..................accepted that there is more to be done to make women independent" Arun joined both his hands and said. Gayatri only smiled. She opened the book and started reading it. Arun decided to sleep. Arun was not able to sleep for a long time. He was disturbed by a fast train that passed whistling loudly. Frustrated he sat on the upper berth lowering his head to not hit the ceiling.
He decided to sleep back when he looked at Gayatri. She was sleeping with the book placed on her abdomen. Her steady breathing made the book move up and down. Arun observed her.He watched her two hands locked into each other, placed on the book. There was some thing that was making him look at her. He tried to sleep but again turned around to watch Gayatri. Arun had never met a girl that intelligent and beautiful. Her thinking was very modern. Her approach to life very brave. Arun started to feel sleepy again.
"Tea, Coffee..." Arun woke up one more time. There was a hawker on the station selling tea, where the train had stopped. He watched across to see Gayatri on the other upper berth, but she was missing. He quickly tried to get up, and while doing so his head hit the ceiling. He rubbed it and jumped down from the berth. The two women who were sleeping on lower berth were also no where to be seen. Arun looked around and then sat near the window. "O! You are awake.." Gayatri said. "The two women probably got down...while we were asleep..and now for the bad news, the train has been on this station for 30 mins, there has been some problem ahead...."
Arun listened to Gayatri but his eyes were mesmerized. He was not himself. "Hello...are you listening to me...?" Arun smiled and replied "Where do you live?" Gayatri gave a confused look and said "Me, I come from Bombay...and I am going to attend a marriage.." Arun gathered some more courage and asked "Nice...and where do you live in Bombay..." Gayatri was now sitting on the seat across Arun's. She said "I, well I don't share such information with stranger but you seem to be a...what do you do?"
Arun cleared his throat and said "I am a Professor. I teach social science, very reason why our discussion interested me and I was very impressed by your thoughts on woman empowerment, you have a thinking that is way ahead of time, but you are right by the end of the 20th century we will have as many women working as men..."
"You think that! I wish there were more men like you.....". Both Arun and Gayatri felt a push as the train started. Gayatri heaved a sigh of relief. Arun looked out of the window. He suddenly remembered what he had to ask. When he turned around to ask he saw Gayatri trying to pull the bag from the upper berth. He helped her. She thanked him in return. Arun asked "Are you getting down?" Gayatri said "Yes" Arun did not understand what to say or do.
After another 15 mins Gayatri picked her purse and her bag. She started walking towards the door. Arun tried to pick her bag but she refused him to do so. Just as the train arrived at the station Arun asked "You did not tell me where you live in Bombay..." Gayatri looked back at Arun and said " Pandita Ramabai Hostel....................."
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