An old friend gave me a call a few days back, and the conversation we had led me to write this post for the benefit of all those who need to know. And I’ll bring in Trisha back for this post. Remember Trisha? Yes, my protagonist of “Trisha’s Anecdotes” :-)
Morning rain. Trisha sipped her tea and glanced at her computer screen. Need to work on the website, she murmured to herself. Ping. A whatsapp message entered. It was Samarth, a very old friend.
“Hey, was going through some of your videos. Just wanted to say a Hi. Will talk to you in the evening!”
Over the years, Trisha had transitioned from corporate world to being a Life, Holistic & Creative Wellness Coach and would occasionally share content on her different social media pages.
She typed back – “Hi Samarth!! How have you been? I have some work in the evening. Can I help you with something? You can tell me now.”
The phone rang. It was Samarth.
At first he congratulated Trisha on how well she was doing in her coaching journey, and that coaching / teaching / sharing life wisdom was a noble profession. Then at one point, he asked – “Ek baat bata, toone shaadi kyu nahi kee?” Translated, that would be – Tell me something, why didn’t you get married?
The Life Coach in Trisha instantly woke up.
Before I tell you what she said to him, let me tell you about her reaction. Had it been a few years ago and someone asked her this question, it would make her feel defensive, as if she was some outlaw who did something wrong by choosing to stay single. But on that day, she felt different. It felt expansive. She was so ready to face this in a new way.
So, at first, she asked him – “Why do you ask?” She sincerely wanted to learn about his need. He replied, just curious, and requested her not to take it otherwise.
Trisha then said – “No, I didn’t mind. But let me put this same question back to you, in a different way. Why did YOU get married?”
Samarth responded – “Because it’s a social obligation, and I didn’t think about it so much then.”
Trisha said – “Social obligation is ok. But like any other relationship, marriage is meant to help both people learn and grow as individuals. That is the intrinsic spirit of marriage. And then, there are your personal core values that are different from family values. If marriage aligns with your personal core values, you must marry. Also, it is good to marry only if the person you would marry is aligned with your higher purpose in life. That will help you both stay on course of an authentic, mutually expansive partnership. In any circumstance – being married or single entails responsible freedom and discipline. But one must never get married out of obligation or delusion, if that is done, then the moment problems surface, you may need support from outside, for instance, a relationship expert to intervene in a positive practical manner. Unless there’s something absolutely misaligned, that’s when it is ok for both people to part ways.”
The conversation went on to how relationships are meant for us to learn and grow and understand our own energy. Samarth shared how he and his wife were working on bringing up their son in a way that respects the child’s individuality and freedom.
A seemingly uncomfortable situation got transformed into a high-vibe value creating conversation.
Before ending the conversation, Trisha encouraged Samarth so that he too should keep exploring his innate potential of “giving back” to the world.
On disconnecting the phone, Trisha smiled in gratitude. “Time for breakfast”, she said to herself and walked off.
She later wrote a blog on this on her website. Here are some tips for those considering marriage or considering improving your relationship with your partner –
1) Find out your personal core values. Go on a journey of self-discovery and awareness, so that you know exactly what you are bringing to the table. Work with a life coach who can help you with identifying your personal set of attributes that make you who you are and guide you towards developing your unique potential.
2) Marriage is not the answer to your needs. It is an assignment to learn and grow yourself and also support your partner to grow. Practice self-awareness.
3) Remember you both are two different people. Just as you have your needs, your boundaries, your values, they have theirs too. It is normal to “grow differently” and in “different timelines”. Learn to give and take space.
4) Remember both of you are equals. There is no hierarchy or authority. As per situation, you may have to play the role of teacher/student/friend/guide/parent to each other. These are just roles that are switchable, not ego-based functions.
5) What if one of you becomes “conscious” or goes through a spiritual awakening over many years of marriage? Good. Just Be. Talk to your partner about your needs, thoughts and feelings. Do not in any way force them to “grow”. Respect their path. If you surrender and let go, and keep your own energy focused on your true self, their energy may catch up in time. But it is their choice, their journey as a free entity.
6) Work on communicating correctly and timely. Neither you nor your partner can read minds. Visit a relationship coach if effective communication could be an issue between both.
7) The most successful and happy couples are those that (guess what?) visit Life & Relationship coaches together at least once every year. Coaches are not the people you go to only when you “have problems”. Rather, they are those who can help you prevent or work through possible problems in the future. They are great support systems on your collective personal growth journey and happiness as a couple. They help you set new goals as a couple, and explore the different aspects of life that both of you are yet to explore together. They help you expand and manifest the potential of your relationship. Go to a Life Coach and you'll be like - Wow, there's so much to do! I am not saying this because I am a Coach myself, I know this from my personal experience working with coaches myself :-)
8) Like every relationship, marriage is about learning and growing as an individual. On a soul level, you had signed up to share a karmic bond with the person – which means marriage will bring you your karmic lessons. So, on a soul level, find what you really want and be ready for facing any challenges together. It is also ok to not feel pulled towards marriage, maybe on a soul level you have not signed up for such a soul contract!
9) How do you know if you have a soul contract that results in marriage? Just practice being happy by yourself – in a responsible manner. Know yourself, stay connected with your soul. Focus on practicing alignment with your true self – live a meaningful life, practice empathy, invest in your growth. Marriage doesn’t have anything to do with giving meaning to your life. It is You who consciously gives meaning to your marriage. Yes, the person you are with may feel like they complete your world because that’s the experience you wanted, and that’s ok. Marriage doesn’t "complete" the soul. It is rather an experience your soul may want to have, so when you have the experience that makes you feel complete. There’s a difference.
So here’s the thing. Marriage is not a necessity. Being single is not a rebellion. Both are a process of self-discovery and growth in their own unique way. And both hold value, when done consciously. Whatever your current situation, you can and you are going through your own learning and growth in the way you had signed up for on a soul level 😊 So chill, be happy, wherever you are. Practice self-awareness, be an observer of your emotions and thoughts. And yes, don’t focus on the grass that seems greener on the other side – just water your own!
I hope this helps. Feels nice to share. Let me know if you have any questions. Which points really resonate with you? Please share in comments. Would love to read. I'll pass them on to Trisha (LOL!!!)
