The Unexpected Meeting

 “It is last and final call for Mr. Nikhil going to Singapore from Singapore Airlines to please come to the boarding gate.” The flight crew at the airport was announcing for the final protocol. Actually the most casual person of the planet, Nikhil Sharma was late to his way to Singapore. He reached very late to the airport and with so many requests to boarding airline staff, He was able to get a boarding pass and again by the same process, he cleared the immigration. But still he was late to the boarding gate. They were announcing his name for one final time. Finally, he reached there.

 “Hi ma’am, sorry I am late…” He said by taking deep breaths due to running towards the boarding gate.

  “Sir, you are too late, just rush towards flight……” The attendant instructed him for entering the inside flight through the skyway.

   “Yeah sure and thank you!” He said and rash towards the gate of flight.

 Actually he was the last person to board in. Almost everyone had settled down and waiting for takeoff. As he entered, he was feeling embarrassed by looking at others watching him. But anyway, he finally settled down on his window seat. So, luck was with him that day, because as per his imagination, he found a young and charming lady sitting just beside him on the middle seat.   Although it hardly matters who is sitting beside you in air travel of 4-5 hours but some people always wish for a girl to seat nearby them and our Nikhil was also a hardcore believer of this ideology. And finally, his wish comes true.

 It was a sleepy morning flight. Nikhil slept on his seat like anything. He is a big dreamer as well. Due to the excitement of Singapore as well as carelessness, he didn’t sleep last whole night. So, flights bump and turbulence hardly mattered for him. It was a nice scenario of Singapore, the clean beaches, good people, sexy girls and the famous Lion called ‘Merlion’ throwing water from his mouth. Nikhil wants to take a selfie with the Lion so He was unsuccessfully running towards him but unable to do so, he was getting irritated.

Somebody was calling his name again and again…Mr. Nikhil, Mr. Nikhil……..also he was feeling like somebody shaking him and he opened his eyes….Actually he was sleeping and dreaming for all those things. Flight attendant was asking his name again and again for serving breakfast as it was 4^th time she went past him by serving everyone. She didn’t want to disturb his sleep 3 times, but it was really late so she was asking his name but still he was not responding due to deep sleep. The girl sitting beside him had shaken him and he woke up.

  “Oh sorry, I slept.” He surprisingly said as everyone nearby him was laughing. He took his snacks and a hard black coffee.

               “Sorry mam, once again…..” He said to the lady just sitting beside him.

               “Oh it’s ok, it generally happens…..” She replied with a sparkling smile on her face.

               Some girls have a great deal of beauty in their eyes. It’s like their eyes command all over their beauty. It was the same with that girl. She was pretty much beautiful like a dreamy girl. Nikhil might have not noticed her at the time of boarding due to sleepy eyes. But now it was clearly visible to him.

              

                    “What you did at night?” She asked with a smiling face.

                    “Aaaaa actually, there was too much packing work left and also, I had fear of missing flight due to oversleeping, so I couldn’t sleep last night….” Nikhil explained the reason.

                    “It was looking like you haven’t slept last night because you were snoring like anything. Even I tried to sleep 2 times but unable to do so.” The lady said in same gesture.

                     “Oh really!!!! I am crazy man…… fuhhhhh, sorry. ”Nikhil unable to deliver his last word and apologize by hiding his face.

                      “It’s ok…….”She said and started reading a magazine. Nikhil also involves in playing some games on his mobile phone by playing a rap song with a headphone. He passed the last 1 hrs of journey by playing those games as well as music. The flight finally landed at Changi Airport, Singapore. It was in Taxi bay and people were waiting for clearance and exit from the same.

                   “So, you are here for some work or …..”He tried to talk further with that lady.

                   “No, I am for passing my holiday. My college day’s friend lives here, so after a long time, we will meet as well as explore the city. She will guide me.” She answered in a calm manner.

                   “Ok……” Nikhil said by taking a deep breath.

                   “And you? What’s your purpose for coming to Singapore?” She asked the same question to Nikhil.

                    “Same here, a vacation of 5 days………after a long time at work, finally got some time from work. It was my most awaited trip and planning for last 5 years. Now, finally, I am in Singapore.” Nikhil replied with delightful eyes.

                    “Great !”

                    “You live in Mumbai only?” Nikhil went deeper about her.

                    “Yes, I reside in Thane and a software engineer.” She replied.

                    “ Oh, nice! Software engineer. Good and peaceful work. By the way, I am from sales.” Nikhil said further.

                     “What’s your name?” Nikhil finally asked her name which he was trying for long time.

                     “I think we are still strangers and it is not very much common question to be asked from a stranger. What you think about it ?” She replied with a cute chuckle.

                     “I don’t think so, after all, you are from Mumbai only. But still, if you don’t like to say your name to me than it’s ok.” Nikhil tried to be emotional.

                     “Hey, don’t mind I was just kidding. I am Shriya Mishra.” She said her name and they both stood up for exit as the line started moving.

                     “I am Nikhil…….Nik” Nikhil said by offering his hand for shake hands with Shriya.

                     “bye-bye Nick, it was nice meeting to you .”  She said and they both went away for their own destinations.

                    Singapore, a country of beautiful things as well as nature. Everything looks pretty and fabulous just like their legendary lion throwing water from his mouth called ‘merlin’. Like Merlin, there are so many things that makes Singapore a beautiful place of the world. For Nikhil, it was like a dream comes true. He was on a solo trip and trying to enjoy everything in Singapore starting from its streets to food to best monuments to nightlife. He captured all the best moments of best places on his camera. He is fond of clicking pictures as well as a selfie. His craze of selfie is greater than a college girl. He was doing exactly the same there.

