Unexpected holidays, I was jobless at my home, in short, doing nothing but, eating and sleeping. Unaccountable boredom. I’ve decided to give a new dimension to these holidays. Why not start from tomorrow?
5.00 A.M
Woke up early to catch up a morning jog in peace, Yeah, the city is peaceful only then. One hour strict jog, with Akon and Linkin park hitting their octanes in my ears and then puffing heavily, I sat on the park bench. Suspiring, I was staring the beauty around. Then came a handsome guy, must be of my age. He sat next to me. He had a known face, yeah, I had seen him somewhere. He gave a warm smile, and I smiled back.
“Hello”
“Hi”
“How are you?”
“Do u know me ? “
“Of course ! I have been with you for the past 19 years”
Wait……Past 19 years……Must be my neighbour Rakesh or my high school crush Arjun…But he is none of them. I was pushed back into thoughts. This fellow seems to be a very close acquaintance of mine, God, I barely knew him. Helpless situation.
“I’m so sorry, I could not recognise you”
“No regrets, I am not gonna reveal myself, unless YOU find it out”
“…………”
A smile again…and he walked away. I was gaping the way he strided.
1:00 P.M
I was listening to some fluffy bollywood songs.
He sat next to me, “ Hello” again..
“ How did you get in ?”
“ THE door is open, Priyanka”
I saw the door, I scolded myself, yeah, it’s wide open.
“ Wassup ?”
“ I already told you I couldn’t recollect who you are”
“ That’s okay, Tell me, Howz life ?”
Perfect. I’m a dumbo. I couldn’t recall who he was, Yet, I donno, with some unknown emotion, I continued speaking to him.
And then, like morning, he left.
This time, I felt, my confusion increased exponentially.
7:00 P.M
I was heading for some bookstore to grab my favourite Author’s new release. It was him again, with that same smile.
“ Hello”
“ Who are you? I really donno who you are and where you’ve come from. Pardon me if I really forgot, But please do tell, WHO ARE YOU ?”
“ Really ? U forgot me ? Means u no longer needed me ?”
“…………….”
“ I thought you really loved me ”
Awh !! This is going to be fun. I don’t know who the h*** he was and he claims I loved him. Anger gushing out.
“ Get lost, What are you talking ? You are not even my friend. I don’t know who you are”
“ Then, who are your friends? ”
“ None of your business ”
“ Don’t be a fumer, feel free to tell me, to whom else can u speak so transparent ? ”
Confused, I started listing out a few.
“ Nakshatra, Roshini….”
“ Okay, Who is your bestie? ”
Struck a chord, I used to tell “I am my best friend” in my childhood.
Thoughts triggered out, I was seriously thinking. Yeah, I have changed a lot. I am no longer liking myself. Adopted to situations around, lots of compromises and alterations. I am no longer the good old myself.
Now, I realise, he is my past attitude. He is my Alterego, He is my past self, He is my updater. Everything he spoke made perfect sense to me then.
His words resonating in my ears then
“Life gives you many hurdles, it doesn’t mean that you have to change yourself and go with that flow, Swim upstream if you want to. But, make sure that at the end of the day, though you are left with nothing in your hand, you have your attitude with you”
Sunshine shone upon my cerebration.
The next day,
5:00 A.M
Jog, I sat on the park bench, thinking…
He came again, and gave that warm smile again.
But, this time,
The smile was rejoicing, the smile was soothing and that smile was my regained life…
