When the vendors started distributing dinner thalis, the lower berths were converted
into dining tables. As the bulky guy found it difficult to arrange himself, Chandra made
room for him by squeezing himself.
“Thank you,” the guy said heartily.
“It‟s okay.” “Are you going up to Bombay?”
“Yes,” said Chandra and added, “what about you?”
“Wherever we go,” said the other in reply, “we, the Bombayites go back to Bombay.”
“Maybe that's how everyone feels about his native place,” said Chandra, however, feeling that Hyderabad had nothing to offer him.
As they ate in silence, Chandra wondered whether befriending the guy would be of any help. When they finished their meal, Chandra tried to prolong the talk.
“It is shame we haven‟t introduced ourselves,” said Chandra stretching his hand, “I'm
Chandra.”
“I'm Ashok,” said the other, taking Chandra‟s hand, “Ashok Agrawal.”
“What do you do?”
“Day after tomorrow by this time,” said Ashok heartily, “I would be well on my way to
the US for MS.”
“Perhaps, then,” said Chandra in smile, “Bombay might lose its hold on you.”
“Our garment industry is sure to pull me back,” said Ashok. “What about you?”
“My father is into pearls,” said Chandra resignedly, “but I don‟t want to join him.”
“How strange,” said Ashok as he yawned, “the famed pearls of Hyderabad failed to
entice you?”
“Oh, there is more to it,” said Chandra a little embarrassed. “Looks like you're sleepy.”
“Anyway, we've a lot of talking to do tomorrow.”
“Why not take my lower berth?”
“Are you afraid,” said Ashok heartily, “the middle one would come down crashing on you?”
“Oh, no,” Chandra felt a little embarrassed.
“I'm only joking,” said Ashok, “Thank you. Good night.”
Ashok soon started snoring on the lower berth but Chandra lay crouched on the middle one. By then, though most have slept, the newly weds were still lost in themselves. Seeing they were immersed in their sweet nothings, Chandra couldn't take his eyes off them.
"They are really made for each other, aren't they?‟ He began to focus on them. "Surely she's a rare beauty and he's no less handsome. Why shouldn't they be enamored of each other? And truly they cling to one another, don't they? Seems happiness courts the beautiful couple for its own fulfillment. And for the average looking, marriage could be a matter of going through the motions, couldn't it? Oh, for the ugly, well, it might be wifeless at the worst or an indifferent mate at the best. What a curse it is to lack looks!‟