"What's in a name ?!?!?!"

It was summers. We were going to my native place ‘Kerala’ as we do it every year. It use to take us two days and one night in a train to reach Kerala from Gujarat. (before Konkan rail route was
constructed).

During one such trip, we were sitting all settled in our compartment. The Journey had begun, I was there seated on the rightmost end of a sleeping berth and listening to some music on my ‘Walkman’. I could see a head of a guy popping out from the next-to-next compartment. After a while, he came to our compartment. He was constantly looking at me and starring at me. ‘What does he think he is doing’ – I wondered.

The guy’s behavior at first irritated me. I began to pretend as if he, looking at me like that, hardly bothered me (typical girl behaviour!). On a second look, I found that the guy was cute. He had a round face and smart haircut. He was wearing a 3/4th trousers and floaters (I guess it was very much IN that time).

He doubtfully approached me and gave me an innocent smile. Wondering what he was upto, I gave an expression of ‘?’ on my face with a mild friendliness (May be coz he was cute!). He then asked me if I would like to play some game with him, if I too was getting bored and wanted to kill time. I said yes to him, as if I was obliging him. He soon went to his compartment and brought some card game.

In the limited space that was available, we started playing game. He explained me the rules of game and we kind of got good friends with each other in short time. One of his family members- an old uncle, came to our compartment looking for him. It was lunch time, the guy said to the old uncle that he would come to their place in few minutes as the game was just on its finish. By the time our game would finish, the old uncle caught up with my family. It appeared that they too were 'mallus' residing in Gujarat. After our game, he went back to his compartment for lunch.

Almost all people had a nap after having their respective lunches. I slept in the uppermost berth after my lunch. In the evening I had just woke up, and I see him again. He had again come to our place to see if I was free to chitchat with. I was still seated in the upper berth. He raised his hands indicating me to be seated and he too came up on the upper birth with me.

I thought it was too unsolicited act from him to come over on the upper berth without asking me. "Why is this guy bothering me out of all in the boogie?? Why can't he go and catch up with some guys in the boogie?" – I thought.

He started talking about his friends and school he studied etc. He, I thought was trying to impress me….or showing off or was he trying to lay hands on my walk-man?? – I again thought.

He had a film magazine with him this time. I remember there was a stardust form asking nominations from the readers for the upcoming stardust film awards. We both filled it up after discussions. We had lots of chit chat about favorite movies, favorite actors, actresses etc. Movies being one of my favorite topics, I had started enjoying his company by now.

Cool breeze was rushing in through train windows. There was something about him, which was making me.. like his presence. He was charming and boyish in his talks. He was wearing a nice perfume which had a pleasant and fresh smell. Well after spending quiet a good time again, it was time for dinner, and he went back to his compartment. He had this something in his eyes, which was reflecting his unwillingness to go back to his compartment. I too was feeling the same.

It was early morning when I opened my eyes. The train had halted at some station. I looked down below from the upper birth, if my parents were awake. They were also awake looking out from window.

I asked what was happening and , “the uncle of adjacent compartment whom we were speaking to yesterday have got down in this station. It is the station they were meant to get down” - my mom said.

I rushed down quickly, with my heart beating very fast, having some sort of fear of loosing something. I looked out of window and could catch just a glimpse of him going out of station with his family. He did look back once in a hope if he could catch a glimpse of me and say bye, I guess.

I was feeling a little sad for he had left. I was feeling frustrated and bored for not being able to catch up with him before he left. That was for few minutes…then I was back to my normal self… and was happy to have a wonderful trip this time to my native, having met such a good company. That was it…I never met him again.

Today after so many years, I still remember having met this guy in train…Even if I have very faded memory about all this…so fade that I hardly can recollect faces…I wonder why is the feel still so fresh in my mind?...

But what is troubling me is…how can both me and that guy be so stupid that non of us bothered to exchange our phone numbers or even names for that matter?… Yes we dint know each other’s names!! How ridiculous and stupid of me...

I din't even ask his name ?!?!? Why???How??? Aah…well...that reminds me of one thing I have been missing out to tell you guys…I was a little girl of about 8 years then and may be he was around 11! :)

And probably, Kids take their great Shakespeare uncle just too seriously! “What’s in a name” huh ?!?! ;)

P.S:
If you too have some fond and sweet memories like this which dint make much sense then, when u were a kid but is still in your mind as a vague memory.. do drop in few lines on such experiences…I would be more than glad to read as I would know I am not the only stupid on this earth :)