'Seen Countenance'

Chapter One: Gazing at the Railway Tracks.

It was 10.00 AM and another Manic Monday Morning. People gathered at Dadar station, with a motive to reach the destination on time. Destination ‘Workplace’. The Crowd in thousands at a single platform waiting to catch the 10:07 AM Local to Churchgate reminds you of the thousands of devotees on a pilgrimage to Kashi. People with frown. All marching at their respective workplace with a motive to keep up with the pace of 21st century's growing economy rate and growing cost of living. Seems like every thing is Growing and there is no end to it. However we need to appreciate the efforts that are put in to reach the office on time.
Amidst the crowd there was a 22-year-old youth standing lonely gazing at the railway tracks and sipping on his fresh lime soda that he had bought from the platform vendor selling cold drinks and snacks. Some how he had managed to find a place to sit on one of the benches that holds a capacity of three and five people manage to accomodate themselves comfortably including a woman. He looked one amongst the thousands of commuters waiting for the local. But was he really waiting for the local? He looked so aimless and dejected as if he has lost the most precious belonging of his lifetime. The dark Circles around his hgloomy eyes indicated that he has not slept since hours. His white color T-Shirt was not put in to laundry for days, which is why the white T-shirt was looking more like yellow with brown patches on it. The Jeans “ well I need not explain, you don’t laundry jeans anyways or do you?” His red color Reebok Snickers were more dark brown and dirty like a rag. He probably did not have a haircut since months and not shaved since weeks. What was he really thinking? “She will come? Or She will not?” when suddenly he heard a feminine voice calling out “Shubho” The name sounded familiar to him. Then he thought, “Oh! Shubho is my name”. It had been two years since someone had called him ‘Shubho’. This was a name his parents, his younger brother Debojit or Deboo and his childhood friends used to call him with. After hearing the name from a not so familiar voice he did feel a sense belonging in him, something that he had been missing since last two years.
The six feet tall Shubho stood up and moved his gazing eyes from the railway tracks and started turning around to scan each and every faces that he could see around, none looked to be bothered at him. Shubho did not bother to sit again as he felt more comfortable standing rather than sitting crumpled. He felt probably his ears are ringing. He turned back gazing at the railway tracks. “ Did some one really call me?” ,”is there anyone around who has recognized me?, What will they think seeing me in such a condition?” thought Shubho. “Shubho!” came the voice again , this time louder and prominent, making Shubho Certain that someone was indeed shouting out his name.