"Can I have your number please?" she asked.

She was asking for my number??? But why???

Exactly my question! Why would she ask for his number???

Whatever the reason may be, I was so happy right now that I turned immediately only to realize that she was asking him.

Hufff...relieved!

She asking for his number meant that he was not her brother nor a relative, neither a friend and most definitely not her husband

It was kind of relief to me.

Oh! So was he not accompanying her on the train???

Would Raman go sit with her in his absence?

Lost in those thoughts I had missed the conversation between them.

My ears straightened when he asked for her number and unwillingly...unwillingly????Really Raman???? Who are you fooling haan?????

Ok I admit willingly I eavesdropped and quickly noted down her number.

This is something cheap Raman...

I never expected this from you...Disappointed...

Anamika she said her name was.

Anamika???

6th Feb 2014, Bangalore, Train delay by 4 hours, crinkling bangles, girl sitting on a bench, handsome young man, came back after 4 hours, asking phone number, Anamika!!!!
It was me????
Raman was talking about me????
Blush! Blush!

And I saved her number in my phone as Anamika.

Why did I do that? I did not know!

So this is how Raman knows me as Anamika.

This is how he knows Ajnabi!

Is this why he finds himself guilty?

But what is his fault in this?

He didn't do it deliberately.

Moreover, he knew nothing about me and Ajnabi.

But again how could he write Ajnabi's POV so well?

Was it all a part of his imagination???

But again the handwriting is different...

Oh God! The more I read, the more I get confused!

I think I should just quit reading this book!

Did I just say that!?

--------------------To be continued--------------

I think I should just quit reading this book!

Do you think the same????

Let me know!