Her Eyes...

She was sitting by the window with an absent-minded smile when I boarded the compartment. Her silent smile was the resonating in my heart even as I took my seat across her. And when the train started with a lurch, her smile slipped, she was back from her musing. Oh how I wished a peek into the wonderland she was in... Was she dreaming about her loved one? Was she looking forward to meeting someone? Was she remembering the good old times? 

She had the most expressive pair of eyes I have ever seen. There was laughter in it when the  kid next to me pulled a prank on his mother... there was compassion for the woman who was forgot her tickets... there was censure in her eyes when a young man threw a plastic bottle out the window... But never once did her eyes meet mine. May be she realized I was observing her or may be not...

Too soon, my destination arrived. As I was waiting on the platform for my driver, I chanced one more look at her. I found her watching me... those beautifully expressive eyes were full of pity. I found myself looking away, unable to be at the receiving end of the emotion I try hard to deny. As the train left to continue its journey, my driver arrived to help me with my wheelchair.