It was a cold morning. As the forecast had said, the morning would turn into a fine sunny day and a cloudy thundering night followed by a light shower. I was shivering. The cold wind was doing me no good and there was no sign of her. She knew the bus would be departing at 8 am. It was already 7:52 am. I felt tense and uneasy. I could see all the unfamiliar faces around me, loving hugging and kissing loved ones good bye, ‘til we meet again. I was there by myself standing near my bus Firefly, wondering if my new friend would show up before I leave for the long journey. 7:56 am. The bus’ engine had started and the driver requested everyone on board. I was reluctant; I didn’t know whether to wait around or to board the bus. I climbed up the step and looked back. I saw a small figure running towards the bus. My heart stopped and my eyes watered. She was wearing white T-shirt and brown skirt. Her boobs were shuddering as she was running against time. She was running faster than an Olympian. I stepped down from the bus and ran towards her. We crashed into each other’s arms and kissed. She said she was sorry, she had slept her alarm. She thought she would miss me forever. I believed her. I didn’t have her number or email address to contact her. I checked my pocket and realized I had left my phone in my bag. I tried to give her my number but she said that she was in such a rush to meet me she had left her mobile at home. Neither of us had a pen or paper on us. I checked my pocket and found my handkerchief. She checked her pocket and found her used lipstick. She took her lipstick and wrote her mobile number onto my handkerchief and then kissed it leaving her lip marks. I heard the bus horn, hinting for me to board the bus. I had to leave her. I kissed her again and boarded the bus. She was standing there waving her hands and smiling. The bus was moving forward and soon enough I saw her disappear. I could still hear her voice ringing in my ears. “Have a safe trip. Call me. I’ll wait for you. See you soon, take care. Adin.” I took my seat. The bus was well decorated and very cosy. I saw people smiling and befriending each other. For the next 10 hours or so we were all family, neighbors and the society. We were following a standard travel route Sydney, Canberra, Holbrook, Wangaratta, Seymour and then onto Melbourne. The seat next to me was soon taken by an elderly man in his mid 70’s. I smiled at him and shook my head; he did the same as a reply. He told me his name was John. I introduced myself as Adin. As the bus picked up speed, I looked out of the window. The city was rapidly turning into rural and then into bush land. I held the handkerchief in my hand; it was the most precious thing in my possession, her contact details. I took out my mobile to copy her number but my battery was dead. I didn’t get a chance to charge my mobile last night. My mobile battery usually does run out pretty quickly. I should have known. I made a mental note to buy a new battery when I arrived at Melbourne. As we were racing towards Melbourne, my mind was racing two days back.

Thursday morning on my way to university, I had seen her standing next to me. In her blue jeans and a grey T-shirt she looked confident, convincing and beautiful. She had a robust body, silky long hair, dark eyes and fair complexion. Her juicy breasts were hardly content behind those bra and T-shirt. I could see the impression of her nipples. Her perfect round ass was the subject of attraction to everyone. She seemed to be of Chinese origin. When I saw her, I felt like spring had arrived, I could smell millions of roses in the air. She was holding few books under her right arm and a hand bag on her left shoulder, definitely a student. Overseas or local I couldn’t say. I usually don’t watch people this long but I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I wanted to know her, feel her and be with her. I felt as if all my life’s dreams and desires were combined and made into her. For the first time in my whole life, I felt I had found my soul mate. I was thinking how to start a conversation with her. I haven’t spoken to strangers in public for so long. Conversation seems to be a lost art in this modern world of email, text and telephone. When her stop came, she looked at me, smiled, and said “Excuse Me”. Then she alights from the bus.

“Excuse me” those two words would have done the trick. I could have spoken to her, if I had enough courage to alter those simple innocent words, followed by some general question. Another missed opportunity. My eyes were following her as far as I could see. Then she dissolved in the crowd of people and lost in my jungle of remembrance. I was left nursing my aching heart. That day I felt I had found something and lost something at the same time. I could hear some soft romantic music inside my head. I looked unnecessarily happy. I was smiling at everyone I met and looked at the mirror wondering how I looked. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see her smiling face. The words she said and the way she spoke made me want her more and more. All day at Uni I missed her; I felt her eyes were following me. I got restless. In the silent lake someone has thrown a stone. Waves of desires and dreams were awake. I found a vacuum in my life. A vacuum that needed to be addressed and fixed.

The bus was cruising at 100 Km/hr. I was lost in my own jungle of remembrance. A gentleman next to me spoke gently, “There is nothing like falling in love. You can read about it but you have to fall in love to understand it, it can’t be taught and can’t be told.” He was well dressed and well spoken. I found him very amazing. He seemed to be genuinely interested in my love affair. He enquired about my girl friend. He said we looked very nice together, like couples made in heaven and left on earth to catch up. I was compelled to tell him my side of the story.