THE BUS

The bus arrived and all the passengers got down. Karan was tired after his long journey of 2 days in train followed by this 12 hour journey by bus. Yet he could hardly sense the pain in his muscles, over his excitement to see Kushi. His sister Tamanna was also tired and started asking.

"So, finally we have arrived. But since you haven't seen her, how are you going to find out who is your Kushi?" , laughing out loudly.

" No didi*, she must have obviously got her cell phone with her. Let me give a call".

At that time a girl wearing a cotton saree* approached them. She was so dark in her complexion and had clipped white jasmine over her long plait. This was usual look in all typical south Indians but for Karan and his sister, it was some unusual view !

" Don't tell me this is your Kushi. Have you both really not spoken of your looks any time? What are you going to do now? Will you marry her as you promised? Do you know how mom and dad will go against this? Have you no brains ?... "

As Tamanna started to show her anger with her questions Karan simply cut her.

" Didi, if it is my Kushi, even I have to agree her look is scary; I will still love her and marry her as I promised. As for mom and dad I will convince them "

But the girl approached and went past by them to a canteen behind. So "It wasn't Kushi !!!", both exclaimed in happiness.

" Though she was not Kushi, I better be prepared, your Kushi wont be any less in appearance. Afterall she too is a south Indian "

" No didi. My heart says Kushi is different. Lets not waste time here. Let me give her a call"

---

Kushi had seen the brother and sister duo waiting and chatting after all the passengers left. She knew its them. She saw Karan. 'Oh My GOD!!!. What a handsome face. Why did God ever give him this disability' she thought.

'May be its just to keep him away from all other girls so he could be only mine !! '

She wanted to approach them but her heart was beating so fast and she started loosing her breath. How was she going to go ahead of such a handsome fellow. She always considered that she is an average looking girl. Was overweight and had no charm. Her friends were limited from her closed personality and her beauty was only her heart. When Karan had not seen her, she knew he would like her heart, but now, she didn't get the courage to stand in front of him showing herself. She was so worried. 'Will Karan reject me after he sees me' No.. that can't happen. 'What am I to do?' 'Oh Karan! Why do I love you so much?'

Her phone started ringing and Karan's name appeared over it. She received the call but turned herself from the brother sister duo, facing her back towards them and started.

" Karan, am already here. Where are you? !!!!!!!?!? " God is she nuts! She obviously knew where he was! Didn't she! ha ha.

" Kushi we have already arrived. We are in front of some canteen. Tell me what you are wearing. "

" Me!?? " Kushi was in panic. If she describes her appearance he is bound to find her standing right in front of him. Was she running away? What was wrong with her?

May be she was delaying the embarrassment she would have to face when she stood infront of this handsome.

" Karan can you tell me the name of that canteen. I can come over there". Oh so she was changing the question.

Karan looked behind to read the name of the canteen but it was all in local language. All he could see was some designs which is assumed are letters.. He laughed how illiterate he appeared in this alien land.

" Ahhh, Kushi !! I cant name anything here. All I can see is jalebis* ( Kushi giggled over the phone) . Am in black jeans and white lined shirt. Holding a blue colored travel bag. And didi is in orange colored salwar*. So try to find me and please tell me what you are wearing"

She couldn't escape this time so she finally gave in. "Am in green salwar. Wait I ll try to find you".

But instead of turning and facing them she directly walked over towards a bus away from where they were standing. She wanted to hide and play around. Naughty !

Instantly Karan saw a girl in green salwar holding a phone and speaking. He could see her back. The moment he saw her, he knew this was Kushi. That long hair was tied in a pony. Her skin was white and smooth as butter; no where near the dark complexioned people around. She was a little over weight but her body was toned and her height didn't let her look fat. Infact he even fell in love with the figure he could see in front of him. He wanted to see the face now. But this figure started to move away from him so he started following.

" Hey dear", he said over the call. " I guess I saw you. Turn around I am right behind you".

Kushi did turn around but in a different direction and started walking even further behind the bus now. " Where Karan? Am coming!! " ha ha.

" Kushi !!! not there.. you are going behind the bus. Come ahead " Saying this Karan also followed her path and came in her view again.

Kushi started to come ahead of the bus now from the other side. And again managed to escape from his view. But she totally forgot about Tamanna, in her pretence of not seeing them. As Tamanna was standing and watching the couple circling the bus, she was sure if let like this, they both will keep circling the bus forever. She was happy to see Kushi. She looked pretty good afterall. And she was happy that Kushi wasn't wearing saree and jasmines like other south females. She was in salwar !!! So she went straight and stopped Kushi and greeted her.

" Kushi? " Shaking hands, " I am Tamanna, Karan's sister. Nice to meet you"

Kushi had no more options now, she had to face her so called embarrassment. Why had not God made her looks better? How was she going to show them her disgusting self.

" Hello didi. Happy to see you. You look tired from all the journey. You really need a quick refresh"

Tamanna was not happy. In the north, it was accustomed for the girl to bow down and touch feet of her elders. Whether it was in private or public. But she didn't have a clue that the south Indians didn't follow that custom in a public place like bus stand. If Kushi was to do that here, she would be mocked at by people around her. So Tamanna gave a fake smile hiding behind her displeasure for sake of Karan.

Karan walked towards Kushi and Tamanna as he finally wanted to see her face. As he came around them and saw her, he went speechless. She may not be catagorised as the pretty looking girls but she did have her charms. He was so impressed that he started to feel uncomfortable about his looks now compared to the beauty infront of him. He greeted her causally since he felt its a different person standing in front of him now. He couldn't manage to get the care he used to display over phone. So his words were staright formalities.

"Hello Kushi. Nice to meet you " He said coldly. Kushi confirmed herself that she has upset him with her bad looks. " Yes Karan. Finally we met !" she replied. " After taking rounds and rounds around The BUS!!!! " added Karan. He felt Kushi was deliberately avoiding him because she didn't like his physique and yet she didn't want to hurt him so she went around the bus to hide her dissapointment.

Are these two aware that inside their hearts they both were admiring each other and trying to underestimate themselves in each other's eyes. How can you just assume things like this!! Have some courage you both. Will they ever speak up and clear the misunderstanding! As for Tamanna, she already had started to see the sadness in Karan's eyes and was planning about what she could do to avoid this impossible love of her stupid brother and end it forever. Afterall she had judged Kushi just by a small gesture. What was left? Though Kushi was quite pretty and did have a north Indian look, she wasn't welcome in their family afterall.

( didi* is used to refer to elder sister in Hindi

saree* is a long length of cloth which is draped around as a clothing by females in India. It is mostly wore by specially south Indian females though can also be seen in the north.

salwar* is a type of clothing mostly wore by north Indian females. Salwar was referred to the frilled voluminous pant while kameej would mean the top. It is a custom to wear a duppatta with this combination.

Jalebi*. is a sweet dish in India which looked like twisted and circled wires. Karan referred to the letters he saw as the twisted jalebies comparing them. )