Love At First Sight
(A mini love story)
By A. Vamanacharya
The express train arrived Raghavpur railway station at scheduled time six am. The Passengers were getting down and boarding the same bogie. The train stops in just two minutes.
A Newspaper vendor Vikram, an youngman collected the bundle and stood near the exit door to sell the newspapers and magazines. He waited till all the passengers moved from the platform. During this short time he gets good business. To relax, he was about to sit on the bench and saw a beautiful girl with a pushcart from the tea stall returning back. Vikram ran fast and asked her for a cup of tea. Just half a cup of tea remained. She gave him tea with a smile and was impressed by his robust personality. He too was fascinated by her romantic moments. It was their love at first sight. While sipping the tea, he starts to talk with her.
“I am happy that tasteful tea is served by a beautiful girl. I am enjoying both the taste of the tea and the beauty of a girl. May I know your lovely name?”
“Dad Tukaram, owner of a railway tea stall affectionately calls me ‘Jayyi’. My correct name is ‘Jaya’.
I am happy that you have tasted the tea and fell in love with me. I am not as beautiful as you think. You loved me and I too love you. It is a ‘love at first site’. But my dad is forcing me to marry Prabhu, who has been working with us for the last three years. I don't like Prabhu because he is ten years older than me and not keeping good health.”
“Jaya, don't worry. Our hearts are pure and we both wholeheartedly loved each other. For me, you are the most beautiful girl in the whole world. What attraction did you find in me? Can you tell me my approximate age?”
“I like your attractive personality very much. You are quite healthy due to your hard work as a newspaper vendor. I think you may be twenty five years old. I hope your day starts at four am.”
“Yes! You are very near to your guess. I am twenty three years old and my day starts at five am.I have been doing this job since last year. Jaya, now I am in a hurry. I have to distribute newspapers in the town. Shall I take leave of you?”
With a heavy heart she agreed and asked, “When are you meeting me?”
“Tomorrow at the same time.”
He didn't forget to pay the bill.
Vikram comes out to pick up his hero bicycle in the parking area and starts riding towards the town. He normally finishes the distribution of newspapers door to door, shop to shop in one hour. His customers were salaried class, housewives, students and businessmen. This was his daily routine without break. He wanted to continue education and prepare for the SSLC examination privately. Being a newspaper vendor, he knew most of the high school teachers and requested them to help. They reciprocated his request positively.
Jaya didn't notice her dad overheard her conversation with a youngman. As soon as she entered tea stall Tukaram asked,
“Jayyi, who is that young man? Why did you love a stranger? You know, I have told you to marry Prabhu.”
“Dad, be calm. You know very well why I have rejected Prabhu? The youngman Vikram is a nice guy. He is a newspaper vendor working hard for long hours and best suited for me. He is earning and learning. Please bless us.”
Tukaram thought for a while and said,
“My dear daughter, I wanted to test you. You got one hundred marks out of one hundred. It's good that you can continue education with him. Bring him here soon after you meet him tomorrow.”
Jaya was happy and expressed thanks to dad by prostration. The following day, Vikram came to the railway station at the same time.
Jaya was happy. On that day pushcart duty was entrusted to Prabhu.
Vikram took the newspaper bundle. He told Jaya to wait till all the passengers moved out. He went to meet Tukaram along with Jaya in
the tea stall. Tukaram welcomed Vikram with a cup of tea. He was asked to sit on the chair ment for the owner and asked him a number of questions and got good answers. He got up and called Jaya and Vikram inside, where the photo of Lord Ramchandra, Seeta and Lakshman was kept in the small puja room. Lighted the lamp with prayer.
Tukaram blessed the new couples in front of the Lord.