To work with me as your Life, Holistic Wellness & Creativity Coach, write to me at lifecoachtiara@gmail.com :-)
Ting. I glanced at my mailbox. It was Trisha. It was a year that I had first met her in the woods of Meghalaya.
âHappy New Year, Tiara. Just thought you might be interested in another story?â she wrote. I smiled, and continued reading.
November. Trivandrum. The cyclonic storm had dashed all her leisure plans. Trisha gazed at the ceiling of her cozy hotel room. âDamn this weather!â, she said to herself. She scrolled through the bright sunny pictures of Varkala beach on her phone. She gave a sigh and throwing the covers away, she jumped out of bed.
Trisha had been traveling on work for quite some time and was set to fly back home the next day. She quickly got dressed, picked her umbrella and sling bag and walked out of the room.
âMaâam, are you sure? Please do not venture out too far.â The front desk guy cautioned, a look of concern on his face.
Trisha smiled. âSure, I will take care. Thank you so much.â
Stepping out, Trisha braced herself with nothing to expect. Earlier, from her room window, she had spotted a church next to the hotel. She walked till the gates and entered. She could hear prayers. As softly as she could, she walked inside. It was beautiful. Placing her umbrella inside a bucket kept at the corner, she positioned herself in one of the seats at the back and folded her hands. She did not understand the language, yet there was something she could feel. Peace, maybe? The lady next to her signaled her to cover her head. Trisha quickly obliged by pulling her stole and wrapped it around her head.
Ten minutes later, she glanced at her watch and decided to move out. She needed to get some stuff for home. An auto ride later, she was at one of the most popular departmental stores in town. The place looked resplendent with Christmas decoration. She picked up a few Kerala sarees for home and headed back.
The rain had intensified. Luckily, she found an auto just outside the store.
The front desk guy was clearly relieved on seeing her arrive. Trisha went straight to the restaurant for dinner.
Being a solo traveler, especially a woman, has its perks. The restaurant manager took special care of Trishaâs needs including getting her plain khichdi when her tummy played truant the previous night. Flashing a smile, he welcomed her.
Trisha chose a seat right in front of the stage, where a performer was singing Phil Collinsâ âAnother Day in Paradiseâ. The attendant took her order and she settled for a relaxed time. There was no one except her in the restaurant.
The singer looked somewhat like Hariharan, thought Trisha. As if reading her mind, he glanced at her. He had just completed a number.
âYou traveling alone?â He asked her.
âYeah, on workâ, Trisha replied.
âWhatâs your name, young lady?â
âTrisha.â
âHi, I am Malcolm. I sing here every eveningâ.
âHello Malcolm. Youâre really good!â Trisha said.
âAre you married?â He went on.
âNo, why do you ask?â Trisha was amused.
âI will pray to the Lord that by this time next year, you come across your life partner and you return here with him.â
Trisha did not know how to react. Finding strange people on her trips was not new to her! Maybe she was strange, so she attracted weird experiences!
Trying hard to suppress her laughter, she said â âOkay, thank you so much.â
The mobile rang. It was Prashant, her colleague and friend. Trisha took the call.
âHello Madam! Howâs Trivandrum treating the daredevil?â
âItâs raining ya.â
âOh, so no pleasure? Only business?â
Trisha laughed. Prashant always had a way to lighten things up.
âCome back soon, youâre being missed.â
Trisha smiled. Pausing a bit, she added â âI will see you guys soon.â
The smile was intact even as she disconnected the phone.
âBoyfriend?â It was Malcolm.
âFriend.â Trisha corrected him.
Soon, the food arrived. The rest of the evening was good with Malcolm singing a few more songs.
As she rose to leave, she went up to Malcolm and said âThank You, it was great meeting you, Malcolm. Keep rocking. By the way, since you do pray, do you really believe in God?â
âYes, I do.â
âWell then, would it be difficult for you to understand when I say that not everyone wants or needs a life partner whoâs other than themselves? I am happily self-partnered Malcolm. Pray that I always be so, irrespective of whether I ever want or have another person in my life as a partner or not.â
Malcolm looked at her intently. He nodded and smiled.
âIf thatâs what you truly believe Trisha, then I consider myself fortunate to have met someone like you. Not everyone can think like that. God bless you. I will pray that all your dreams come true.â
âThanks again, take care.â
They shook hands. Trisha walked away.
I looked at the last phrase that Trisha had written. Happily self-partnered. Wow. That IS something. âHappy New Year, Trishaâ, I emailed her back.
(This is a work of fiction and is not intended to resemble anyone in real life. Stories and pictures used are copyright to the author)
The café was bright and brimming with unseen energy. The tables were mostly full, except one or two. At one corner sat Trisha. She just finished her tea. She paid for it and then closing the book she was reading, she prepared to leave.
Someone yanked open the café door. A young man entered, must be in his twenties. He looked around, chose a table right beside Trishaâs, pulled the chair and sat. He looked distraught. Frantically, he punched at his mobile, put it at his ear and waited.
âHello? Pooja? Please donât disconnect. I still donât understand why you are breaking up with me! We can work things out. I swear I will never let you downâ¦..No, wait⦠listen to meâ¦.Pooja? Are you there? Pooja?....â
He sighed and disconnected the call. His face screamed the language of hopelessness. There was a story in him wanting to be told.
Trisha walked up to him.
"Hi, waiting for someone?"
âNo.â
âCan I join you, if you donât mind?â
âYeah, ok. Sorry, but I am not in a very good mood.â
âHi, I am Trisha. Sorry, but I overheard your conversation. Felt like asking.â Trisha sat down.
âI am Ronit. Thatâs fine. I was loud anyway. Thanks for asking though. I just broke up with my girlfriend.â
âYou or she?â
âWell, she broke up. And I am brokenâ⦠he shook his head, smiled wryly.
âWhat are her reasons?â
âShe is being pressurized for marriage by her family. She says she cannot marry me because I am yet not financially soundâ.
âIs she entirely wrong about the assessment of your financial situation?â
âNot really. But I am trying to get where I have to. All I wanted is time! It could have been worked out right?â
Trisha smiled. âLet me tell you a story. Care to listen?â
Ronit sighed. âYeah, sure. Go ahead.â
**********************************************************************
Four years ago. Bangalore.
