Exchange Student

He walked up to my table and asked "may I join you?". Taken aback, I raised my eyebrows and questioned: "do I know you?". He had that lost discernible look, a boy of eighteen out on his first overseas visit. Perhaps he felt seeing a grey-haired woman, was the safest bet to start a conversation. My motherly instincts kicked in and I offered him a cup of coffee. He refused at first but on my insistence accepted graciously.

I never bothered to ask his name, but we got chatting over cups of coffee and Dunkin donuts. He was on a student exchange program and being a Sunday was out exploring the city. Since I was free too, I took him around on a tour of Bangalore City, starting with Lalbagan botanical gardens, Cubbon Park, the townhall, MG Road, ending up for lunch at A2B. He had never tasted the local cuisine and wolfed down two large doses and plate of mini idlis. I could feel the boy loosening up and sharing news about his home in Seattle and about his family. 

I felt that by making him feel welcome, someone would make my son to feel welcome residing in a foreign country, a software engineer on his first overseas project to Sweden. We ended the day exchanging notes about us and our families.

A day well spent with a stranger whom I was glad to entertain, believing one good turn deserves another.