I GOT PICKED - 1

Girl ( F - 23. I had already checked the reservation chart) - Totally tensed, in full chaos. "Excuse me, does this train go to Sec'bad ? I am travelling for the first time in this train and don't really know !
Me- "No, it does not. Kacheguda is the last stop."

(OMG W WAR 3 has started level reaction) Oh shit ! But I was told every train goes and told my parents to wait at Sec'bad.
Hmm. You can catch a local train from Kacheguda.
Yeah that's there but we stay at Sec'bad.
Anyways you can always call them and tell them to come to Kacheguda.
Yes , I will do that now.

(Break for one hour)
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I would have traveled atleast 15 times along the Chennai -Hyd route over the last 4 years and never had a Jab We Metish, DDLJish or Before Sunriseish conversation. This was the perfect chance. Seat no 36 - F 23, upto Hyd; Me M-23 Seat 38 ;Seat 39 - F 23, Hyd. Neither great looking , but still great stuff.
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Girl - Hmm so where are you working ?
I gave a similar WW-3 has started reaction. I am a student.
(Girl as shocked as Prabhu in C'mukhi when he discovers that Jyo is going to kill him.) Student aa ?
Hmm don't I look like one ?
No way. With your french beard and all you look like a 25 yr old corporate executive.
Hehe ok I am in final year, engineering at Chennai.
Hmm. Meeku telugu vaccha ( Do you know Telugu)
Yes.
Oh ok. Native Hyd or Chennai ?
Born, schooling Hyd. Engg Chennai.
Oh. Why not at Hyd ? Didn't get a good rank in CET or gen you wanted to study here ?
Hmm I got in IIT.
IIT aaa. You never told.
Hmm you didn't ask.
Aha. I thought you guys flaunt that tag liberally.
Yes. If you haven't noticed, I am wearing an IIT T-shirt.
Hehe ok. Btw, I am so sorry I haven't introed myself. I am (beep- censored) , stretches out her hand
Oh pleased to meet you. I am Rajeev.
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I am sure I had a kick-ass start. I had to have a six-pack middle now. The initial brownie points had been scored and enthu sustained. Obviously some pesky creatures have to intercept and poke their nose. Lets call them Pongal la Milagu (PLM) as Kabab mein haddi is passe. Milagu is the extremely despicable black balls in the delicious Pongal which gen aa people discard, but it's a huge pain. I think the analogy suits well. PLM-1 then majorly started paining me about tips for IIT as his kiddo was in 9th.
PLM-1 (to kid) : This uncle is doing IIT. Talk to him
Kiddo, with friends : Uncle, uncle blah blah
In my mind , as pained as SRK and John Ab in the new pepsi uncle ad- Enna rascala. Mind it. Use your Saravana Bhavan chutney sized brain . I am a student. No uncle business
It went on for a few minutes.
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She - Hehe see everyone thinks the same.
Me - Hmm blame the beard.
Hehe.
Ok forget it, so what do you do ?
Engg at beep college Hyd, passed out last year, employed with beep firm , posting in Chennai at beep
Oh actually even I belong to 2003 engg , I am doing Dual Degree. I get Btech and Mtech, hence 1 year extra.
Hmm. Good. You save 1 year.
Hmm yeah its good.
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PLM-1 ( I didnt know he was eavesdropping) Final year aa.Got placed aa ?
Yes. With SCB
Why bank blah blah
What package ?
Now this was getting uncomfy. I didnt want to reveal, kinda dicey situation. I thought ok ditch I wont even see him ever again and told him a reduced arbit amount.
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She - With a :O expression. Hey thats awesome.Congrats
Me - Thanks :)
She -Hmm, so have you read 5 point someone ?
Yes. Its good fun. But exaggerated.
I thought as much. Stealing question papers and most stuff seemed too much.
Yeah. But life is more or less like that. We do major time pass.
Ah !Please don't bluff. I am sure you spend hours daily digging your nose into books.
No. Free net in room plus single room. I am online 20*7 ( No net from 1am-5am :P) . LAN is there. Orkut,gtalk,movies,sitcoms this is what we do.
Oh thats cool. You said gtalk.
Yes. Majorly
That means you have a gf. Why else will you chat so much ?
Hmm. I am jobless. I have many friends. Chatting need not mean gf.
Bluffing. I am sure you have a girl.
I think, therefore I am single.
Aha interesting !
Me, or the quote ?
The quote . Nice one.
Hmm so I am not ?
Hehe now please dont do nitpicking.
Ok, I am single.
Hmm, it beats me how you guys are left !
No answer. Smile. Blush.
Ok. Do I remind you of Jab We Met .
As in , you look like Kareena ?
Hey no ! Do I talk like her ? Ekkuva sollukodutunnana ?
Hmm so far you have been tolerable
What do you mean !
Whatever I just said.
Ah, you are free to resume reading .
I will, if I find this boring. ( Bring on my super smile)
Kinda laughs. Ok you can go then.
Hmm so you find me boring ?
Hehe ob I didnt mean that !
Ok. So do I have the liberty to read at my will or need your consent ?
Hey I am very sorry. You can do whatever whenever you like !
Hmm. What if I really pick up the book now ( Smile again)
Oh god! Can we please digress.
Hehe ok so how many months in Chennai ?
Oh 2 full months.
Liked it ?
Majorly cribs. This that etc
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It was around 10 now. I had finished my dinner . I had the upper berth, she had the side lower. Now PLM-1 enters, says he wants to put up the middle berth for his kid and he wants to sleep. I now had no place to sit. The best strategy at this moment was to buy time, so that she herself calls me over to her place. Take out cell (zero signal) . Act as if some message. Go drink water and come back to original place and look helpless. She HAD to offer a seat now beside her.
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