âBhaiyya, that Ganpati idol on the dashboard looks so beautiful!â
The driver grinned, without turning though, his eyes fixed on the road. I was on my way to the Airport in a cab, I was flying back home from Bangalore.
âMadam, were you here for work?â
I thought for a moment.
I said. âWell, no. I was here to meet someone. Actually⦠my fiancé. He lives here.â
This time, the driver turned around for a second â âOh, Congratulations Madam! Whenâs the wedding?â
âThank You, Bhaiyya. Three months away!!!â
âOk Madam. All the bestâ.
âThanks again.â
The driver reached for the glove compartment and brought out a small golden idol of Ganesha.
âHere Madam. Take this. Gift from me.â
I was amazed at the thoughtful gesture. âOh thank you so much Bhaiyya!!! Itâs beautiful!!!â
It shone in the afternoon sun and was so tiny it could be held in the palm. I put the idol carefully inside my sling bag.
The phone rang.
I smiled. It was him. I answered.
âHello?â
âHi, did you reach the airport?â the voice came floating by.
âNot yet.â
âTrisha, I need to tell you something.â
The voice sounded grim.
âYes, tell me?â
âTrisha, I wanted to tell you this earlier, but somehow couldnât bring it up.â
There was a pause.
âI canât marry you, Trisha.â
For a moment, my heart stopped. âSorry?â
âNo, I am sorry. Youâre too good for me Trisha. I guess I donât deserve you.â
âWhat are you saying⦠I donâtâ¦.â
âTrisha, I am just building up my career. I donât even know where Iâll be landing a few years from now. What if youâre not happy with me? You are such an amazing girl, independent and free. I donât even have a great place to stay. I know our parents have decided our match, but I just feel I am yet not ready.â
Tears filled my eyes. The coolness of the AC inside the car didnât seem to work anymore.
Finally I spoke. âWe can make efforts to make situations good for each other, right? I mean thatâs what life partners are all about? I know we havenât interacted a lot. But we can! Thatâs why I came down here to meet you, right? Letâs keep ourselves a priority for each other, then everything else should work out I am sure!â
âNo Trisha, I have to be honest with you. I donât think I am ready for marriage. I donât want to take the plunge just because my parents want me to. I hope you will understand.â
âEveryone in my family and your family is aware that weâre getting married. Can we just make this work?â
âI donât want to make you wait for me, Trisha.â
There was silence.
âI am sorry, Trisha.â
âYou should have thought about all this before. You didnât. Donât say sorry to me. Say sorry to yourself. Youâve not let me down. Youâve let yourself down.â
I disconnected the phone.
Suddenly the world came crashing down on me. I looked at the window pane on my left in a bid to hide my tears from the driver. My dreams were shattered. What was I going to tell my parents? Relatives? Friends? People wonât stop talking, right? How could he do this?
I reached out for my bag for a tissue to wipe my tears. I felt the Ganesha idol I had just kept inside. I fished it out and held it in my hand. A drop of tear fell on it.
âMadam,â I was startled when the driver spoke. âThe airport has arrived.â He stopped the car. âCan I say something Madam?â
Did he realise I was crying? I wondered.
âYes?â I sniffed.
âMadam, that Ganesha idol I just gave you, that will take you to your destination, no matter whatever obstacles you face on the way. See, like, I am a car driver, I know my destination, I know my way, so Iâll follow that. On the way, I might face traffic, blockages, bumps!!! But Iâll cross them anyway. Our life is like that. Sometimes, I might also have to take a different route, might take longer, but destination will stay constant and I will reach it anyway. You are starting a new life. That Ganesha idol I just gave you, will protect you and show you what you have to do in life, Madam. Best of Luck. Shall I stop the meter?â
âHuh??!!!â I stared at him. Collecting myself and my thoughts, I said - âYesâ¦. And Thank You so much for your wishes.â
********************************************************************
âYou must have been devastated.â Ronit said.
Trisha shrugged. âHappens. Yeah it was tough initially, but I bounced back. The driverâs words were the real savior. The incident changed my life for the better.â
âTime heals everything, right?â
Trisha raised a brow.
âTime? Are you kidding? In that case, every broken heart and every misled mind would have got mended and bounced back within the same time frame, right? Like, how the doctor prescribes antibiotics? Give yourself a week, and youâll be cured? No way!!! Time is never a factor at all. You are. I was. I had to decide whether I wanted to hold on to it, or let it go.â
Ronit looked on at her. âBut it hurts.â
âWhy should it? When I think about the incident now, I only have a lot of gratitude for him! When someone says he doesnât deserve me, and that I deserve more, I think he has done the right thing to let me go! Your girlfriend, sorry ex-girlfriend, you should be thankful to her. She has chosen to set you free to focus on your career.â
âBut she could have stayed with me. Why did she have to leave?â
âBecause she wanted to. Simple. I think you should wish her well in her life, if you really love her.â
âI still donât understand.â
âBecause you are choosing not to see, Ronit. This is your chance, I suggest you trust yourself.â
The café suddenly broke out in a loud cheer. Trisha and Ronit turned towards the door. A huge crowd had gathered around an idol of Ganesha that was being taken to a neighbouring pandal.
âItâs Ganesh Chaturthi tomorrow,â said Trisha. âGanesha, the one who diminishes all obstacles.â
Ronit smiled.
Trisha turned to him and continued.
âRonit, sometimes the hurdles are within us, but we tend to look outside most of the time. The obstacles may seem on the outside, but to win, it is you who must be willing to take the leap. Where thereâs a will, the ways do open up. We have to find the Ganesha within.â
Ronit nodded.
Trisha looked at her watch.
âIâll have to leave.â
âBut you didnât have anything.â
âOh I did have some tea, I was here a good half hour before you came in. I was moving out anyway, but stopped to talk to you.â
Ronit smiled. âThanks for your time.â
âNo problemâ, Trisha said, as she rose.
She walked a step and turned back.
âGanesha is also about fresh new beginnings. The Universe constantly sends us signals about things we need to know at any given point of time. You just have to learn the language. I hope youâll remember this. All the best.â
Ronit rose from his chair. âSure. I will. Thank You for sharing your story, Trisha. Pleasure meeting you.â
âSame here, and stories are meant to be created to be sharedâ. Trisha winked and smiled, turned and walked out of the café.
