Sushant Chaudhary’s World

“You are My Imagination”, words were at tip of my tongue. Lips closed but repeating words again and again. I should get it right, was only the thought that was lingering in my mind. She was calm sitting at the car window. She was looking outside. Fresh air passed through her smooth skin, to her hairs. Which were flirting with her cheeks, as they were left open.

It was nice and cold morning. With slight drizzle early morning, air was filled the freshness. I looked at her through the side mirror of the car. She had her glass half rolled up. With few drops on window glass, she moved her finger over the rim of the glass, got all the droplets together on her fingertip, and then tossed them out of window. Driver stepped hard on the brakes, and looked in side mirror, there was no rain. She was still sitting there. Strands of hair were still playing. I just looked around. I realized, I was dreaming. I tossed away the idea of saying it her, “You are My Imagination” as the drop of rain.

   Early morning on way to the office, car was speeding on LBS road. Driver insisted on windows to be rolled up, as there was slight drizzle. With a sharp turn on the right, i saw her. Although windows glass was fogged, i could make her out clearly. She was standing there. She was wearing purple top, jeans skirt and a smile for me. Hair had gone wild, and wet as well. Driver slammed brakes again, and said, “Be quick!” I got down, and was looking at her, and said, “You go ahead, and we will take a Auto-Rickshaw”. He speeded away. 

I walked up to her. “Coffee!”,  she said as we walked in CCD (Cafe Coffee Day – coffee shop). We ordered coffee, as we settled. We talk regularly, over a cup of coffee. A lot and on various topics, including childhood dreams to plans for future, reality for today, and the last fun outing. Today was special. I was looking in her eyes, one she batted teasingly. She is out to say something special today. I had made up my mind to tell her. Tell her those words (You are My Imagination). With coffee being served, I was nodding, with no words reaching to my brain. My inner voice whispered, “You are My Imagination“. I tried to cover it up by sipping up coffee, and it choked. I suppressed it and started listening back to what she was saying. Hot coffee had burnt my throat. I opened my eyes. She was still right in front of me talking to me. I thought of ordering the check (bill), only to realize that we were in my company’s cafeteria. I sat firm on chair, remembering, all my failed attempts to take her for coffee @ coffee shop and listening to her. I gulped the idea of saying it to her as a sip of coffee.

It was a long day of trekking. The temperature got lower to 4^o C. I had geared up to tackle it. With fleece jacket and thermals. Temperature was not an issue. We had just finished a steep climb of 250 feet’s. Heartbeat’s had gone twice. Just to make our breath comfortable, and not to loose concentration, we were talking to each other. A pack of 50 walked hand in hand roped to reach other. Looking from far above, it looked like a long snake, making his way up the slopes. With last step to the flat, grip on around my wrist tightened, as if she slipped. “That’s the reason I told you, Let me hold your hand”, said pulling her up. I pulled her to the flat, with all the strength in my shoulder. “I am holding your arm, that should be it”, she said dusting snow off. I told pointing at her bag, “Your bag is as heavy as much as you are. Please offload some of it to others before your dream comes true”. She dusted the ideas as she has done to snow. All of us knew, she always dreamt off, slipping off the slopes. For rest of the trek of 12 Kms., grip was firm. We had early dinner around, 7 PM. After dinner there was a campfire. Bournvita was served before heading for tents. As tradition we had to do bottoms up for Bournvita. Those who didn’t had to lick it the entire night. With sun going down, temperature dropped to -3^o C.

We were in tents, in sleeping bags and laughing at the day’s sequence. We were tired, never knew when we will fall asleep. I had her by my side, always. With the last of light from campfire, her face was still beaming with beauty. Warmth of her face filled my heart. I could not take my eyes of her, even when I wanted to. Red scarf around her face added to her beauty. We had each other’s arm as pillows. It was last night of the trek. I said tomorrow with the stroke of light, i would say it to her, “You are my Imagination“. I kept repeating. I don’t recollect when I slept. “Good Morning!” she said bright light on her face. It was loud and clear. It was warm. Then coffee machine made the guzzling sound. She took my coffee mug out, replacing with her own. Handing mug over to me, and again she said “Good Morning!” She had a broad smile and same warmth in it. I felt the same warmth of her face in her wish. I wanted to say it to her, “You are my Imagination”, but all I managed to be returning her pleasantries. “Good Morning!” I said walking to my desk.

With these i realized, there are various moments, that you live, enjoy. Many of them you dream off. But somewhere whatever you imagine, there is inspiration. Here i am pointing out the incidences, where i have imagined, and made an attempt to say it all, all who have tickled my imagination. “You drive my imagination”, in fact a step up would be “You are My Imagination“.