I made this friend..

"हिन्दी बोलते हो?", he said. And that was the trigger to warm up the conversation a bit. Not that I did not sense it. In different circumstances, I could have easily turned cold shoulder to him by answering this unnecessary question in an awkward manner. But there were three trivial issues which stopped me from doing so!
Firstly, I was unfortunately aware that I was stuck at NY metro station for next 4-5 hours. Second, I realized and got irked with a thought that I had no chance to call Meesha, who had given me a strict instruction before parting ways at NY station to call her once I reach Boston. Oh yeah, could have called her or one of my friends..but hey, I had misplaced my cell at the San Fran airport two days back. I remember cursing myself then for having never memorized hers/or any of my groupies cell number, more so, because I had a chance glance at couple of phone booths around.
Third issue came orderly after the first two..It was this African-American guy who stood before me in the queue while buying tickets. Guess it started with my smiling back at him when he threw that curious glance at me..he was probably sizing me up, that is, if he had any chance or not, and probably, I acted stupid to have ignored that! So we talked a bit and I didn't mind at all because there seemed nothing better to do while I waited in the queue. He had returned from a 3 month Europe trip ( that seemed true since he kept grumbling about American system :)) and was buying tickets for Virginia while I was heading for Boston. Least I knew then that the bus schedule would change and this dark guy would gradually become over friendly and uncomfortably warmer than was required. I started looking around for a way out of this web.

I excused myself and went out at the bus stop pretending to have an inquiry. Looking at the bunch of people waiting for Boston bus, I doubtfully mapped my way towards this dark old woman with the twin kids who greeted me with a smile. She seemed old enough to be their grandma but I kept my surprise to myself when she quipped, "My daughters have had a long day!". As we talked and as I intentionally projected an image of a good listener to avoid that guy, I sensed a gentle touch at my shoulder. "Darls, come there(pointing to where he was sitting) when you get free..We will sit and have a chat.. [followed with that typical] you-know-what-I-mean!". I smiled outwardly, "Alritiee" and inwardly said, "Gawd-help!".
God did what? He did something to one of those twin girls and she started playing with this cord (hanging between two pillars to mark off the crowd from the Boston passengers) seeking my admiration at her recently developed gymnastic skills. I was amused not by her but at the thought that boredom does make you creative at times (and am smiling now, as I write this blog). Not long after, another girl pulled at her big mama's hand and squeaked something. The old lady said, " Excuse us, We need to use the restroom" and left.
"What do I do now?", I thought. I looked at the guy near me and was instantly relieved- "Indian!". I smiled, he smiled back. No initiative..nice. "Are you going to Boston too?", I asked. "No, but I am taking this bus as it will take me to NY main station from where I switch to another route." He smiled and full stop. He was mid-aged, late 30s, wheatish, black hair with few strands of silver at the corners above his ears. Gujarati accent, laptop hanging through one arm with a formal coat clinging to the laptop bag and his conversation on phone was enough to form an impression of him. No-nonsense guy, good. " If you don't mind, can you please look after my suitcase?.. I will be back in no time", I inquired and he nodded.
I marveled at this sudden idea that flashed ephemerally in some sensory impulse which my brain had immediately interpreted. I rushed to the first floor of the station on which was a big hall with all train ticket counters. I inquired about the train schedules to Boston and my shoulders drooped soon as I knew that there wasn't any train to Boston that night. I walked back to the bus stop.

"हिन्दी बोलते हो?", he said as I took my suitcase from his side. He was done with his phone calls. "हाँ (yes)". He then asked an expected question, "Gujarati?" ."No", and I smiled(I dumbly do that often when I don't know what is coming next). We started talking and again, I didn't mind. I could still see that Afro-guy around, though his interest gradually dying. Moreover, anything to kill boredom, better still , by then I knew what all this 'anything' could include (at least, not being too warm with strangers). So we were just talking and he seemed sensible till he said few strange things. One was like, "बड़े शहर से हो, पढने बड़े शहर में आए हो, हिम्मत वाली लड़की हो। " and after a while he says, " Its very important to understand these people" and went on.. " I make sure that almost every another day I call the Customer care of one company of my choice and talk to one of these American people seeking details of their product. उससे क्या होता है ना- एक तो knowledge बढती है, और दूसरा, आपकी English strong हो जाती है।". While he thought I was listening intently, it was funny to see how his eyebrows rose and how he folded the margins of his lips downward to make every word he uttered believable. But well, Indians and melodrama go parallel, is not it?
I could not have any further repressed the expression that would have, by then, sat on my face.. looking bluntly at this guy and screaming what I had on my mind, "Get a life!". Phew, I needed a diversion. I finally said," Let me get something to eat.. Do you mind again (pointing at my suitcase)..?"..And he quickly rejected the idea suggesting that the bus might arrive anytime soon and that he had a packed नाश्ता which I would find quite filling. Before I could say something, he took the snack out of his bag and had a first small portion of it himself.. "So that you know its safe to eat this". A smile again. Doubts were clouding me as he insisted I should eat a bit. I saw our bus approaching as I looked around for an escape yet again.

As we sat in the bus and started chatting again, I realized that I was holding the food packet only after he pointed at it and said, "हर दाने पे लिखा है खाने वाले का नाम।" . This is when I distracted him to another topic and an important one -Jobs in U.S.A. He gave his contact details and insisted I should contact him soon after reaching Boston and forward my CV(resume) as well. This was followed by, " I would not ask for your details Shweta, as you may not feel comfortable about it. However, I will help you as and when you call me. Call करियेगा जब अन्दर से लगे ।" It was a mixture of unlike emotions.. I was almost irritated and yet, my wisdom said, "Shutup, he means no harm".
His stop came soon and he left the bus smilingly waving at me. I don't even remember when I dozed off in the bus and how I hired a cab afterward at the Boston station and reached home. First thing I did was go online and inform my friends that I had reached safely. It had been a L-O-N-G day (as that big mama had said) and I just snoozed off as soon as I hit my bed.
I woke up just before noon and one of my apartment mates offered a hot cup of aromatic Chaai with a flavor of ginger. We started gossiping and there was so much to tell about my SF/LA trip over that cup of tea. As I took the first sip, I saw the same food packet lying on my bedside table.
I picked it up, opened the packet, had a small portion of that snack item and smiled. I recalled what he had said proudly, "Its home-made!". I offered it to my friend too and when she asked where I got the indian snacks from, I said , " I made this friend.."..

I have not called him till date and don't even intend to... but I smile as I recall.. I made this friend.. :)