Someone on the street called outâ¦âGanapati Bappa!!!â
The entire café broke out in a loud cheerâ¦âMoriya!!!!â
(All stories and pictures of Trisha's Anecdotes are the author's copyright.)
Trisha gazed at her mobile phone. It was the month of May, and she was in one of those of her marathon solo trips with a purpose. She had just got over with a Yoga retreat in Rishikesh and reached New Delhi in the morning. Visiting some friends and also some places to click was on the cards. She was staying with an aunt. After a hearty lunch, she had slipped into a comfortable siesta. When she woke up in was around 4:00 pm.
She scrolled through her Instagram feed. She stopped at quite an interesting shot. It was a shot of a narrow lane, somewhere in Portugal, that was covered with a canopy of colourful umbrellas. Particularly fond of playing with light and colours, Trisha smiled. âHow I wish I could take a picture of such a placeâ â the thought crossed her mind.
Ting. A Watsapp notification. It was Rohit, one of her old college friends.
âAre we meeting?â he wrote.
Trisha nearly jumped out of bed. They were supposed to visit Hauz Khas village that evening.
âYes we are.â
âCool. Pick you up in 20 minutes.â
Rohit was Trishaâs go-to person whenever she needed some help in the city. He too loved to play the âMain Hoon Naâ role. True, he was someone you could count on.
True to his words, Rohit arrived exactly after 20 minutes.
Hauz Khas Village is a historic habitation around the region of Hauz Khas complex. Trisha was particularly amazed by the graffiti that adorned the walls of the neighbourhood. Some of the most popular bars, cafés, and restaurants in Delhi were all jostling for space here. She gleefully clicked some shots of the streets and walls.
Soon it was time to leave.
âWhere do you want to go for dinner?â Rohit asked.
âCR Park please!â Trisha nearly squealed.
âOk, letâs make a move then. Got to drop you home tooâ.
âYeah ok Daddy!â Trisha rolled her eyes at Rohit.
Suddenly a lane caught her eyes.
âHey we didnât go that wayâ, she said.
Rohit turned to face where she was pointing at.
âYeah kinda the same. You want to go?â he asked.
Trishaâs gaze was fixed on that street.
She nodded a yes.
It was post sundown and the twilight would not support natural light photography anymore. Yet, she felt something pull her towards the lane.
It was a comparatively non-descript street leading to a parking area for cars and bikes.
Suddenly Trisha stopped on her tracks.
âWhat?â Rohit asked.
Trisha did not answer. Just few yards ahead, was the entrance door to what looked like a cafe, and outside that, hanging down from the trees were... a number of umbrellas â red, orange, yellow and white â all lit up, transforming the area into one beautiful aura of heavenly light!!!
Trisha let out a gasp and covered her mouth with her hands in disbelief.
âI pictured this scene this afternoon, Rohit. I wished for it. With all my heart and soul. And here it is,right in front of my eyes...â Trishaâs voice was nearly a whisper.
âPhoto...â Rohit said softly, reminding her of the obvious next step.
Click. Click. The shots went on. Different angles, various exposure settings.
âShall we move?â Rohit said, finally.
âYou know what?â she began.
âYeah?â
âWhen you really want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. Itâs a line from the book called â The Alchemist by Paulo Coelhoâ
âThoughts create reality?â Rohit said with a wink.
Both of them walked back in silence.
(This is a work of fiction and is not intended to resemble anyone. Copyrights of story and pictures are reserved by the author)
A sultry April afternoon. Fragrance of jasmine and roses enveloped the environs. Sheets of white, pale green and purple adorned the walls, pillars and bushes. Children ran around the lawns, amidst the sound of the song âChittiyaan Kalaaiyaanâ...
â1...2...3...4...â directed Trisha, as she animatedly showed the steps to the enthusiastic group of girls, who were, as they call them âDulhan ki saheliyaanâ or Friends of the Bride... Trishaâs colleague Prashantâs younger sister, Sanjana was getting married, and it was her Sangeet in the evening today. Most of the office colleagues were already here at the venue, while the others would arrive in the evening. Knowing Trisha was into choreography, Prashant had requested her to take over the reins as the dance director of the show, an offer which she had gladly accepted.
At a distance, Trisha spotted Ishita, looking at the dancers. She sat alone on one of the benches, away from everyone.
âOk girls, letâs take a 15 minute breakâ, said Trisha. She walked upto Ishita, and sat by her side.
âIshita, I didnât see you earlier today. You too are dancing, right? You havenât rehearsed even for once today?â she asked.
Ishita was one of Sanjanaâs best friends.
âI donât think I would be dancing, Trisha,â Ishita said, her head hung low.
Trisha was surprised. âWhy so? Youâve practised so much for this day! Tell me what is the matter? Are you feeling unwell?â
Ishita shook her head. All of a sudden she covered her face with her hands and began sobbing.
Taken aback, Trisha held her from the side in a hug.
âHey girl, what happened?â Trisha said, her voice softer than a whisper.
For a minute or so, Ishita sobbed. Trisha let her cry, while holding her all along.
Finally, Ishita gathered herself to speak. Her head was still bowed down.
âTrisha, I feel so bad about myself,â she said, in between tears.
Trisha frowned, but did not say anything.
Ishita suddenly looked at Trisha and asked her, âTrisha, do you think I am fat?â
Trisha grimaced at the question. She looked straight into Ishitaâs eyes.
Beautiful, hazel brown eyes. Pearl skin. Shoulder length curls for hair. She was heavier than usual, but God, she was beautiful!
âWho told you that you are fat, Ishita?â Trisha said, her voice turning stern.
âMost of my aunts do. One of Sanjanaâs relatives, Romila Aunty told me not to dance, because it looks odd! But I love to dance! And today, even Sanjana told me that Iâd look better if I cut down some weight!â
Trisha felt a rush of emotion go through herself. This was so not done. She soon collected herself.
