The Perfect Stranger !!

P

Her work place had shifted from a prior location that was close to home to a much farther place. She couldn't contemplate driving that far in the insane traffic especially at peak hours. So, she decided to take her office shuttle. Initially, she dreaded the 1 hr 15 min bus journey to work each day. But she soon took advantage of it and utilized her time on the bus for her favorite pass time - Reading.

One such Monday morning, she was sitting in the bus and it was about to take off from the terminus when a slightly senior man boarded the bus. The average age in the bus was around 30 generally, so she was pleasantly surprised to see someone a little older than that. She could tell that he was in his late 30's or early 40's. There was a certain aura about this man that she took notice of the instant he boarded. And as destiny would have it, he took the seat right beside hers. He was one of those men you'd refer to as 'sinfully handsome'..... Trim short hair, a chiseled nose, athletic build, sparkling magnetic and soulful amber eyes - the color of melted honey (what a shame to mask them beneath spectacles). Two things that stood out were the candid look in his eyes like he didn't have a care in the world and the warm smile on his face like he'd embraced life with open arms. What made her observe so much in just a glance, she couldn't tell.

He greeted her with a warm 'Good morning' as he sat down. His husky voice had the depth of the ocean yet the velvety softness that caressed one's heart strings. She was envious. How could God be just so partial ? Endow one man with so many virtues she thought. She returned a chirpy 'Good morning', her voice a lil more shrill than usual. He quickly pulled out a book from his laptop bag and started reading. She did the same. An uneventful journey that day. Over the next few days he coincidentally happened to take her adjoining seat multiple times and they got talking. His name was Peter she learnt. And he was the Senior manager of some team. He wasn't too chatty about his work. But she knew he worked out of the same building that she did.

They'd talk about everything under the sun from philosophy to current affairs, from spirituality to world cuisines - everything except their mundane professional and personal lives. She didn't even know his last name. Not that it mattered. They solved crosswords every other day. She enjoyed his company and looked forward to their interesting conversations. He was well-read and had traveled far and wide she could tell. One day she asked him 'Peter, you know so much and have seen life from such a mature perspective , you must get bored of talking to someone as naive as me'. He smiled and replied 'You are one of the rare interesting people I've met in a long time especially in the next generation. You are an original and that's what makes you one-of-a-kind. I love that you bring a fresh perspective to my opinions; more necessarily don't find yourself obliged to agree to everything I say. That is a refreshing change. And more than anything, I find that we have a lot of things in common that we love about life. So, I enjoy your company and look forward to each morning with a new zeal, kiddo.' Hearing this, her respect for him grew three folds. Here was a man so wise and astute, yet so down to earth and so eager to learn. Vulnerability in a man so vibrant and versatile was a lethal combination.

Days passed by and they would reserve seats for each other. Each day was a stimulating experience. After about 6 months she was seated in the bus one morning as usual and looking out for Peter. He didn't turn up. Generally if he were working from home or taking the day off he would mention it the previous day. He hadn't said anything this time. She waited till the bus started to move. She was surprised. But decided that something unforeseen would have come up and left it at that. He didn't turn up the next day either and the next day and the day after that.....She didn't know of anyone he spoke with besides herself in the bus. She didn't know which team he worked with or which competency he worked for. She tried searching her company database with his first name. But the search returned hundreds of Peters.

After a few days she concluded that the Perfect Stranger had walked out of her life just as mysteriously, stealthily and abruptly as he had walked into it. But he'd left indelible imprints on the canvas of her life. She'd learnt a lot in his presence and had cherished every moment of his company. He would forever remain etched in her heart as a fond memory !!

- So long ........

Dilemma - Concluding part

The next few months passed in a blur....Sam avoided her as much as he could and she decided to let him be. Then when they were close to finishing college he came up to her one day and said "We need to talk !!" 'Finally' she thought. 'I'm waiting' she said.

There was an impregnable silence. He then said ' I've tried hard retracting my steps from the path they had taken a long time ago. I convinced myself that just as moving on from friendship to love was natural for me I could focus on bringing back the camaraderie we once shared. The kind of selfless, unconditional affection we fostered for each other. But with time I realized that though I don't nurture any hope of love from you anymore I cannot think of you as just a friend. So, I've decided that if I can't have you the way I want you. I'd rather not have you at all.'

