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An intriguing facet of human character is affinity for Secrecy. Be it out of fear, out of joy, or may be
malicious intent... we are adept at creating an air of mystery. However, the temptation break the cycle
of secrecy is often inexplicably overwhelming not only for those who are sworn to secrecy, but often
the perpetrators themselves. Yes, I have had many a treasured secrets, either being sworn to it or
creating it! And I admit I have spilled many a beans. Weather changes, time passes, and oath of life of
some bygone time is merrily forgotten at the spur of a moment! And thus some yester-year secret of
someone, becomes a tea-table gossip of everyone! Ah my mortal mind, I often loose myself to feisty
ways of thee.
I return home from college by bus. There’s a train route, but I prefer the buses for various reasons.
First, I am always sure to get a comfy seat --for I board from the Depot. Secondly, the route is
scarcely crowdy unlike the trains, which are bursting at the rivets at the peak evening hour crowd-
bursts. Although some time is wasted as the bus snakes through the cityscape, but breathing the cold
evening air from the window seat of a speeding bus is an intoxicating feeling in it’s own right. Time
flies by as I hum my way through the seven stops to the place I call my ‘sweet home’. Nobody hears
my songs over the dean and bustle of the droning bus engine and cacophony of the passengers.
It was like any other day of my ‘bus'-y schedule except that a pretty lady chose to sit next to me right
from the depot. It is not that the bus was something ‘Men Only’ or, that a lady had never sat beside
me, No! It was special because the girl was very pretty-- I’d rather say beautiful, and I have never
seen a pretty girl with such poise, without even a hint of snobbish air! She was quite at ease sitting
beside a total stranger who was visibly almost gawking at her! She was wearing a pink salwar and her
earthly skin tone matched it well. She was in her twenties. As if drugged by the sweet fragrance that
hung about her, I kept staring at her, albeit bordering on leeching! She looked at me through the
corner of her eyes yet I couldn’t take my eyes off her! I was about to collect myself, before somebody
labeled me a standard leech, divine extraordinary happened, guess what? She smiled back at me! “Oh
she smiled at me!” It was love at first sight for me… I felt some butterflies in my stomach, yet a pain
scratched across my mind-- my love would last for only Seven stoppages of the bus!
She was with her friend who was standing near the seat behind us. She offered her friend to sit in her
place. I mumbled silent “No’s” under my breadth!
“No! I am fine Anushka.” Her friend said and I thanked God, again!
So her name was Anushka. I wanted to tell her that I never heard such a beautiful name in my life, but
the man in front of me was reading a newspaper, and there was a picture of Anushka Shankar on that.
The news was “Anushka expecting a baby.” I controlled myself!
Anushka turned back and eyed the seat behind us. A young commuter was sitting on it, probably
returning from his college or office.
“Can you please stand up? Let my friend have a seat.” She asked him.
“But these are not ladies seats.” The man protested. All men are not impressed by beauty, I sighed!
“You should. She is not well today.”, Anushka was adamant.
“No! Anushka, I am fine here.” The friend protested.
“Actually I’m also not well today.” The man desperately clung to his seat.
“Frankly speaking Mister” She kept her voice low. “She is having her periods.”
The man jumped up from his seat. The friend of Anushka was vividly embarrassed. Her cheek turned
red. I kept looking outside the window as if I hadn’t heard a thing! Such a feisty girl! Secrets are
meant to be told!
Anushka was busy with her phone again. This time she dialed a number.
“Hello?” A female voice was there.
“Hello Aunty! I am Anushka”
“Hi Anu! What happened? “
“Nothing aunty. I called you just to inform some things about June... which I feel aren’t quite right!”
“June? What happened to her? “ The lady said with a tensed voice.
“Actually aunty, I don’t think if she is doing it right.” I was staring at her. How a beautiful lady
could be so dangerous! Moreover this lady really had the sting! She will be what the colloquial
terminology believes to be a ‘terminal bitch’ ... the rude words be pardoned, they only come in good
terms here!
“What did she do?” June’s mom said in a increasingly impatient voice.
“Please Aunty. Don’t misunderstand me. I just wanted to warn you. She is keeping bad company
now-a-days. She is now at Rahul’s. I though it was my duty to look out for my dear friend! Please
aunty, don’t tell her that I told you these things.”
I kept staring at her... terminal bitches do exist! Was this any Psychological aversion to secrets I
wondered? An inherent allergy to being sworn in to any secrecy or keeping secrets? Or was this a case
of a random gossip monger-- with some cruel Intentions?
Anushka, has had her story... but she may not as well kiss me, as she promised-- after reading it!