I wish it happened like this.

It was the bright ray of light from the window or may be the sound of my alarm that woke me up. The alarm told me that it was 7:30 in the morning. It started as any other day, although I was hoping this day to be different as I hope almost everyday. I so much hate the routine, but there was nothing extraordinary about this day to make me believe that there will be anything different about this day too.

It was 8:30 now and I was ready to go to work. I took the stairs rather than the elevator, just to start the day differently. It was a sunny day and at 8:30 in the morning the sun was shining as if it was noon. I put my glares on to protect my eyes from the brightness of the sun and started waiting for a rickshaw, which would take me to my office.

I could not find any empty rickshaws today to take me to my destination. It was unusual, and that's exactly the reason I felt little good about it. What I felt even better about was the fact that there was a beautiful girl standing beside me, waiting for a rickshaw to her workplace, which I realised was at walking distance from there. We stood there for good 10 minutes without speaking a single word. It is when my robotic brain gave me a logical idea and I spoke, "You better learn to walk. I am sure this happens everyday". She looked at me, smiled and said, "I think so". I think it encouraged me and I spoke further pointing towards two other girls walking towards the direction of her office, "See those two girls have already started walking". She didn't respond this time. Deja vu, same thing happens every time I try to have a conversation with a pretty girl.

Disappointed, I called my colleague, who I know passes from there in his car during that time and asked for a ride. He agreed. I was waiting now for my colleague to pick me up. At this point there was a rickshaw and surprisingly it agreed to take the girl to her workplace. The girl looked towards me and asked, "you want me to drop you somewhere?" At this very moment I saw my colleague's car approaching from a distance, it was getting late for work and I could not afford to be late. I did a quick thinking and for once my brain did not behave like a robot or may be I did not wait for the answer from my brain. I jumped inside the rickshaw with the girl.

Before I could realise, I was inside an auto rickshaw with a pretty girl, whom I knew nothing about. I don't know if I was nervous or excited or worried and at that moment I couldn't really tell the difference. I knew this ride was not going to last more than 5 minutes. I had to think right and think fast. I decided the better. Don't think, just say whatever comes to my mouth. Couldn't really rely on my brain in such situations.

To make the situation easier, the girl spoke first, "where do you want me to drop you?" "I think it would be easier for me to drop you on the way and take the rickshaw to Kanjurmarg." I replied. "You work for Lionbridge?" I asked. "Yes, how did you know?" she asked looking little surprised. "It was just a guess" I said with an innocent smile. "By the way, I am Gaurav." I continued. "I am Riya" she introduced herself. I for the first time wished to be caught in traffic. It's not usual to be caught in traffic at 9 am in Hiranandani but today everything decided to favour me it seems. A best bus broke down blocking the way. I suggested, "we better start walking now, we are almost halfway to your office already." I know there was a smile of joy on my face, however not sure if she noticed it.

We started walking and for the first time I saw her properly. She had brown shoulder length hair, her eyes were blue and she had a very bright smile. I kept on looking at her admiring her beauty while she was walking looking at the road. I couldn't speak a single word and kept on walking beside her. I remember, she looked at me twice and I am sure she had noticed my stare. I am so sure because I realised how it made her uncomfortable and how she looked away almost immediately.

There is a thing about time, it moves really fast when you so much want it to move slow and the same thing happened. Before I could gather the right words from my limited vocabulary, we were in front of her office. I noticed her looking for something in her handbag. I was still searching for words, to my surprise she pulled out her cellphone from her bag and saad, "give me your no, may be you can walk me to office more often. I really hate waiting for rickshaw." A smile ran over her face. :)