The train was about to leave. I was sitting with my three friends, chatting away. All four of us were soldiers, heading back to Jammu to resume our duties after spending our holidays at home. We were laughing and joking around.
Suddenly, Sourav, who was sitting right next to me, asked, "Hey Kashi! Can you see Manjeet sitting in front of you?"
I laughed and replied, "Yes, I can. But why are you asking such a weird question?"
Sourav continued, "And can you see Dheeraj sitting next to Manjeet?"
Irritated, I said, "Yes, brother! I can see everyone. But tell me, what are you trying to say?"
In a mischievous tone, Sourav said, "Look at them closely! Both of them are married. But when will you get married, man? When are you going to give that rose picture in your phone to someone?"
At his question, I put my hand to my forehead and said, "Here we go again! When will he get over this obsession with love? Someone please shut him up."
Manjeet and Sourav both started laughing. I joined in too, and while laughing, my gaze shifted toward the train door. Just then, I saw a girl entering. She was carrying a bag. Dressed in a simple suit, with her hair loose and struggling a bit with her dupatta, she walked toward my direction. She hadn't looked at me even once. Behind her was another girl who looked like her sister, accompanied by an elderly couple who appeared to be their parents. The four of them sat down on the seats directly across from me on the right.
"What happened? Do you like her?" Sourav teased.
The moment I heard this, I looked at my friends. They were all staring at me with strange smiles. I looked away from the girl and told Sourav, "No, it's nothing like that. I was just looking casually. Anyway, how can I like someone at first sight without even knowing them? Not at all!"
Smiling, Sourav replied, "You might not like her, but who knows what your heart wants? What if it likes someone without your permission?"
I had no answer to that. Sourav always won these kinds of arguments, and the same happened today. Ignoring his question, I said, "I'm feeling tired. Let me sleep."
Saying this, I closed my eyes. I could hear them laughing softly, but I thought it was better to stay quiet. Soon, the train started moving.
I stayed like that for a long time. When I couldn't hear them anymore, I opened my eyes. I saw Sourav listening to music on his phone, while Manjeet and Dheeraj were busy watching a movie. Seeing them lost in their own worlds, my eyes felt the urge to look at that girl again—and my heart instantly agreed.
When I looked at her, she was staring out the window. The girl I thought was her sister was sitting next to her, and their parents were talking to each other. I could hear bits of their conversation, which confirmed my guess—they were indeed sisters with their parents. I didn't realize that while thinking all this, I had been staring at her for quite a while.
Suddenly, her eyes met mine. As soon as she saw me, a look of suspicion appeared on her face. Seeing her reaction, I immediately turned my face toward my friends. As I turned, I realized all three of them were already watching me.
Without missing a beat, Sourav said, "Brother, weren't you sleeping? Did you finish your sleep so quickly?"
I could clearly hear the teasing tone in his voice. Having no answer but trying to cover it up, I said, "I was trying to sleep, but my eyes just opened suddenly."
Hearing this, all three of them started laughing again. I had no choice but to close my eyes and pretend to sleep. After a while, their laughter stopped. I didn't even know what to tell them when I didn't understand what I was doing or why I was doing it. And now, my friends had caught me looking at her. I wondered what she must be thinking about me.
She probably thought I was a bad person. But I wasn't looking at her with the wrong intention. Then, how was I looking at her?
She was just an ordinary girl. But her eyes... it felt like I had never seen eyes like those before. So many girls wear a dupatta, but seeing her in one felt like I was noticing the beauty of a girl in a dupatta for the very first time.
Watching her manage her hair, I could no longer manage my own heart.
I had only seen her once, and these questions rising in my mind were making me restless. My eyes were closed, yet it felt like she was right there in front of me. Was Sourav right?
The moment that thought crossed my mind, my eyes snapped open. I looked at my friends; they were busy in their own worlds. I felt like looking at her again, but then I remembered her suspicious gaze. Without looking at her, I got up and walked away from there.