âLook at those uncles and aunts dancing over there, Ishita.â Trisha said pointing to a group of elderly people swaying merrily. âDo you think it really matters to them even if they are two, three or five kilos heavier?â
âBut they are past their prime, Trisha! They donât need to think about building an image, or getting a guy to get married!!!â
âTrue, but they have crossed your age as well. They too must have felt like how youâve been made to feel. But today, nothing really matters to them. Ever thought howâs that? They are still the same people, right? It is only because theyâve chosen to see themselves differently now. However, that would not make some of them stop judging you, because sadly, they want you to feel as bad as they were made to feel someday in their young age! It just makes them feel better about themselves.â
âBut thatâs so wrong, Trisha, how can you demean someone just so that it makes you feel better about yourself?â Ishita murmered.
âYes it is wrong. There is only one way you can tackle these comments. Please see them just like the music in between the lyrics of a song. See through them. Understand where theyâre coming from. It is not you they are judging. It is a reflection of their own judgement towards themselves, that find a way through judging you, Ishita. Are you getting what I am trying to say?â Trisha smiled.
Ishita looked on at her, wide eyed.
âAre you saying, I too might become just as judgmental as these Uncles and Aunties when I grow older, and make someone else miserable, like how I feel now?â
Trishaâs smiled widened.
âYes dear, absolutely right! Do you want to become someone like them, or do you want to become someone who encourages others, loves them just as they are, while genuinely wanting them to get better for their ownselves?â
Ishita wiped her tears. âI never thought about it this way. Youâre so right. I should be confident about who I am.... But what about Sanjana? Why did she have to say that to me?â
âWhat about Sanjana?â someone called out.
Ishita and Trisha looked up, Prashant was standing right in front. Both the girls stood up, and looked at each other. Trisha nodded at Ishita.
âPrashant,â she bagan, âWe need to talk to you about Sanjana and Ishita.â
In five minutes, all three were in Sanjanaâs room.
âGod, Ishita, I didnât know you took my comment to heart! I didnât mean to make you feel bad!â Sanjana said, astonishment ringing in her voice. âI just want you to look better.â
Ishita crossed her arms. âThatâs fine. But you know that since my teens, I have been listening to people telling me things about my weight. Donât you think being a friend you should have been a bit more sensitive? What if I told you someday, Sanjana, itâs high time you put on some weight. Youâll look better that way?â Ishita chipped in. Trisha was amazed and happy at the boldness.
That stumped Sanjana. She was someone who was quite proud of her own slim frame. She had nothing to say.
Trisha walked upto her.
âEveryone is beautiful in their own way Sanjana. You, Ishita, everyone of us. It is your wedding tomorrow. Let this be the beginning of a new friendship between you and Ishita. The friendship was always there, but perhaps you both need to truly understand each other now.â
Trisha and Prashant, then left them alone.
Back in the lawns, Prashant said to Trisha, âI just hope they sort this out like mature peopleâ.
âThey will,â Trisha smiled.
She then clapped her hands calling out the girls.
âLetâs get back girls!â and the music began again.
Five minutes later, both Sanjana and Ishita emerged. The group stopped and looked at them.
Sanjana broke the silence.
âOur main dancer is back!â she said, a broad grin adorning her face, while she held Ishitaâs hand in hers.
Giving her a hug, Ishita soon joined the group. Trisha clapped jubilantly and side glanced at Prashant. He smiled, giving her a Thumbs Up sign.
Soon, Romila Aunty walked up from behind Trisha.
âYe Ishita kitna achha dance karti hai, hai na? She dances really well,â Romila Aunty said with admiration.
Trisha turned at her and said, âAap bhi dance kijiye na Aunty, why donât you join?â
Romila Aunty shied away and murmered âNo no, I used to dance earlier. Abhi kahaan ho payega beta?â
Ishita spoke up. âArre Aunty ji, please come. Saath mein dance karenge!!! Letâs do it!â
Even as Romila Aunty shook her head continuously, Ishita walked up to her, took her hands and pulled her towards the group. They danced like crazy while everyone looked on in amusement. Romila Aunty gave a hug to Ishita.
âThank You Ishita Beta. You took me back to my younger days.â
âLove you, Aunty!â said Ishita, hugging her back, giving a quick glance at Trisha. âThank You,âshe lip synced, looking at her.
Trisha smiled back.
âYou truly make magic, Trisha,â said Prashant.
She looked at him and said with a wink, âWe all can make magic. Some of us know that already, while some need to be toldâ.
Turning back to the group of girls, she called out, âOkay, one more time!â
....Chittiyaan Kalaaiyaan ve....
(This is a work of fiction. The story and images copyrights are reserved by the author)
An April morning. Kurseong. West Bengal.
Trisha loved the mountains. Perhaps it was more than Love. She identified with the beauty of creation in its entirety. The rolling hills, cascading waterfalls and deep forests attracted her like how honey would attract a bee. So, when she took a break from work, a journey into the mountains of Bengal was but an easy choice.
She walked out of her hotel after a sumptuous breakfast of hot momos with the red and green chutney and black Darjeeling tea. Kurseong is a sleepy little town dotted with dainty cottages along the hillside, and steep narrow alleys. She noticed agility among the people when they swiftly moved through the height with ease without a sign of fatigue.
She soon caught notice of the high walls that had been built to hold the hills together. Interestingly, from the walls grew a line of white flowers. It was strange how in such adverse conditions, the flowers grew out of nowhere and thrived! Trisha clicked a couple of pictures.
âSo much to learn from Nature... Resilience being one of themâ she thought.
Trisha smiled to herself, as she passed a young couple that was struggling to walk thanks to the height.
"God, this hike is terrible!" The woman said. "I can barely walk!"
"Arre, but this is nothing, we have another steeper hike coming up tomorrow!" said the man.
"I told you let's go to the beaches, but no, you just had to choose only the hills!"
"But our last vacation was in Goa, darling!"
The woman gave a stern look. "Yeah, okay fine."
Trisha sensed the tension in the air. She approached them.
"Hi, could you please take a pic for me" she requested, extending her mobile.
"Sure," said the man.
"Please keep the wallflowers in the background." Trisha pointed to the flowers.
The man took a couple of pictures, and handed the phone back to Trisha.
"Thank You so much". Trisha smiled at them. She continued. "There's a museum up there on top, do you want to accompany me till there?"
"Yeah, we are going there only," said the woman. "But it's too steep. I don't think I'll be able to make it".
