One Night Two Strangers

I didn’t move to Bangalore chasing my dreams. I mean I did but more importantly a part of me wanted to explore more or maybe I was just trying to escape from the life that I created for myself. I wanted to be more than just somebody’s daughter, sister and girlfriend. See, in my mind I knew that Bangalore was only a temporary home and I had to return back after completing my post grad but how could I let go off something that has already stolen my heart. I agree that Bangalore’s traffic sucks but at the same time its more than perfect weather makes up for it. So, here I was sitting with a beer in my hand at thirteenth floor of the bar 13th floor and suddenly a voice hit my ear, “Wanna pull up a chair?”

A man with a deep astounding voice said. No, I didn’t know him but also, I didn’t want to be alone today, not on that night. So, I said “sure.” Looking at my dense eyes, filled with tears which were not allowed to come out, he asked “trying hard not to fall apart?” I just gave him a small smile and asked him “Would you like something?” He called out for the waiter, placing the order, said “and a LIIT for the madam for her lit mood.” I laughed, he opening the selfie camera of his phone said, “See, that smile really suits you.” I chuckled and said “Really not in a mood to be hit on right now.” He making a sad face said “Oops, my bad.” “No no, see there is this hot girl, go try your luck on her.” I said.

He laughed and said “What about the one sitting next to her?” And on and on and on, no girl was left out whom we did not put an eye on. It was midnight, I asked him “Wanna grab some food?” And we went straight down the road to Church Street, walking drunk. Meanwhile he told me some of his stories like how he went trekking once and fell very badly. How he got into jail under the case of drunken driving. How he managed to get out of his shitty job and opened his own start up and how he was here today only for a business deal which he could not crack. He was just unstoppable and neither did I want him to stop. Listening to him, I let his voice get over me and loosen the tightness around my heart.

After having dinner, he asked me “Ice cream?” And then again walking down the road we want to my favorite ice cream parlour. Believe me or not but walking on the road at night, enjoying Bangalore’s weather is nothing less than heaven. It was 1:30 in the night and neither of us wanted to leave, we two were having a great time. “What’s next?” He asked. I had no idea what to say, walking on a deserted road with a stranger whom you have met just a few hours ago. Would you have stayed? But again, I didn’t want to be alone that night, so I stayed. We took a cab and headed towards one of the beautiful places on the outskirts of Bangalore, “Nandi Hills.” We reached there around 3:30. The night sky was so clear that it almost felt like you could reach there and touch the stars.

Sitting there, waiting for the sunrise “why were you crying?” he asked me and I told him about it, I told him that how difficult it was for me to leave this city, how I knew that Bangalore was only a temporary home but still how I was not ready to leave, not yet and that I was having a flight back in 5 hours. Taking a deep sigh, I said “Heartbreaking it is.” And he said “Or maybe your heart is not broken, it is just misplaced. And c’mon man, you have to agree upon that Bangalore’s traffic sucks, see, the positive things.” Both of us chuckled, it was almost 5 in the morning and the sun rose. The sunrise with cloud beds all around, it was so relaxing and calm that we didn’t want to get out of there.

The two of us sat there quietly for an hour or so. I looked at my watch and it was time for me to go. Breaking the silence, he asked “time to go?” I nodded my head saying yes. And he said “Don’t worry, it’s not the end for you. You go on to dream new dreams and make sure wherever you are, you fulfill them.” I smiled and said to him “Thank you and all the best Mr. Entrepreneur.” He smiled, shaking hands he said “Ohh by the way, I am Aditya.” “So sorry, I am Mitali.” I said.

We both laughed. I hugged him and we parted our ways. Did we share our phone numbers? No, we didn’t. Any email id or address or something to find each other again? No, nothing of that sort. Maybe we just ended up being each other’s acquaintance for one night. But knowing unknowingly he gave me a life lesson that “In wish of living life, one must have to face the difficulties because after being dead one can’t even feel the spark of being burnt.”