Yash got ready for an evening outing with friends. It was the turn for any historical monument that day. On WhatsApp group, everyone voted for Qutab Minar except him, who wished to relish the ambience of Majnu-ka-Tila. However, he had to sacrifice his wish in front of the majority as we live in a democratic country.
Having dressed elegantly as the group included a couple of girls Sneha and Tina, Yash was ready to lock and leave his rented room in Kamla Nagar to join them. It was decided that the friends would meet at Vishvidyalaya before boarding the metro. The proposed time was 3:30 as the monument will be closed by 5.
Yash reached the destined place at destined time, drenching himself in sweat and heat in the summer of June. He waited for quite sometime but nobody came. He took out his cell phone and typed a message on WhatsApp!
“Kaha ho sab ke sab“
10 min
Getting ready
I’ll meet you at Qutub Minar
Don’t wait for us. We’ll reach in time.
On my way
In a while, messages flooded like this. Two of his friends who were also joining, saw the message but didn’t reply. He waited for fifteen more minutes battling with sunlight. No one came. Sensing that they’ll join at the destination station, he took the metro and set off to the destination station that also gave him relief from the scorching heat.
After some 45 minutes, jostling in the metro crowd, he disembarked at Qutab Minar metro. There was still no whereabouts of his friends.
“Ticket counter might get closed”, with this thought, he accelerated his pace toward the monument and the ticket counter. There was unavailability of any auto-rickshaw that can take him there. Without wasting a moment in waiting, he marched toward the station in quick steps. After exhausting 1.8 kilometer he reached near the counter. Though evening, the sunrays appeared as if afternoon. The air blowed as if charged by the sun. On reaching there, he found a long queue where people were waiting to get their tickets. He located the shortest queue and stood there with a water bottle. After 30 minutes, his turn came. When he got the tickets for all, it was already 4:30. Only half an hour was remaining. With the idea that his friends might have reached till now, he unlocked his phone. He was surprised to see the radio silence that his friends maintained. There was no any call or messages. He typed a message again!
“I am here, where are you guys”
Still at home!
It’s scorching heat Yash. I ain’t coming
Oh! You’re there. I thought you returned. It’s hot outside.
Teri to kat gayi bro. Koi nhi aa rha.
– Shashank
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