Trisha took a moment, walked up to the wallflowers, as she called them, plucked one and handed over to the lady.
"This is for you. Nice flower, no? Growing out of the wall? Like out of no where? Still so beautiful?"
The woman took the flower and looked at it.
"Okay, let's do it this way." Trisha began. "Let's keep watching the line of wallflowers as we move up. We'll take picture breaks too!!! Let's enjoy the walk itself. Sounds interesting?"
The couple exchanged glances with each other and then back at Trisha, who looked at them one by one, waiting in anticipation.
The woman was the first to speak. "Yeah, I think that sounds great. Let's do it."
Fifteen minutes later, the three high fived. In front of them, was the museum. They had done it.
The lady turned at Trisha and said "Thank You, please stay this way. Just like the wallflowers."
Trisha smiled and gave her a hug. "I will," she said. "We all will."
They took a selfie of the three of them together and walked towards the museum.
Later that year...
A December morning, Dawki river. Meghalaya.
Trisha had heard a lot about a place called Dawki, located along the Indo-Bangaldesh border. There was a river that had gained popularity for its crystal clear waters that made even the deep river bed visible.
Trisha and some of her friends... in the midst of the river...taking a boat ride.
The boatman did his job in perfect harmony with the river. The surrounding hills stood gaurd as if even a whisper couldnât be heard by the world outside. They reached a spot where they got off the boat to chill for sometime.
Trisha touched the water that reflected the rocky bottom. How often do we get intimidated by the rock bottom scenarios of life? What we see is the bottom, but we ignore the water flowing over it. Why canât we be like the water? Touching rock bottom, yet unruffled, calm, poised... just being?
She picked up a couple of rocks from the banks as memory, something to remind her to not be afraid of the rock bottoms, but take strength from them and adopt a rock solid attitude towards life.
Soon it was time to go back to the boat for the return ride.
As they sailed through the tranquil waters, the boatman started to hum a tune...
âAllah mujhe dard ke kaabil bana diya,
Toofaan ko ki kashti ka saahil bana diya,
Bechainiyaa samet ke saare jahaan ki,
Jab kuchh na ban saka toh mera dil banaa diya...
O sathi, tere bina, Raahi ka raah dikhe na,
O sathi, tere bina, Saahil dhuaan dhuaan..."
The hills along the sides echoed, sending goosebumps across Trishaâs being...
The lines meant "Lord, you've made me strong enough to endure the pain, the storms and the shores have now merged as one, my heart seems to be filled with doubts you've collected out of the entire existence. My Friend, without you, the traveler has no direction. Without you, the shores can't be seen in the haze..."
She closed her eyes and took in the song. The only sounds were the echo from the hills and the water lapping against the boat as the boatman steered with the oars. In her mind, she listened, as she felt the Universe speak to her.
âYou are a traveller through eternal Time and Space.
The Heart is your navigator.
It is the source and centre of your attitude, your thoughts, your emotions.
Itâs on you, what you wish to hold in your heart.
What makes you feel like a winner?
Let that feeling be your guide.â
Trisha sensed tears of joy well up in her eyes. Isnât it just amazing? The experience called Life?
(This is a work of fiction and is not intended to resemble anyone in particular. All stories and pictures are copyrights of the author.)
Intrigued about how I met Trisha? Read the first of the series here.
Confidence. Calm. Poise. Words, that send through you a gush of inspiration, donât they? Even if mere words they are.
When Trisha and I had met for the first time, one afternoon somewhere in the hills of North East India, she had sounded wonderfully mysterious about her profession, telling me that she was an âobserverâ. This story that I share today, gives me a hunch that perhaps, at some time, Trisha would have been working with some corporate company.
It was a day of celebration. International Womenâs Day. The office was all decked up with soft pinks and purples, blues and peaches â colours that showed up in balloons, streamers, lights! The workstations of lady employees were specially decorated with inspirational messages and words of gratitude written by colleagues, anonymously. Yes, it was different than the usual. Trisha wore one of her favourite purple handloom sarees.
She walked in her cubicle and looked around.
âYou are an amazing human beingâ, someone had written for her. Did the person actually know the depth of that statement? Or had he or she run short of words!! She smiled. Another chit read â âMesmerizing dancer!â, while another â âColleague turned friendâ... Trisha herself, like the others, had written down a few chits for some people and put up the previous evening before leaving office, without them watching. The whole set-up was cute overall.
After sometime, her two deskmates arrived.
âHappy Womenâs Day!!!â Natasha nearly screamed, spreading her arms and even before Trisha realised, she gave her a hug. Trisha hugged back. âHappy Womenâs Day, Nuts! You look great!â Thatâs what they used to call her. Nuts wore a dark pink shirt with a cute bow paired with white trousers.
Shravan looked on, amused. When the excitement of the two women died down, he smiled shyly and wished both of them.
âHappy Womenâs Day to you too, Shravanâ, Trisha and Nuts chimed together. Shravan wore a light pink shirt and black trousers. His gelled hair shone in the lights.
Shravan looked puzzled. âWhy are you girls wishing me?â He said.
Trisha and Nuts gave animated glances at each other. And then turned back at Shravan.
âWhy? Arenât you celebrating the women in your life?â Nuts chipped in.
Shravanâs face lit up. âOf course, Thanks!â He said in glee.
After sometime, Trisha went up to the washroom to freshen up. There she met Ruby, who was checking and reapplying her lipstick. She looked radiant in a full-sleeves light pink anarkali.
âThatâs a beautiful dress, Ruby! You look lovely!â Trisha remarked.
Ruby gave a wry smile, and said a crisp âThanksâ, and continued. âBut I wanted to wear a saree.â
âSo why didnât you wear it?â
âMy arms are not waxed.â
Trisha raised her eyebrows.
âSo?â
âIt doesnât look good. People talk. They notice.â
âDid anyone come upto you ever and tell you that?â
âNot really... but it does not look good...â
Trisha gave out a sigh.
âRuby, are you saying you wanted to wear a saree, but did not, because you thought people would talk?
Ruby shrugged, nodded, and continued applying the lipstick.
âRuby,â Trisha said softly. âSo, would you yourself talk about someone who you notice hasnât waxed her arms?â
Ruby turned at Trisha.