She was spellbound. She just nodded her understanding and walked away and never heard from him since. She moved on with her life with fleeting memories of Sam on various occasions. After about a year she received a wedding invitation by mail from Rhea. It had Sam's name as the groom..............And they lived 'Happily ever after' or so she believed !!

Dilemma - Part 2

Sam took forever to say something. Finally, he said "I'm in love!"......She hadn't seen this coming that too in such quick succession. It was only 4 months ago that he had confessed being in love with her and she had turned him down. It was too complicated to make a paradigm shift from friendship to love. Not an uncommon scenario but she found it way too convoluted. She did her best to ensure he wasn't hurt in the process but she couldn't tell for sure. And now this new development. She was at a loss for words.

He broke the silence. 'I know the word on your mind. "Again?" That's what crossed your mind, right?' She smiled. 'Who's the lucky girl?' she asked. 'Rhea' he said. This was a bigger surprise. She knew that Rhea had lent him a shoulder to cry on when she'd turned him down but anything beyond that was hard to foresee. 'What do you think?' he questioned. She didn't think Rhea was his type. He was a simple guy from an upper middle class family. He was conservative in a lot of ways and someone that was honest and genuine. Rhea on the other hand was used to a certain lifestyle that Sam would never fit into. But she was in a dilemma. If she spoke negatively it would sound like she was not happy that he'd moved on, yet if she didn't she'd be refraining from being a true friend and giving him her honest opinion. All she could manage was 'Are you sure?' Having blurted that out there was no looking back. 'Its not on the rebound if that's what you intend to know'. He was hurt. She apologized. She said 'Sam, I know you a little too well. And I've known Rhea a long time. You two don't seem to share much in common hence my apprehensions. I don't mean to be cynical or judgmental but i hope this is not a hasty move on your part. If it is thought about and you are convinced that she's the one, I'll be more than happy for you.'

They had reached her house by then. He stopped the car and said 'Good night. I'll see you tomorrow'.

To be continued....Concluding part comin up next !!

Dilemma.....

She was all dressed up for her College Annual day function in a sky blue chiffon sari. She always looked stunning in the national costume of India. More than the fact that it looked elegant on her slender frame, it was the grace with which she carried it off. She felt like a 'diva' each time she draped a sari and it showed.

She walked into the hall amidst innumerable admiring glances being cast her way. She quickly found her spot amidst friends and started chatting away. The dance floor was swarming with couples dancing to a soft romantic number. Gary who was her senior walked up to her and held out his hand. She took it in a firm clasp and shook hands with him. 'You look spectacular' he said. 'And i am not gonna be washing this hand in a million years'. She laughed. 'How gullible', she thought. 'May I have the honor of a dance with you?' was his next question. She wasn't prepared for this one. But before she could respond, Sam showed up and mentioned something about her being wanted in the library where the participants for the fashion show were lined up. Sam had overheard the conversation for sure and didn't seem pleased. He was her buddy and an over-protective one at that. But he was generally discreet too. One could never tell from his expressions or gestures. So, his apparent disapproval puzzled her. He kept avoiding her the rest of the day.

Towards the end of the day when she about to leave she spotted him playing the guitar and humming a tune. She walked up to him and sat beside him. 'That is a lovely note. But what's with you ? Am i invisible or are you having problems with your eye-sight?'
'Neither' he said. 'I thought you had an overdose of attention for one day and i should spare you the honor'. She didn't quite comprehend what he meant but didn't intend to push it. 'Is something wrong?' she asked. 'Or are you practicing to be petulant?' He didn't respond. She thought she was being persistent and left it at that. 'I gotto go' she said. 'Its pretty late. Allow me to drive you home', he requested. Her Dad had dropped her off and she intended to take a cab back home. But Sam was insistent that he'd drop her off in his brand new Wagon R. As she slid into the passenger seat he said 'That's the first time any girl has occupied the front seat'. She smiled. 'That is a cliche` Sam. Also a pretty overused line in Hindi movies. Moreover, its hardly been a month that you've had this car. So, stop acting like its a big deal'. He didn't reply to that.

'There's something on my mind that I need to discuss with you', he said. 'Now we're talking. Go on', she said.

To be continued.............

Poetry for the soul....

kh
She happened to be gliding past a bookstore around the corner when she noticed a sign board that said "Books on Sale". She walked into the store on an impulse and started browsing only to stumble upon a beautiful piece of poetry written by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. She'd never heard of the author before but picked it up merely 'coz she loved the essence of the poem. Those lines remain embedded in her heart like a sweet song. It was titled 'The Invitation'.

