Yun Mulaaqat Ho Gayi

Bombay, January 1971. Red lights, blue walls and a dreamy atmosphere that invites you in. Some said Minerva changed people. I felt it was a planetarium that showed films.

It was my first month in the city. I watched Kati Patang in a packed lower stall. There were hoots and claps. By the end, I had learnt how to whistle.

I had tea outside after the film. “Liked it?” a man asked while humming Mere Sapno Ki Rani. Humaid sold black tickets outside Minerva. He had sold me one too. “Loved it,” I said. He laughed, then bought me another chai.

I worked all day as a waiter at Britania. I had no friends, except Humaid who I saw every Friday. He was my once-a-week friend.

One March night, after I watched Anand, we had tea again. “Liked it?” he asked.

“Hmm.” I was too overwhelmed to say anything more.

“Want to see the real Bombay?” Humaid's eyes glittered.

Holding paper cones of bhelpuri while walking along Bandstand, I laughed “You must hate films given what you do.”

“I love Rajesh Khanna. And I love the first day, first show. It’s either that or nothing for me.”

“Aren’t those always housefull?”

He laughed, “Why do you do what you do?”

“I’ve to repay my father’s debt,” I replied. “Too filmy,” he said. We both started laughing.

Two weeks later, I got a second job as a driver. The money was more. But time, less. I barely went to the theatre or met Humaid. He became my once-a-month friend.

In January 1972, I booked my train home. I met Humaid one last time on Friday morning before the first Amar Prem show.

"Achha toh hum chalte hai" I joked after I told him I was leaving .

“You paid the debt. Now don’t forget me Bhaijaan,” I could hear the sadness in his words.

I bought his last two tickets, then took him to watch the film with me.

We had Vada Pav and Coca-Cola. He watched the movie like a little child. We clapped. We whistled. When the lights came on, I asked, “Liked it?”

He turned to me - “Thank you for this."

I smiled, “Sorry I couldn’t do much. I know you are here everyday.”

“Yes” he said, hugging me, “But I had never been inside.”