âI would. Everyone should know how to look goodâ.
Trisha folded her arms across her chest.
âWell then, how come you werenât able to wax your arms then?â
âI didnât have time yaar.â
âYou should make time then, since it is important to you.
âI know.â Ruby looked a bit apologetic. She sighed and shut her purse.
âCan I ask you something?â Trisha said.
âSure dear.â
âI donât thread my eyebrows. What would you say about that?â
Ruby gave a comparatively longer gaze at Trisha.
She shrugged again. âWell, I didnât notice that. But you look fine. Perhaps you donât have time or maybe, itâs your choice.â
Trisha smiled. âWould you then judge me saying that I donât know how to look good?â
Ruby stiffened.
Trisha continued. âIf you feel great about yourself, and can place yourself with belief to the world outside of you, how does it even matter if you thread your eyebrows or wax your arms? How does it matter what people think of you? They might actually think quite well of you, you know. And here you are, losing opportunities for yourself, just thinking about some story that is only an assumption cooked up by you.â
Rubyâs expression softened.
Trisha splashed some water on her face, it felt pleasantly cool. She then turned towards the door.
âHappy Womenâs Day, Ruby. See you around.â She said, and stepped out.
Towards the evening, the office was agog with celebration. There were impromptu performances, cake-cutting, gifting of roses, and a few games. Everyone gladly participated.
It was soon time to leave. Nuts had left early as she had to take her mother to the doctor, they had an appointment, while Shravan was in the adjoining cubicle, having a discussion with a team member. Trisha finished an article for the company monthly newsletter, sent it across and switched off her laptop. She picked up her bag. Someone knocked at her cubicle.
It was Prashant. In keeping with the essence of the day, he wore a dark violet shirt teamed with beige trousers.
âHi, you leaving?â he said, smiling brightly.
Joy was Prashantâs first nature. He was that âsomeone who spreads smiles wherever he went, he didnât even have to try to be impressive.â
Trisha smiled back and nodded. Somehow she wasnât able to forget the washroom incident.
Prashant noticed something was amiss.
âYou okay?â he asked.
Trisha stood up, pushed her chair back in place and said â âYeah, am fine. Just thinking of how wrong some people can think.â
Prashant looked at her and frowned.
âThe Trisha! Thinking about what people think???! I donât believe this!â he said, mocking surprise.
This had Trisha laugh aloud.
Prashant looked intently at her.
âKeep smiling Trisha. Happy Womenâs day.â He said.
âThanks so much Prashant. Same to you.â
Prashant turned to leave. He stopped for a moment, and turned back again.
âBy the way Trisha...âhe began. There was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. âThanks for being the amazing human being that you are.â Flashing his trademark smile, he turned and walked away.
Trisha looked on, smiled, shaking her head, unable to understand the reason for this sudden statement. Then it dawned to her.
âYou are an amazing human beingâ, someone had written on a chit, for her.
The message! It was him! It was Prashant.
Trisha smiled to herself, picked her bag up, and walked away.
An inspiring story indeed! As I finished it, my thoughts went back to the day I met Trisha. Coming to think of it, I actually donât remember whether her eyebrows were in shape! I didnât even notice that. What I did notice and still remember, was Trisha â the girl, the human being. Confidence personified. True, so many of us spend so much of our valuable time judging people and ourselves, that too about things that do not even matter.
My fingers inadvertently reached out to check if there was any attachment in Trisha's email. There was! A picture of the rose Trisha had received that day during the celebrations at her office. The attachment was named â âFor You.â Thanks Trisha. I smiled.
âHappy Womenâs Day, Tiaraâ, I said to myself.
(This is a work of fiction, and is not intended to bear any resemblance with anyone in real life. Story and Image Copyrights are reserved by the author)
Do you wish you read how I met Trisha? Here is the first of the series.
It was close to 3 AM. I had been drifting on and off slumber, when I let go of trying my best to sleep. I switched on the light.
Just a couple of days back, the world celebrated International Womenâs Day. My phone was filled with messages about praises of how strong and resilient women are, how the world needs more empowered women, and how the menfolk need to prepare themselves for women who are already aware of themselves. All said and done, all I asked myself was â âDo I feel free?â
I turned my laptop on to check my inbox. A familiar ting. Trishaâs email. I smiled and opened the mail to read.
Kolkata. Durga Puja. A time when the city gets decked up with lights, and the flavour of the festivities are felt throughout peopleâs homes, neighbourhoods and their food. A few weeks prior to the festival, Trisha, armed with her DSLR, visited a particular area, popular for artisans who make idols of Goddess Durga and her children. It was around five in the evening. It had rained briefly in the afternoon, so the streets were quite mucky. The colony though, was bustling with activity.
âDidi, please move!â someone called out to Trisha from behind. She looked around to see two artisans carrying an idol of Ganesh.
âOh, sorry!â she said, as she moved to give them way.
Further on, she spotted some youngsters taking selfies and shooting portraits of each other in front of the goddesses in the making. Trisha smiled at the scene.
She walked on through the alleys, taking shots of artisans at work. She soon got engrossed, and lost track of time. Realization struck when she found herself in a deserted, narrow alley which had caught her attention because of an eerie dimly lit surrounding. She took a shot, checked it on her camera screen and sighed, satisfied at the click. As she was about to turn around, someone caught her attention. She was nearly startled.
A little girl, dressed in a white, red-bordered sari, stood smiling. There was a red bindi on her forehead. With long hair flowing upto her waist, she held a pink lotus in her hands.
Trisha looked around, and walked upto her. She looked radiant. Trisha bent and kneeled so as to face her.
âHello,â she said. âDo you stay here?â
The girl nodded vigorously, still smiling. âI was born hereâ, she said.
âI see youâre all alone. Where are your parents?â
âMy father is a rickshaw puller. You know he drinks a lot and beats up my mother. So, my grandfather has asked him to leave the house. He doesnât stay with us anymore.â
Trishaâs face hardened in a frown.
âAnd your mother?â
âShe makes idols. She sometimes helps my grandfather in his tea stall, right across the streetâ.
The smile returned on Trishaâs face.
âYou should not be here alone. Go back to your homeâ. Trisha said, softly.
The girl giggled. âI am not alone. Are you alone?â
âYeah, I came here aloneâ.
