When Jon Snow Met Daenerys
This was Akash’s first monsoon in Mumbai. And so, the first experience of Mumbai’s ominous face. He was returning from office. His bus moved at snail’s pace on the Jogeshwari Link Road.
A girl entered the bus and sat besides him at SEEPZ Gate 3 bus stop. After some brief moments of frequently looking outside the window, she asked.
“Do you know where is the Ram Ashram stop?“
“Yes, I know. I will tell you when it comes. It would take around half an hour at the speed we are moving. Or not moving, whatever you prefer!” he replied with a smile.
“Hehe. Thanks. Yeah Mumbai traffic!” She said.
He was silently admiring her looks. The girl looked beautiiful. She wore an MNC I-Card. She took out a book from her bag and immersed herself in reading. He noticed that she was on the last pages of ‘A Dance with Dragons’. And that her Coffee Mug in the bag had a picture of Danaerys. It didn’t take much for him to realize that she was a big Game of Thrones fan. As was he. The opportunity knocks on your door. This one was banging on it.
He came up with a Valyrian Steely idea to break the ice.
“Hi, I am Jon, first of my name. From Winterfell. Sworn Brother of Night’s Watch.“.
She laughed and chuckled back, “Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons”.
“Ohh hi Daenerys! You know there’s only one God in Mumbai apart from the Siddhivinayak. The Rain God. And what do you say to the God of Rains?”
“Not Today” she laughed again. She said, “So you are new here?“.
“Yeah first year in Mumbai. Was in Bangalore for 3 years.“.
“Ohk thats why the impatience. You come to Mumbai with all those dreams of being in the Best City of the Country. You see the potholes and you ignore them. You think you are safe and happy and suddenly with the rains all your joys turn to ashes in your mouth. And you know the debt is paid.”
“Ohh good! But the opportunities here are vast. Yes there is Chaos. But remember, Chaos is not a pit, Chaos is a ladder. But of course, Valar Troffulis!”
“Hehe its not Valar Troffulis, its Valar Morghullis”
“Valar Troffulis means All Men Must Get Stuck in Traffic”
“Hahaha Volar Dohaeris!”
“So Danaerys, why travel in a bus. Just say ‘Dracarus’ and fly away to home right?”
“Hahaha I wish! I have been here 3 years now but even now I cant wait to leave this city go off somewhere peaceful.”
“Then Switch!!”
“Yes, but I have been in production support since the start”
“That is ok. Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you. Give me your resume, I will refer you. Oh the things I do for love.”
“Excuse me”
“What happened My Sun and Stars. Moon of my Life”
“HODOR!!!”
“Haha ok ok! Your’s is the next stop!”
“Oh ok! Better go to the front exit then! Thanks!”
“Thank you for the conversation!”
“By the way, you were flirting with me, weren’t you?”
“No no! I love you like a sister Cersei!”
“Hahaha”
“Was that a green signal????”
“You know nothing Jon Snow!” she smiled and got off the bus.
