M7- Villejuif Aragon

M7- Villejuif Aragon

 

It was a lovely day in Paris. Dark clouds drizzled intermittently, suns rays filtered though it and lit the heritage buildings, causing a mesmerizing effect of light and shadow. I felt as if they have been deliberately doing to to make sure Paris remains as beautiful as ever. I was waiting for rain to abate as I was suppose to travel to Villejuif, distant southern part of Paris and return same day in evening. It was a lovely morning to being a journey, and I did amid cold winds and drizzles.

In the late evening, while returning, I arrived at the Villejuif Metro station much before the departure time. It was the Metro Line 7, called as M7 that would take me back to my destination though the maze of underground tunnels,which has been built in Paris over the years. Since I had reached much before the departure time, I took a window seat in an empty M7 coach and awaited. In few minutes the coach was completely filled. People who arrived early took seats and latecomers stood with hope get one in the long journey.

It was my lucky day, the seat across me was occupied by two French girls, I would prefer to use adjective “gorgeous”. I wonders oh boy! That’s a wonderful journey I am going to have. I was too lost in charm to realize that seat next to me was now occupied by another girl, I guess she was French too. Who the hell cares, I was neither interested nor I was bothered about her. Only thing soothing was her body heat I could feel on my arms in the cold winter night, while the M7 ran past station to station in the dark tube.

I could not resist stealing few glimpse of the “gorgeous” One, I realized that they were talking in French, and made sure they were over heard by me. I was trying to figure out what they meant and what they were talking about, with my limited vocabulary which included only thank you , sorry, days of weeks and numbers.

There was light slight movement of hands by the girl sitting next to me, I turned my head and to my surprise she was staring at me. From my peripheral vision I could see that the girl sitting next to the One was too staring at me. I wondered, was some thing wrong. Did I make any gestures offensive to French people, I told to my self of course not. Only thing I ever did was moving my eye ball without moving my head, It was not a crime, and law does not punish for imaginations and intentions. Aah.. that was logical and valid argument, I smiled and moved my eye ball again toward the One.

The two girls, one sitting next to me and the Ones’ friend were both looking at the One., the One’s friend was explaining something to her and she was smiling. Certainly there was something wrong. They would say some words and sentences in French and smile, it was beyond my comprehension, but I could sense that I had certainly to do with me.

Reverie was broken, by another movement of hand by the girl sitting next to me. Untilnow she was comfortably seated by my side close, and now suddenly she had gain consciousness and was wary of me. Was I doing something wrong, is it a case of misunderstanding? Who the hell cared for her. I was more into the One, the girl sitting across me. By now, I could feel that both girls sitting in front of me were talking in loud voice to make sure that I could hear them amid the shattering sound of moving M7.

They had amazingly modulated their voice, between the tube and at station. Voice of them talking was clear, the topic of discussion was certainly me. I wanted to know, I was bounded by language barrier, so where they. They were trying hard to make sure that I heard and understood what they intend.

The scene had changed, after few stops, the girl sitting next to me was really uneasy. Constantly looking back and forth to me the One. Briefly the two girls sitting across me whispered among themselves. I could clearly see the facial expression of the other girl changing instantaneously and the One was smiling and looking at me, with he eyes fixed on to me. She was being told something in French by the other, but I believe she didn’t even listen to what was being said to her

Suddenly breaks of M7 made squeaking sound, and the M7 stopped at Opera Station. The situation had intensified by then, from fun to some thing serious. I saw something her eyes that I never had seen before , her eyes were shining, beaming with warmth and love but facial expression of joy was missing. Definitely it was not infatuation, love, attraction. What is going on here I wondered again.

The other girl was still explaining something to her but in subtle voice, but the One was not listening. I expanded my vision, around me and saw, seats were randomly occupied now, we had left many station by then, and train had speed to next station.

There was movement of hand between her bag. I felt as if she was going to take out something, but she stopped in mid way. There was some disagreement between the two friends I guess, the other girl was now looking out, though the M7 Glass window. I sensed the M7 brakes again, train stopped and I was to get down at next stop. Few of the seated passengers too had got down.

M7 picked up the pace and ran towards, Opera, as if it wanted to make sure that I don’t get any opportunity to talk to her and understand what she meant. I had a feeling of uneasiness, suddenly I saw movement of her hand in her large purse. She took her left hand out of her purse and extended it to me. It was a slender lovely hand with really beautiful fingers, with gold ring in her ring finger, perhaps with a diamond. I didn’t see., I was shattered. Oh GOD!

M7 had braked, I got up, I could only see her eyes follwoing me me while was was getting up and then she closed her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she collapsed in to her friends arms. There was no use going further. I got down, didn’t look back. I too was crying, but within, didn’t had the courage like her.