One step closer @ Dadar station

This is the third part of a series. If you haven't read the first two parts, read them here and here. We left Popat and Rohan prancing around Dadar station two years back. They have now grown up and are in college.

"Dude, pour me one more drink." Rohan stared dreamily at the skies. The sky was pitch black. There was no moon, and whatever stars were in the sky were obscured by Bombay's healthy atmosphere. Popat silently refilled Rohan's glass. Business was going good now. Popat was the first vada pav seller to attend college. Some obscure indian news channel called "TimePass TV" had interviewed him making him famous amongst the locals in Bombay. So much so that Shiv Sena had offered him a seat in their party - but he had politely refused, saying - "Politics and vada pav do not go together." Popat was content with his life. In fact, he always was. It was Rohan's state that was disturbing him.

"You remember that girl outside Dadar station?"

"How could I not!", replied Popat.

"How I wish I could see her again. Sigh."

"Fat chance. Get a life!"

"Fuck you."

"Fuck you too."

"I'm blue da ba dee da ba die..." (Rohan starts humming)

"I sold 420 today."

"What the hell are you taking about?"

"I sold 420 vada pavs today."

"Who gives a damn. Pass me that cigarette."

"No. You have had too many already."

"Screw you. "

Rohan lit another cigarette and let out a wisp of smoke. This had now become a weekly affair. Having nothing to do in the weekends, they would go to the terrace, lie down and start dreaming. After all Ambani did say - "Dream big". Popat was dreaming about setting up a vada pav stall in the US. Rohan was....well, you know.

"Abe, did you know vada pavs sell for $3 in the US?", said Popat, shattering Rohan's mushy dreams.

"Uh huh."

"Imagine the profits I can make! I could move there and and sell one vada pav for 30 times the price here!"

"Get a life ass. There is more to life than vada pavs."

"I know that."

"You do?"

"Shut up."

"You shut up."

A strong wind blew in on them, from nowhere. The matchbox started moving with the wind, making intricate patterns as it did. Popat observed the movements keenly.

Popat flipped out his iphone. He wanted to update his status on Facebook to "drunk & disorderly :P".

"Rohan! Abe! Look here."

"Don't shout, bitch. What?"

"Isn't this the girl you were after?", said Popat and thrust the iphone into Rohan's face. Rohan grabbed it. A strange gleam came into his eyes. "Whoa! Yes, she is the one. How on earth is she on your Facebook?"

"I dunno....it looks like she is Rita's friend!"

"Get her number, quick!"

"It is 9324567819."

"I am dialing.......there is no answer."

"Hey....her status says that she is going to Chowpatty tomorrow!"

"Whoa! Ok....plan of action...we catch the 5.10 Churchgate local from Dadar tomorrow...lets hit the sack now."

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The next day, at 5.05 on Platform 1 (or whichever is the appropriate one, @ Dadar station)

"Damn this Rohan...he is always late..."

Rohan came running, huffing and panting heavily. "Did you see her?"

"Huh?"

Someone poked Rohan's back.

He turned angrily ready to hurl his finest expletives - and lo! It was the girl he was looking for!

"Hey Rohan!", said she, with a big smile on her face.

"umm....glug...glug....", mumbled Rohan.

"Something wrong with you? And hey why did you never call me? I did give you my number didn't I? Achcha I gotta rush now, the train is here! Bye!"

And she left Rohan gaping open mouthed at her. Popat had to shake him thrice before he regained his senses. "Dumbass! What are you doing? Why didn't you talk! You had her number and you didn't call her? What is going on?"

"umm...I don't know..."

"I need to go....somewhere...", said Rohan, and ran inside the next train...

"Oh no...that is a Virar fast..he is gonna get clobbered!"

To be continued