                Nikhil went on to one of the best discs of Singapore for some chill out in the night. He was enjoying their drink and dance with different ladies. It was a glamorous disco in Singapore as well as the girls were really mesmerizing. One Malaysian girl was eye-catcher for almost everyone in the disco. Nikhil was also looking at her only. But in meanwhile he found another lady and with all surprise, he knows her. She none other but the same lady of flight, Shriya…..

              “Hey!..........”Nikhil just asked her from the back and she surprisingly turned and further surprise to found Nikhil there.

              “Oh hi…..Mr. Nikhil……….what are you doing here?” She said with a glimpse of a smile on her face. Her face was shining and eyes were glittering. The different light effects of the disco was making it more shine.

              “Hahahah, just enjoying, you tell how comes here?” Nikhil asked with wonder smile.

              “I am with my boyfriend…... we decided to enjoy some time in disc, so we are here.” She said with a naughty face and normal posture.

              “Boyfriend????” Nikhil said with a surprised face.

              “Yes, why not! ……………….”

               “Ok……. Enjoy.” Nikhil said with a fake smile and tried to avoid the situation.

              “Wouldn’t you meet him?” She asked with a more curious smile.

              “Yeah, why not!” Nikhil replied in the same voice.

              She took Nikhil to a table nearby the disk where a lady was sitting with one empty and one half filled glass of vodka. Actually, she was her friend Somya who lives in Singapore. She was just bluffing with Nikhil for fun.

             “Meet my boyfriend Somya ?” Shriya introduced Nikhil to her.

             “What! So you was kiddin ?” Nikhil said with more surprise.

               “Yes, I just wanted to see your reaction…..and I won,” Shriya said with a big laugh.

              “Hi Nikhil! I am Somya and please don’t mind her. She and her excitement never going to stop. She is like that from childhood only. You don’t mind please.”Shriya’s friend Somya introduced herself as well as some part of Shriya.

                “No-no it’s ok and also why would I mind. Come let’s enjoy…..”Nikhil said and they all went for joining dance floor.

                 The night of disc become really great for all of them. They all enjoyed dancing as well as cocktails and much more. Actually enjoyment means going out of the way with limitless efforts and not again kind of enthusiasm.  Nikhil and Shriya were fond of such parties and were doing the same there. The persons who were strangers sometimes back, became good friends and it was a kind of years-old relationship. They come back late night and all returned to their respective places.

 

                   Next morning was an alluring morning with exotic fragrances of fresh flowers on hotel lobby and fresh air from outside. Nikhil took his breakfast on the rooftop and planned the day trip with Shriya and Somya. As a result they all went away for a long ride on the outskirts of Singapore as per the choice of Somya who was trying to show them some hidden beauty of Singapore and the same was happening. Such beautiful things, mouthwatering street foods and much more.    

 

                  These days, a boy befriends a girl so quickly and with the same speed to the next step. There is very little existence of real emotion in relationships. The same things was happening between Nikhil and Shriya. Two persons who meet in a flight became good friends and so on within few days. Is it really happens or just a coincidence.

                Anyways, the next night, Somya went away for some important task and Nikhil and Shriya were roaming places together. They were tired and as expected gone to Nikhil’s hotel. They talk more about each other, their personal life, past relations as well as future work assignments. Finally, they become closer and done it that night.

                Next morning was a lazy morning for both of them. Shriya was still sleeping. She just opened her eyes due to the effect of sunlight coming from the window. She just covered her face with a blanket and once again slept.

                “He good morning !” Nikhil asked with a mug of coffee for Shriya.

                “Hmmm Morning, thank you…” Shriya took the coffee and silently started sipping the coffee.

                “It’s too late I have to go. Somya might be concerned for me….” Shriya said and started to wear her dress for going

                 “Relax! Finish coffee, have some breakfast then also you can go..” Nikhil said in a normal voice for adjustment of situation.

                 “No thanks, I have to go…. Next time hah….”Shriya said and went away.

                 There is always some guilt after doing things. Nikhil and Shriya did nothing for the heat of a moment but when they realized the fact it was a little tough for both of them to digest the situation. See, we whatever said that we are modern but still there is something which always barred us before doing something wrong.

                  The rest of trip was very much normal for both of them whose nature was totally different from that but still they just passed their rest of time in Singapore and back to India. This time their flight was different and they wishing for the same.

                    Everybody involved in their works and fast life of Mumbai which don’t allows you to think more about anything. Nikhil once again involved in his daily work as well as other activities like gym, game and watching football. Same with Shriya, she also involved in her work.

                    After 1 month time, Nikhil’s parents arrived in Mumbai. They arrived to meet with Nikhil after almost 1 year. They have some other planning also which had not informed to Nikhil. Actually they were arrived Mumbai to meet with their old friend Mr. Prakash and introducing Nikhil with his daughter for their marriage. Firstly, Nikhil denied to go with them but after his mom’s pressure, he finally agreed to meet with girl. He didn’t see the photo of the girl. They reached to Mr. Prakash’s home in Malad, Mumbai. It was a formal introduction to his home. For Nikhil, it was just a season to avoid. So he was calm and silently sitting on the couch. Finally, the girl arrived and that was the coincidence cum shock for both of them.

                   Actually the lady was nobody but Shriya….. They both looked at each other with shocking eyes and unable so say any word. They all meet, talk and went away. The girl was looking very cute to Nikhil’s mom and she might select her but What about Nikhil or Shriya? Will they face themselves every day with a guilt in their soul or start a new life by erasing the memory of that one night? The question is tricky but true……………….. Relationship matters!