A tale of two people - Part 1

     That was a busy day. A routine work day, in a routine work week, with the routine return route. He was lost in the depths. He was wondering at the height of the mountains. How to view them? Were they symbol of achievement? Or the symbol of being alone?  

    While on the route, he saw someone walking on the road. That person reminded him of someone. It was not new for him. By then, he mistook many strangers for her. He badly hoped that'd be true. It was not the case. He was misunderstood as a stalker. With time, he had forced himself to the fact that he could never see her. But a thin light of hope was making him search for her.

    The auto was moving quickly towards the downside of the hill. He thought what he had seen was just a coincidence. He again prayed to God to make it true. His heart was pumping his brain with memories.

    The next day, the last workday, his colleagues had finished the work quickly to welcome the weekend early. He was not interested to do the work or enjoying the weekend. His heart was unable to distinguish between workdays and weekends, between heat and cold, between sorrow and happiness. He was just living. 

    He, with his colleagues, boarded the auto. the same route, same hills, same thoughts. In addition to that, another thing matched. That person whom he saw the previous day. Again she resembled her, but he was more sure then. It was a moment of surprise, a moment of happiness, a moment of grief, it is a mixture of finding something and the regret of missing it till then.

*

    He was the only child at the home. His parents were fine with just one kid. But he was not. He used to see other kids in pairs - with a brother or sister. While he neglected the idea of another brother, he wished to have a sister. A sister to share his joys and sorrows. A sister he can always look up to. A sister he can spend time with.

    One day he noticed the incoming of a new neighbour just beside his house. As always, he hoped to find a sister in his new neighbours. To his surprise, his hopes became reality. He saw a tall girl coming out of the van and started helping with the unloading of the furniture. He was watching the family till they unloaded all the things from the van and went inside.

    In the evening, he was with his mom helping with the dinner in the kitchen. When calling the bell is heard, his mom had gone to attend to it while he was busy experimenting with 'how to cut vegetables in various ways.'

    "Namaste aunty, my name is Abha, we came morning to the adjacent house." As soon as he heard the voice, he rushed all the way from the kitchen to the entrance and made his way through his mom to make sure she sees him.

    "Hi Abha, so you were the family shifted to the house... I was busy since morning with the house chores, so unable to wish you properly.."

    "No problem Aunty. Just thought to introduce myself to the neighbours"

    "That's so nice of you, How you are so active at this age..! Just come inside, let us sit and talk, and let me show you our home as well.."

    "Thanks, Aunty, but sorry, I have got other pending works to do for the house. Maybe I will come on some other time?"

    "Yeah, sure, then. even I will come to your house tomorrow, and if you want any help regarding anything, you can always knock on our door..!"

    "Sure Aunty, thank you..!"

    He was quietly watching the whole conversation. His brain was literally shouting 'OKAY MOM..! Can you please introduce me as well..! I think you forgot the fact that I have been standing here..'

    "Hey... What is your name..?", his face glowing after she recognized him.

***

Thanks for reading! 

If interested, you can continue the story here.