PART 1
hiss....the bus stopped and the door open to a cold Delhi Monday morning next to East Delhi Mall bus stop. A white suit with saffron and green dupatta clad girl got down and walked towards the mall. It is 9am and she is a little late. Not every day it happens but today the traffic was horrible. It is the Republic day celebration week and the Mall theme is for all employees to wear something resembling out of our Nations flag. "Hi Swarna.", someone shouted in the crowd standing at the employee-entrance at the back of Mall. Handling her saffron-green dupatta, Swarna looked and found her serving-partner at the fast food chain - McD.
Walking up to her friend she said, "Hi Akhilesh. You look nice. A mix of Rajisthani ethnic and kashmiri wear really makes you look wonderful. So today you will rock the corner?"
For McD employees, "corner" was no ordinary term. It was a secret code. When different dressing events started in McD, an year ago, the most impressive looking guy & girl employee will go out together but before that the guy needs to "corner" the girl. From that point of, it became a code. An Event where everyone will dress-up just to be part of this very code.
"Na Swarna. Irrespective of what I wear, you will still amaze all the guys. They dress for you and they dress thinking of you. Raj, Vijay, Rahul, Adi...all are your greatest and loyal fans. The only time I see them not dressing for you can be rakhi" replied a dejected Abkhilesh.
"You make me sound some actress from a movie. After all, we all are just employees here. And like always we will serve to lot of people jumping up on fast-food", replied Swarna.
***
"Hello boys, hope everyone is up for the challenge and set for another fun-filled day. Please make sure the french-fries are salted well. Avoid wastage of Cold-drink. Keep eye on small kids as they are always knocking-over food by running around. Adi, your performance was excellent for last week so you have the kitchen floor today. Do the regulation of resources and food products. All other grounds rules apply. All the best." was the long-long lecture of the Boss, Mr.Shetty. A sound professional who has done everything by the book. Serve the people with a smile on the face and rules in your brain, few of his motto lines. ***
"Adi, the crowd is building up again. I think we should open the first floor area also.", said Raj.
"Sounds good. Akhilesh and Swarna can take the first floor. You join them as I know you have the closest possibility to corner Swarna today. I know rest of the guys aren't thinking.", replied a smiling floor-manager.
"Thanks man. I was actually thinking to ask the same. I will go tell them.", whisked Raj before someone else steals the show.
***
"Raj, you look dejected. What happened? Did u find her attention? I know she isn't thrilled today. Something else is playing on her mind.", said Adi looking towards a lost-Swarna.
Swarna was indeed lost. Her family financial status hasn't improved and her hopes, her dreams were washing away by tides of time. She picked up a fight with her mom that very morning and wonder what is so amazing about this week? She is still looking for ways to find her freedom. Not from responsibility but from hardship, from things which only her friends and their families go through everyday.
At the same time a group of guys, looking like army cadets, with the crew-cut hair and clean white well-tailored and ironed shirts, tucked neatly in their trousers, walked in. The clean boots and the neck-cloth showed the group has got there Monday off before the 26th Jan celebration. Rohit was one of the guy who saw Swarna first. Even though she was having the stupid looking McD apron on her front, she still looked so wonderful. Rohit has never seen someone so beautiful. For him, it was a like warmth of sun after a night patrol at the northern Himalayan borders.
...
But things couldn't have gone more wrong
...
As he walked towards his table, nearer to Swarna, a kid came out of nowhere. Without any warning, the kid bumped right into Rohit and he lost his balance. Sadly, Swarna was carrying an order of 5 large coke.
...
The place was a mess, the kid had ran away (probably getting bashing from his mom) and Swarna was drenched in freezing-cola. In a matter of moment, from being the one with the most stunning outfit, she was looking for a total do-over. A real big DO-OVER.
...
"I am so sorry.", replied Rohit. "I didn't see the kid and lost my balance.", cursing in his mind the combination of army hard sole & tiled floors. Only to see the girl in tears. Swarna had a horrid day and among all the fight with her mom, she manage to look stunning in a very ordinary outfit. And look what a stupid guy did to her. Rohit felt like the ice on the floor...melting away in the beauty of the girl's tear.
"Please forgive me. I am so sorry. Please don't cry." said Rohit but the words meant nothing for Swarna. She got up and walked away with Akhilesh wiping her tears with the kurta's sleeve. For her this meant loss of bonus and an evening away from her family problems. Rules in catering business have always been the same: You should be good at it- otherwise you pay for it.
***
For the rest of the day, none of the customers saw Swarna. She opted for the kitchen work, now changed into the McD dress. Akhilesh and Raj went ahead with there dinner plans, leaving Swarna even sadder. For her, the job resembled exactly how she felt about her home. By the time day had come to an end, she looked tired. The kajal in her eyes and the twinkle were both washed away. She knew after all, she will go back home alone and also lonely.
***
Delhi shuts down pretty early in winters. Months of December, January and February are like the back of Chiller. Air itself chills the bones. By 9pm when the McD was serving to final few people, Swarna's day had come to an end. She came out of the employee-entrance to be greeted with dark & foggy night. Her clothes were wrapped in a poly bag and she had to take comfort in the McD clothes and jacket. Upset yet thankful that the day is over, she walked towards the bus-stop. Suddenly out of a blue, a guy, shivering in cold came out. The stain on the white shirt were enough for Swarna to know it's the same guy who ruined her day.
"Hi Swarna. If you could give me two minutes, I would like to apologies. I have waited for so long, just to say I am deeply sorry. I knew I was lost the moment I saw you in there. Terrible thing happened and I did ruin you pretty dress. My CO will be mad not returning with the guys, but I know, I do not want to end anything like this. For you I may be just another customer, but for me you are someone not who will just bring my food. I felt much more.", spoke Rohit, still jittering with the cold.
After so much Swarna didn't need any of this. First mom, then the accident and now the guy not only apologizing but also hitting on her. She wanted to scream and tell him he was stupid and should see where he walks. But the day has indeed taken its toll on her.
"I don't want your apology as you have done enough. And also how do you know my name? Were you running around in McD, asking for my name?", said an irritated, tired Swarna.
"No, I didn't. I was waiting for so long and I met your friend. She was also as mad as you and I was able to calm her. She told me it will be hard for me to get your apology but I want to. I am posted here in Delhi, never felt home but people here have always been caring. And I know you will to forgive me.", said a man searching for an answer.
Swarna found the care in his voice solace for her pain. Somehow unknowingly she felt a warmth in his presence. She turned, walked into the McD store and got another jacket. Rohit was an army men, endured to freezing temperature, still she was a girl with a heart to care. Her smile said it all. As they walked towards the bus stop, talking about each other, the cool breeze was singing...love is so accidental...it is an accidental love.
