Question

An essay about a stranger you met

Answer 1

It was Thursday afternoon, my cell phone displayed 2.55 when I got down from auto-rickshaw near Staples.  It is opposite to Forum from where I was supposed to take a Volvo bus to reach Bengaluru International Airport. I was waiting for around 15 mins and felt as if I am standing there for hours. Thought of calling few of my friends just to pass away the time.  The bus stop was empty and I kept on expecting some passenger to Airport just to get convinced about the timings of the bus.

I was over phone, when I saw a gal getting down from an auto-rickshaw with two heavy luggages and a hand bag. Ah! I was a bit relaxed, became more confident about the arrival of BIAS7 within sometime. It may sound strange that the arrival of a stranger could make me feel so relaxed. I was still over phone when I heard a soft voice calling me from behind “Excuse me, are you going to Airport?” That was the first time when I looked at her carefully, she was dressed in a red t-shirt, was of fair complexion, near-about my age and looked simple. I answered her “Yes”.

I finished my call and turned behind as she was standing a bit far away from me. It was now my turn to ask her something as I was very eager to know about the exact timings of the bus. I asked “Hey, do you know what time the bus would come?”. “Its suppose to arrive at 3.35”, she replied. After 5 more mins she said “Please come and stand nearby me as I won’t be able to take my heavy luggages near to you”. I felt her to be friendly.

Then we started with usual conversation and came to know that she is from Delhi, works in Accenture and going to her native to spend holidays. Her flight timing was 7 o’clock in the evening. In the meantime, bus arrived and the time was 3.36. We got into the bus, sat together and started chatting.  Co-incidentally we both slept off after sometime. It was around 5 when we reached Airport.  My flight was at 6.20. I still had 1h20min time in hand and there was no need to hurry up.  As I was having a single suitcase which was not so heavy, I could get it down easily from the bus. She went down to get a trolley and I was confused whether to wait or move on. By then, she came back and was pleased to see me waiting there. She smiled and said “Oh! You are still waiting here.” We both somehow managed to pull down her two big bags with the help of bus conductor into the trolley. She said “Hey keep your suitcase too in this trolley, no need of getting another one”. I felt more comfortable in her company.