To the man I met during my train journey in France.. (1)

First of all, I dedicate this post to Fabrice whom I had a chance to know for a brief period of 2 hours.

For the first time when I arrived at a railway station in France, I felt totally lost. My being near-fluent (!) in their language didn't help and I realized I still need to learn a lot about how native French people speak french.

Despite the handicap I felt in explaining my queries regarding my train, I somehow was enjoying being lost in Europe. It all seemed liked an adventure where I was the protagonist. I talked to four people about the whereabouts of my train and way to the platform. One old French lady couldn't understand what I was asking exactly but still tried explaining me pointing towards the screen. She seemed as helpless as me. But she kept asking others what I had asked her and then directed me towards a 'personnelle' of SNCF train.  I wasn't somehow convinced what the local people tried making me understand or may be I failed to make them understand what I was asking (And here I was thinking I am near-fluent in french!)
After talking to the different people of SNCF twice and thrice, I finally managed to get to the right  platform, right train and right seat!

*While all this was going on, on the back of my mind I was wondering that Simran had met Raj on a similar setting in a European Train (That's what DDLJ does to your mind when you watch too much of it).*

I finally found my seat number by the window. And I see a French guy seating on the aisle seat and I ask him if thats the right seat number ..? "Bah.. oui!" , he replies.
Geeky. specky. slender.

I looked at my big valise and wondered where to keep that and how. Before I could say anything about valise being heavy, I think he read my mind for a moment and swiftly picked my valise
and put it on the upper deck and I noticed his athletic strong arms and that he was quite tall.

*Quel gentilhomme!* (What a gentleman!) I regaled in my heart.

I could just murmur merci beaucoup.

A little part of my heart was smitten. Also I was smitten by the beauty of the landscapes I saw through my window.

Through the corner of my eyes I saw him checking his phone and I was eager to talk to him. I checked my ticket again and asked him if this is the right train.

*Ne vous inquietez pas! (Dont worry!) This is the right train and seat* He said smilingly....

.. to be continued

'Diary entry of a rain-lover'

It rained today..

It wasn't the first time that it rained here. But this time it seemed special.. the tapping of rain drops on the ground felt musical. Why is it that rain is so loved by so many people? 

Does it invigorate some kind of chemical reaction in the human brain or does it create some kind of magical spell?
It makes people nostalgic, romantic and fills them with tranquility. And the ones of my kind become poetic awakening the writer within. One can't help but scrawl on paper whatever comes to mind.

With rain, comes the raining memories of years gone by. A love lost, a love found, the childhood paper boats, the snacks and coffee, the rain songs, carefree dancing in the rain, cuddling with your favorite book at the window side and musical rain in the background or just simply watching the rain drenching everything..
You think of the rainy days in the school.. the pitty-pat..how happy it made children. And in college, how you would miss the class just to gorge on hot samosas and coffee with the company of friends.

You don't think of the days to come but enjoy the present looking at the sky.
The pleasure is all you feel.. doesn't matter you are alone or in company.

The petrichor fills up your senses.The rainy fragrance makes every breath you take delicious. You want to breathe deep. You don't want to blink even for a moment. You don't wish anything more but you wonder about nature's beauty. While watching the beautiful ripples made by raindrops, you think of love and life.

Even the departure of rain leaves you with rejuvenated self. For it's all drenched. There's a new you.

The ambient air is cool and fresh.

You breathe deep and you don't want to blink...
You don't want to close your eyes..
For rain has made ever

ything afresh..

And your heart smiles..
You can feel it smiling...