Have you ever seen any girl from behind, caressing her hair with painted nails? Well, She was Beautiful ... She was even more beautiful than I imagined. Even after 7.5 years of our Road-trip (Rajasthan) I can't forget her. She often comes in my Dream ... We spent only 6 hrs together on our way towards Jodhpur from Jaisalmer. She was a complete stranger & one snap of her is my 2nd favorite shot till date.
Help me to find her. Now it's my turn to say "Thanks" ...
I saw her first at Jaisalmer govt. bus stand. Waiting hopelessly as there were no bus to Jodhpur, just after Diwali Morning (Oct'2011). Me & my friend, on our 8 days of Rajasthan Road-trip, also reached there for our last destination, Jodhpur as per our planned schedule. Last night's whiskey was gone right into my head. It was an awesome night spending in Jaisalmer Sand Dunes. I was looking for some lime-soda to get my senses back. And then I found her, sitting on a huge backpack, chatting over phone & chewing something ... I locked myself on her eyes ... She was bit confused & childish !!!
This time my friend Satya shouted, "Did you get information about our next Bus?", while keeping our luggage there. Back to him, just uttered one "F-word". I pulled my DSLR (it wasn't required though) & went to ticket-counter. The person at the inquiry counter told me, “11 baje bus to hai … abhi tak kuch khabar nahi. Par aayegi jaroor”. It was 11.25 AM then. For couple of minutes I was only looking her. Finally she stared at me with her confusing eyes. This time there were lots of questions on her mind. But she failed to ask anything and continued her chatting over phone. Again I turned towards the counter. This time little bit louder, “Kaka, Waise kitna baje bus aa sakti hai?” Without any hesitation that old man replied, “2 baje toh jaroor aa jayegi”. There were few old wise men, replied us, "Shaam 6 baje ka train pakar lena beta". I ignored them, kept my bag & tripod near that girl. Again gave a nasty look. She wanted to tell something. I ignored & found out one foreigner, was also waiting for the bus. I started talking with him. Back then in 2011, there were no ola-uber & that too in some desert lands of Jaisalmer. Other than 2 shop-owners & those old men, there were only four of us.
After some time, One Army-man came in the counter. He was in hurry. He had to report Bhuj at the earliest. I gave him the proposal of hiring something up-to Jodhpur. We were searching for other passengers who can also join with us. My friend left with that army-man & his colleague in their Jeep for hiring the cab.
I was trying to find some co-passengers.
Then I turned to her & asked, “Are you going to Jodhpur?”
She replied, “Yeah. I need to catch train from Jodhpur. But I don’t know whether I’ll get any bus.”
"We are going to hire one cab. Are you joining with us", I asked.
“How much I need to pay then?” A pretty obvious question with her confused eyes. I was enjoying that. She was really beautiful. She was busy caressing her hair. I was lost somewhere looking on her eyes.
“How much time it’ll take?” She asked again. I got my senses back. Even I also didn’t know about cab fare. Those old men helped us, it was roughly 300 km.
Then I replied, “700 rupees max. As we are 5 people (Me & my Friend, Foreigner, Army-man & The Girl) traveling.”
We had some conversation between us. Now I couldn’t remember actually on which topic we were talking. I was just watching her. After 15 minutes they came back with one car. I offered her the front sit. She sat beside the driver. Our journey began towards Jodhpur.
The driver told us he’ll hardly take 4 hrs. I was sitting behind her. I understood that she isn’t filling easy with us. She was hesitating for a conversation as there were 4 odd-Indian men inside the cab. The Foreigner cancelled his journey at the last moment. She became confused again.
She was looking through the mirror, sometimes through the window, sometimes sitting idle looking at the front.
We were going to Jodhpur from Jaisalmer. The highway was in the desert circuit. You can’t pass time by watching people around. After couple of minutes my friend & the army man slept. Without any music system, the journey became more pathetic. It was not at all comfortable for her & me, as well.
I still appreciate her courage & decision to travel with complete strangers in some remote deserted lands between Jaisalmer & Jodhpur.
I started taking snaps with my DSLR. Beautiful landscapes of dunes around, I also started conversation with camera-lenses. She was also taking snaps with her point-shot. Suddenly I discovered her beauty from back. She was enjoying breezes passing through her hair. While clicking photographs, she became more childish. I tried to capture her every movements and all those shadows & lights coming through her hair. I’ve never ever seen this kind of beauty in my life …
“Are you taking my picture?” She asked me. She might have seen me busy taking snaps on front mirror.
“Yup, have a look on these snaps”. I told and gave my camera on her hand.
She leaned over my camera for couple of minutes, then turned back with her drowse eyes, gave my DSLR back & replied with a very low voice, “Thanks”
… She Really Looked Beautiful from Backside …
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