A trail of warm thoughts

It all started in a train, and before I knew, it finished when I alighted at the station. I was returning to Bhopal from Kerala after attending the wedding of my friend who is now based in US.
My happiness knew no bounds when I got an opportunity to visit my hometown alone with my school friends. Being the youngest among three brothers, I was pampered but not allowed to even go out to the nearest shop to buy anything. My childhood years were spent in going to school, playground and church apart from the social functions that the family was invited to. Imagine seventeen years under the watchful eyes of big brothers!
So, the trip to Kerala with my friends was a dream come true in many ways. During our onward journey, since the train took the Konkan route we bought Fenny (the Goan Cashew Fenni). Life’s small indulgences and simple pleasures.
The masti and dhamaal that all of us (stags) had during our stay at a hotel near my friend’s paternal house in a remote village still gives me a kick even after ten years.
I was the odd man out during the marriage party because apart from my friend — the groom, only I was wearing a suit. The rest were wearing the traditional Kasavu Mundu and white or cream shirt. I was a bit embarrassed but my ‘groom’ pal was feeling proud to show off his ‘handsome’ friend to the bride’s family.
The party ended and soon I was back in the train for my return trip. There was this girl of about 17-18 years in the compartment who was accompanying her parents. I was reading a novel to pass the time when she, obviously bored of talking to her parents, started a conversation with me and soon a volley of questions and answers followed and the three days and two nights passed like a fast-paced movie. Her parents also found me a harmless soul and left us to our discussions.
As I was to disembark at 4 am, we were talking till late night. I told her that if she will be awake to see me off then I will gift her something (these words just came impromptu). She agreed even though I had nothing to give her. I do not know whether she slept or not but when I opened my eyes after my short nap she was smiling at me. I told her that I am going to the washroom and will be back. As the compartment was dark since I was the only passenger to get down, so I made my way to the washroom of the second class compartment and when I came out she was standing near the washbasin. I looked at her eyes that were searching for something and before we could grasp the situation, I planted a soft kiss on her right cheek.
She smiled and said that she will never forget this moment and my gift — a statement that I had already imprinted in my mind.
Soon my stop came, I got down the train and she waved at me. Both of us did not cry or felt sad. We did not even felt the need to ask each other’s address or made any promise of keeping in touch.
Even after so many years when I think of that incident, the feeling is still the same — a composed acknowledgement of the true emotion of togetherness.