autowallah, the dreamer...

‘Jam at this traffic light at this time is quite unusual’ autowallah said. ‘PK has released today, shows are running houseful ...I think this jam is due to PK release’ I said. ‘PK...how is the movie brother ?’ autowallah asked. ‘It’s Amir Khan movie, it should be good...reviews are also good’ I said. ‘Hmm...I will download the movie on Sunday, I don’t have this much of time to see the movie in theater’ autowallah said. ‘Download, how...you know download sites ?’ I said. ‘Yes, I have this big phone, I download movies on phone’ autowallah said while showing his big screen phone with smile. ‘Movie files are too big...one file will be around 750 MB’ autowallah continued with smile while changing the gear as traffic light turned to green. 

‘Since how many years you have been driving auto?’ I said. ‘It has been around 5 years’ autowallah said. ‘5 years...how old are you?’ I asked with surprise. ‘19’ he smiled. ‘hmm...but how did you manage to drive auto without licence...are you localite...do you know whole Delhi, NCR routes now ? ’I said. ‘No, I am from Kanpur, I started driving there...after getting license I bought this auto...I know all routes within Noida, I have no idea of Delhi routes’ he said. ‘Good...what about your education?’ I said. ‘I left school after 10^th’ he said. ‘Why...due to any family responsibility? ’ I said. ‘No, just like that...I did not find any interest in books’ he said with a smile. ‘Hmm, that’s not good...like you said there is no family responsibility, at least you should have continued till 12^th’ I said. He smiled in reply. ‘How much you manage to earn?’ I said. ‘It depends, but roughly it’s around 10K’ he said. ‘Any plan for buying more autos in future’ I said. ‘No, I have some different plans’ he said with smile. ‘Ok and what is that?’I said with smile. ‘I will drive heavy vehicle, roadways bus...it’s government service ‘he said.’OK...will you have more comfort in that...what all facilities you will get?’ I said. ‘Yes, first of all it’s government service, it will be 24 hrs service...one has to drive bus in early morning from Kanpur to Delhi and return back to Kanpur till night...next day will be complete rest...during drive bus will stop on fixed restaurants...food will be free for driver’ he said. ‘Hmm...good...so when you are planning for that...will there be any exam for that...will you find time to prepare for exam?’ I said. ‘Not now, it needs five years heavy vehicle experience...the test will be a driving test...they will give me 1 bus with loose breaks and clutches and 1 officer will review my drive’ he said. ‘Ok and what if someone fails the test, will he get other chance?’ I said. ‘If someone fails the test, he can apply again...it’s like exam form...one has to fill the form’ he said. ‘Hmm, good...and what about your marriage ‘I said with smile. ‘Marriage... still there are lots of things to do...’ he said with confident smile. ‘Nice, keep your spirit always high...you will definitely do those lots of things’ I said. ‘Thank you brother’ he said with smile. ‘I think, I should get down here... ’ I said. I paid my bill and thanked him. 

I was crossing the road and the dreamer autowallah was smiling while taking the U turn to avoid the jam at next light.

The silent lover...

1 ticket please...how much...10 Rs...

“Brother why you are standing, you can sit here,” said conductor. I sat on the seat besides the conductor. “Brother see this, so called love,” conductor said while pointing out to a college going couple walking besides the bus, holding each other’s hand. “hmm, nice,” I said. “Nice...is it nice...first of all do you think its love?” conductor said with exclamatory marks on his face. I was surprised why he had issue with that couple.  “What’s wrong in that and who we are to complain whether it’s love or not?” I said. “Brother we are running on this route since last year, every day I see so many love stories like this,” conductor said. Conductor aged between 22 -25 and that was surely his first route after this job. I was smiling on his reaction. “Brother now you are smiling...you don’t believe me, I even remember faces of all my daily passengers...specially girls,” conductor said with smile.

“Yes brother, I know you remember faces of your daily passengers,” I smiled as well. “Yes, I am telling you, I have seen many girls...they change their boyfriends like anything and these dumb boys...what can I say...they will pay bus tickets, will give them seats...will call them for hours,” conductor said.” Hmm...so what is love then, you tell me,” I said. “Ohh brother, you are making fun out of me...you don’t look dumb like them...you know everything,” conductor said. “No, seriously I don’t know...I don’t travel like you...I sit in office for hours and relax in weekends,” I said.

“Ok...if you are insisting,"Conductor said. 
I was in college; I used to be stud in my friend circle. I used to bunk classes, lots of fun and all. There was a girl, Pooja...there was something special in Pooja. I don’t know what that special thing was, but I tried to be very decent in front of her. I was not so frequent in lectures but if she was there, I would be in lecture for sure. I was not in good company in college time; my so called friends spoiled my graduation days. We did so many bad things, now I regret for that. So many times even I wanted to attend lectures, but my friends...what can I say...I cannot blame others.

“Hmm...so did you ever say that you love her,” I said.

“No,” there was a pause for some seconds. People were standing in front of him for tickets, but he was somewhere in the past. 

“You never said her, that you love her...and now you are telling me that you are very smart...you know everything...what is love...you...you are stupid...now you are left only with this story,” I reacted like he is my college buddy. “Did she know that you love her,” I said...

She met me around 3 months back during my lunch break. I was smoking cigarette and I saw her walking down the road. I threw my cigarette and ran... 

“are tu yahan kya ker reha hai...in kapdon me,” Pooja said. 
“DTC me conductor hun...sarkari...wardi hai ye meri,” conductor said.
“aur kaisa hai...tera to kuch pata hi nahin...college aana to tune chor hi diya tha...tu to exam me bhi nahin dikha,” Pooja said.
“Achha...bada dekhti thi tu mujhe, ” conductor said.
“haan tune to kabhi kuch bola hi nahin...tu to apne yaaron me hi khush tha,” Pooja said.
Aur Jaipur me sab badiya,” conductor said.
Meanwhile driver had started bus and calling him. “Achha chalta hun yaar abhi, ustad g bulare hain,” conductor said. Are sun to...

“Why didn't  you say her,” I said.

“I came to know that she is getting married to an engineer, I thought she will be happy with him,” conductor said. “I always wanted to say her but...don’t know...it’s good... she is happy,” conductor said. 

“Brother you...you know everything,” I said.
“Oh brother, now you are making fun out of me,” conductor said.
“Ok brother...see you next time,” I said.

He was smiling and his smile was telling, may be he doesn't know everything, but he knows something which everyone doesn't know...

P.S. It was around 2 years back in Delhi. Conversation between lovers is in Hindi to keep it simple.