Naresh boarded the bus and went up to his seat. His row is in the middle of the bus. He saw a beautiful lady of around 26-28 is sitting in his seat. His' is aisle seat. "Excuse me" he said to the lady who is looking at him "this is my seat" and showed his reservation ticket.
"This seat" the lady showing the widow seat at her side said "can you take this please." Naresh looked at her in confusion. "See I have a vertigo problem. Any fast moving objects or heights cause giddiness in me. It results in nausea, so pl..." saying so she moved her legs aside to give way for him. Naresh nodding his head sat at the window seat.
He is going to Vizag to attend a cousin's marriage. It is around 7.00 pm. Bus had started. Conductor was checking the tickets. Naresh observed the lady at his side. Fair looking, smooth round face, small mouth with thick lower lip, a dimple forming on her chin by seeing her mangalsutra he knew that the lady is married. Though she covered her bosom well with her saree pullow, still he could guess that her bosom is big and firm.
The lady whose name is Vaishali also looked at him through the corner of her eyes. 'Not bad, good looking personality and smiling face may be around 30 looks he is from a cultured family' she thought. Unknown to each other they tried to judge the other. They involved on their own thoughts. Bus stopped at Suryapet for dinner. Naresh looked at his watch. 8.40 pm.
"Are you alright? Is there any problem?" Naresh asked as a courtesy.
"Fine, thank you" she replied slowly.
"Won't you have dinner?" he enquired again.
"No, I feel uneasy if I take anything while travelling" She said. Naresh alighted the bus and went to the canteen. After 15 minutes he came back with a pocket in his hand and a water bottle.
"Elders say that one must not be empty stomach during the night, have this" he extended the pocket to her. Though she was telling 'no, no' but Naresh convinced her to have two idlies with ginger chutney.
"Thanks, you have taken trouble" she said wiping her hands and mouth with the napkin. "Ginger is good for nausea" he said.
After another 15 minutes bus started its journey again. As soon as the bus reached the out skirts of the city; lights were off except two blue lights and a video started. Naresh saw that she is not watching the video. "Bore" she mumbled.
After a while she turned to him and asked him she said "I am Vaishali"
"I am Naresh" he said and continued "I am S/W engr., and working' he told her. "Going Vizag to attend a marriage".
"Oh! I am also going to attend a marriage of my cousin, my husband Govind didn't get leave so travelling alone."
"Govind! Which Govind? Is it Nerella Govind?" he asked taking Govind's surname.
Vishali looked at him in surprise and said "Yes; do you know him?" asked.
"Very well; we were batch and bench mates in B.Tech. We were very close friends. Then they exchanged some more information about each other. During these exchanges what Naresh and Vaishali came to know is their residences are only a 3 km away from each others. Vaishali felt comfortable that her co passenger is her husband's close friend.
After that they didn't had anything to talk. For about 10-15 minutes silence ruled between them.
"Talk something, in this video sound we won't get sleep" she said.
"What to talk?"
"Anything you like... or your interested topic, to pass time till this video is closed".
He thought for a while then said "Mmm.. you may not like my topic" he said nervously.
"How can you say that?"
"In general I said. Such topic is generally disliked by ladies".
"How can you say that? Are you an expert in knowing the liking and disliking of ladies?"
Naresh was dumbstruck for her boldness and kept mum.
"OK now let me know what your topic is? Let me judge whether it is likable or not to us".
"Please if I tell, later don't judge me bad. On your insistence telling, my topic is romance" he said and looked at her hesitatingly.
"Mmmm... how did you think that we don't like that topic?" she sitting properly asked.
"Do you like?"
"We ladies like much more than you male. Only thing is that we won't come out easily like you guys". She said smiling at him.
"vooon.. nice... so you like romance?" now his hesitation had vanished.
"No hard feelings for the question please... Did you romance...?" Now he kept his elbow on the hand rest where Vaishali's elbow is rested. She was silence didn't decide to answer or not.
Seeing her hesitation Naresh said "if you feel comfortable only, tell otherwise no compulsion; and remember I promise you whatever you say will be discreet. Don't be afraid because I am your husband's friend", he consoled her taking her palm in his.
The way Naresh spoke to her gave a confidence to her that whatever she says will be a secret. She also pressed his hand and slowly mumbled "yes".
There was silence for a while and then Vaishali asked "What about you?"