So, here's to people that appreciate finer things in life:

THE INVITATION

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon…
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.

If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

Ciao !!

I Do !!

df

Marriage is a flawed institution. Those were the opening lines of Shobha De's bestseller 'Spouse'. She often wondered if it were true or if the author was just being cynical. But this was when she was single herself. Back then she believed that Marriage was what you made of it. She also believed that there had to be a mysterious force operating in the background to make it work. Some called it destiny, some called it love and some others called it compromise. But whatever it was, it had to persistent and pertinacious to propel two dissimilar people to spend the rest of their lives together. She liked to believe that they did out of choice rather than the lack of it.

Then came the phase when she entered into wedlock herself. Marriage as she experienced it was flawed for sure. It is a commitment more to oneself than to the other. It is a commitment of sticking by the other no matter what and never giving up. She realized over time that it isn't about meeting half-way. Because sometimes both partners are walking towards the half way mark but on two different paths altogether. It isn't just about love or fate but more about compatibility and reason. It is about looking for the best in the other and overlooking the rest (the latter being more significant). She learnt that expectation is the biggest rival of a healthy marriage. People that walk into it with no expectations are probably more likely to love it than the rest. And what you get out of a marriage does not necessarily depend on what (or) how much you put into it. Also that it takes two happy people (individually and mutually) to make a happy marriage.

She knew that these were just her first cut inferences about marriage and the best was yet to come. Her mother for instance with 30 years of exposure would probably have a different story to tell. But for a 3 year experience profile, this understanding wasn't a bad start.

Anyways, at the end of the day she concluded that everyone should experience Marriage once, more aptly 'at least once' (in today's world). And her wedding wish to every couple was - 'May they have enough similarities to keep them bonded and enough disparities so they complement each other'.

P.S : "Love requires a willingness to die; marriage, a willingness to live"
-Mignon McLaughlin

Identity Crisis

bv


It was a beautiful Monday morning. She was still in bed not very thrilled about the prospect of waking up. Ryan had woken up, showered and changed into work clothes. She got out of bed walked up to him and hugged him.

She: Do you have to go to work today? Can't you take the day off ? Its such a lovely morning, don't you think ?
Ryan : I wish, honey....You know that I would if only I could....But I have a job to do and a few important meetings today.
She: And I don't....
Ryan: Don't, what?
She: Don't "Have a job".
Ryan: Well sweetie, I wouldn't have had one either if I had just delivered a beautiful baby 4 months ago.
She: So, now I am just a wife and a Mom?
Ryan: Isn't that enough, at least for the time being?
She: No. But listen, I don't want to keep you with this discussion. Its not like I just wanted to pick this up in an off-handed conversation. This concern has been weighing on my mind for quite some time now. I've been meaning to talk about it. But I guess now is not the time.
Ryan: No honey. If something's bothering you, lets get to the bottom of it. Everything else can wait. Tell me, whats wrong in being 'just a wife and a mom' - as you put it ?
She: I don't quite know. I always resented women that are just a piece of arm-candy. Like a trophy wife that the guy takes to parties, social gatherings etc. I'm not just Mrs. Ryan Miller and Angel's mom. Listen sweetheart, I'm proud to be both and that is essentially the most important part of me. But there is more to me than that.......I wanna make a difference to the world I live in. I have an Identity which I seem to have lost.
Ryan: You make a beautiful difference to this world just by being a part of it. But on a more practical note, you should channelize your energies into something you love doing. Why don't you start writing all over again?
She: Yeah right....The only topic that comes to my mind is Postpartum depression.
Ryan: See, humour...I told you, you are a natural. I'm sure you'll think up something. Besides writing is what you do best. You are gifted and you know it. People spend their entire life trying to figure out what their gift is and in your case it is just so apparent. You shouldn't give up on it. Haven't you heard 'If you don't use it, you lose it'.....So, please give it a serious thought, will you?
She: I will. And thanks. That was a morale` booster.
Ryan: Anytime, baby.

On that note, he kissed her goodbye. She sat back brooding on what makes up a person's identity? Is it his/her personality or the relationships he/she pursues? Is it his/her accomplishments ? Or is it the difference he/she makes in other people's lives?

Isn't that the answer we are all seeking? 'Who am I ? What is the purpose of my life?' Quaint yet true.....