Strangers' Tales (One Shot Story)

After settling the luggage in the appropriate space, the conductor asked everyone to take their seats. A girl walked into the bus with her friend to take her seat in the third row.

"Jai Mata Di", said everyone in the bus as the trip to Vaishno Devi took an enthusiastic start.

It was 7:30pm when the bus took a halt.

"We are going to stay in the hotel for one night and resume our journey at 5am tomorrow. Have dinner and take your room keys from the reception. You can stay in the park but be in your rooms by 11."

At the Dinner table,

The girl asked a boy sitting next to her, "Excuse me, could you please pass me the water bottle?"

Before giving it, he looked at her sternly with a sarcastic smile. 

Little taken aback from his reaction, she couldn't resist commenting, "I think you have some problem, I mean you had no reason to be rude.."

"Who are you to tell me anything, Ms. Stranger?", he asked.

"Oh ho. Nevermind, thanks.", wiping off her hands, she smiled and left.

***

The same girl, tired of searching her sandals around the hotel for five minutes then sat to the lane side, looking at the blue star struck sky in the stagnant water pool- which looked crystal.

Thoughts of people being unhelpful and strange were keeping her busy until someone sat beside her, 4 steps away and disturbed, "Hello Ms. Stranger."

"Hmm.. You are the same one at the dinner table who...", she replied.

After a long pause, "The sky looks beautiful.", he looked up.

She, amused, looked at him, "Yes. It definitely is."

"What do you think of while looking at moon and the stars?", he asked.

"The tale of moon and some realisations...", her gaze didn't leave the water.

Curious to know her take, he took a chance of getting an answer, "Would you like to elaborate a bit more?"

A genuine smile appeared on her lips, "Beauty... It's all about giving."

He followed to see where her fingers were pointing- the pool, "Not the water...See the 'whiteness with spots'!" and then, specifically in it, the moon's reflection.

"Moon has made a great impact on you and in your life it seems."

Forgetting that she was sitting beside a just-met-guy, decided to share it with him.

She folded her legs and turned to face him. "Have you heard that tale where the little Prince asks his Queen Mummy to bring Moon down to him?"

He chuckled and nodded, "And his mummy took a plate filled with water and put it near the window from where the moon was visible and made him look at the reflection of it in the water."

"Yes! That tale is a realisation.."

"Umm.. He got the moon? He was glad for that...", he shrugged.

"Na! My mother told me- the real happiness the Queen had felt. The little boy was glad for the fact that his mother fulfilled his wish, brought down the moon but the Queen was enchanted knowing that the reason behind her Prince's happiness was she herself..", she happily told him.

He got engrossed in her interpretation, "And this is deep! Do you relate to it in any way?"

With a slight nod, she continued, "I used to think that boy would be happy but after thinking on it I felt that he may not be glad forever for he got the moon but will always remember that his MOTHER got him that. He'll remember how his mother made him feel. That's the real beauty! Getting things and being happy is temporary but who made it possible is permanent. I realise it now. I really do. People have your actions inked in their mind and heart, how you selflessly give away what you can, ofcourse by a fair way. If you really can, then keep no expectations and feel the joy of giving.. Keep that a reason to live your life!"

He didn't blink or look away from her for even a second, simply lost in those words and her chirpy yet calm eyes. A hand wave by her got him back, "Mr. Stranger. That's the reason I relate to the moon."

"Huh yeah! This was really pleasing. Umm.. You have helped someone, right?", he smirked at her.

"Yes. Someone got healed, the mind is stress free, without any medical help the heart is joyous.. What can be better than that... It is a great feeling.", she sighed with relief.

Before he could speak, she cut him, "Mr. Stranger, I know you are going to ask me the detail but no, please don't ask. Let it remain with me."

He agreed laughingly, "Okay okay!"

"Hey... may I ask you something?", she asked casually.

He just nodded.

"Why you decided to visit Vaishno Devi?", she was hesitant.

His phone rang; excusing himself he went away to talk.

For about ten minutes, she gazed at him as his expression changed very frequently while listening and speaking.

After he was back, she observed his little blunt face, "Any problem..?"

"You asked me why I came here, you know my girl just... We just want to unite!", he hung his face down.

She frowned, "Ohho! Tell me what's up, umm, only if your girl allows!"

He, through corner of eye, saw her smiling childishly, "I'm the luckiest to have her so don't you worry about that."

"Okay okay.. Where does the problem lies?"

Her genuine voice made him confident to tell her what was bothering him.

"Actually our parents are in agreement but only one close relative who is against our marriage.. We tried to make him agree but..", his voice conveyed his helplessness and she understood it.

She, with hesitation, put her palm on his shoulder, "Hey! Don't lose hope. Everything will be fine."

"It is always easy to say.. The thing is, neither do we want to disrespect him nor separate or just delay our marriage."

"I think if families are okay with it, you should go for it. See, parents are anyways the most important ones so.. I mean to say, make your Uncle understand that your girl will always be there for you and your family and anything else doesn't matter!", she heaved a sigh seeing him nod slightly.

"Yeah.. We won't stop trying.. and if he doesn't agree then we'll think of proceeding and as you said we'll do everything that'll make him feel that we're a family. No letting down."

Both smiled at each other.

"Your wish will be fulfilled. I hope this visit of yours be fruitful."

Mouthing a "Thankyou" he simply closed his eyes for a minute.. "Life has hurdles just like moon has spots still the moon outshines everything around and so my life will also. I need to believe in myself.. This journey will be memorable always.. Strangers can help you, they don't judge! They are kind too."

"So, let's get back? It's quite late now..", she cleared her throat to bring him back to reality.

He got up to stop her and gestured her to look towards the fence. She glared at him while walking to take her Sandals which he had hidden, "I actually came to you to apologise.. I'm sorry Ms. Stranger for being rude at the Dinner table."

"It's okay! I really didn't mind. Everyone has a share of problems and at times we take it out on people.. That's why it's said na...Stranger's don't judge.", she chuckled.

"You know what, it's my chance to be a part of 'Beauty lies is giving away' So, will be glad to have Ms. Stranger at the "Mr. Raj weds Ms. Khushi" function soon..", he smiled and no sooner did they exchanged their contacts.

"Ms. Stranger, that is, Yashi will be happy to be a part of someone's happiness. Thankyou."

Waving at him, Yashi stepped away; being grateful for everything happened in her life, praying for Raj, lost in her world while Raj, shuffling his hairs, gazed at the far away Temple's peak with lots of spark in eyes, palms joined up in wishing for the best the goddess can bless with.

**END**

Co-written by Ritu Gurnani. :)

-Sakshi.