âNow youâre not. You are with me!â Pat comes a reply.
Trisha was amused at the worldly wise little girl.
âAre you scared of being here all alone?â the girl asked.
Trisha thought of joining in the playfulness.
She rolled her eyes, and said â âYeah, it is a bit scary.â
The little girl smiled, extended the lotus and touched it gently on Trishaâs heart.
âYou wonât be scared anymoreâ, she said, and even before Trisha could react, she turned and ran, soon disappearing in the indigo twilight.
Trisha rose and turned around and started to walk back. âWhat was that all about?â she said to herself.
âDidi, please move!â someone called out to Trisha from behind. She looked around to see two artisans carrying an idol of Ganesh.
âOh, sorry!â she said, as she moved to give them way, and froze. The same scene had happened a few minutes ago, right before she met the little girl. Had she been hallucinating everything that occurred in that alley?
Soon she crossed a tea stall. An old man poured tea in small earthen pots and served to customers. Instinctively, she walked upto the stall. A young woman sat beside him, and was busy preparing tea.
âChai, didi?â the old man asked. Trisha nodded. The man handed her a cup with steaming hot tea. It tasted like heaven.
âThank You.â She smiled. She glanced momentarily at the woman, and continued, âDada, I have heard so much about the woman artisans here. Is it not taboo for women to work on idol making?â
The woman looked up at Trisha.
The old man replied, âDidi, if someone does the work well, and does it with love, who are we to say No? My daughter-in-law here, she is an idol maker too. We get to export her work as well. Look at my son, he is a drunkard and he used to beat her up. I drove him out saying, go and show what you are worth. Then come back to her.â
Trisha stared at the man, speechless. Tears started to sting the corner of her eyes.
Regaining her composure, she turned to the woman. Something nudged her from within and she asked âDo you have children? What do they do?â
The womanâs face lit up. âYes, I have a daughter. I have put her in schoolâ.
âWhatâs her name?â
âDurga.â
All of a sudden, like a flash, the scenes rushed by Trishaâs mind. The little girl. The red bordered sari. The flowing hair. The red bindi. The lotus flower.
Trisha rummaged her backpack, and fished out a chocolate bar. Handing it over to the woman, she said â âHere, this is for your daughter. For Durga.â
The woman looked a bit puzzled, and then smiled and took the chocolate bar.
Trisha paid for the tea, said a âThank Youâ and resumed her walk back.
Without warning, it started to rain. People, mainly the photographers ran for cover, more to protect their cameras than themselves! Trisha swiftly opened her umbrella, and continued walking. Few steps ahead, she spotted a bright pink lotus lying on the mud. She recalled seeing a photographer shooting the portrait of a woman with a lotus in her hand sometime back. They must have dropped it. She picked up the flower, and smiled. Covered with mud, but bright and beautiful still.
The tea-stall owner was watching all this. He called out to her.
âDidi, itâs raining heavily. Youâll get drenched. Come inside.â
Trisha half-turned, smiled and said with a wink - âDada, I am not scared anymore!â
And, thatâs how Trishaâs email ended. She had attached a picture of the narrow alley, where she had encountered the little girl.
I closed my eyes and pictured myself in that scene. Suddenly the darkness felt comfortable, it was the solace of subtle freedom that filled my heart.
âI am not scared anymoreâ. I whispered to myself.
(Note : This is a work of fiction. It is not intended to resemble anyone in real life. Copyright of stories and images is reserved by the author)
What is the first thing you do when you feel thirsty? You pour yourself a glass of water and drink. Ever thought of the correlation between your need and the water? You didnât, right? Neither did I. Not until I met her.
Last December, I was holidaying with my friends in the North East of India. We were walking back after visiting a waterfall. I was walking slightly behind, stopping on my track to click pictures. The environment was divine. It was past mid-day. Birds chirped, and sunlight trickling though the foliage of the surrounding trees making it a perfect setting for a movie scene. It had rained the last night thus making the path a tad slippery. With utmost care, I treaded along the steep hilly terrain. A few steps ahead, I noticed a girl, her back towards me, taking pictures on her mobile. She also tried taking a few selfies, thatâs when I went up to her and said â âDo you want me to take a picture of yours?â
She turned to face me. She was of my height, with dark brown skin, big dark brown eyes, black crisp waves for hair. She was dressed in a grey tee, blue jeans, and wore sneakers. A beige cap sat on top of her head. She carried a trendy red sling bag. She gave me the brightest smile I had ever seen.
âSure!â she said. I took a couple of pictures for her.
âYou look like youâre travelling solo, are you?â I asked, not quite being able to hide my curiosity.
She threw her head back, laughing.
âIs that written all over my face?â
âNo, I just...â
She held her hand up, stopping me midsentence.
âYes, I am travelling alone. You?â
âWith friends, they are just a few steps aheadâ.
She nodded.
âSo what do you do?â she asked me.
I shrugged. âWell, I have just given up my job...and I am now taking a break for myself.â
âAh, exploring!â she said knowingly. âGood!â
âAnd you?â I asked her back.
âI am an observerâ.
I gave her a blank stare. Did I hear it wrong? âExplorer, did you say?â
âNo.â She looked intently at me. âYou heard me right. I observe. But you could call me an explorer too. Kind of the same thing!â
She half-laughed, half-giggled at her own joke. I simply nodded, and smiled, just because not smiling would seem rude.
She looked at my camera. âYou like taking pictures?â
I was taken aback by the sudden change of topic.
âHuh? Oh, yes, very much! I am a writer as well. In fact, I have just launched my website!â I blurted out.
âWow! Whatâs it about? Let me guess, your photography?â
âYeah!â I suddenly felt embarrassed, like I was blowing my own trumpet.
Sensing my uneasiness, she asked me the name of my website. I told her. She instantly looked up on her mobile and found it. Around a minute later, she sighed and looked back at me.
âHmmm...the main page picture â it is named as âInto the Unknownâ. Nice. You like adventure, donât you?â
âWell,â I shrugged again. âYeah, I guess so. Isnât life itself an adventure?â
She nodded. Her brows rose a bit; I think it was a look of admiration.
âYeah, so just relax and allow things to unfold. Just as you breathe in, you breathe out. You trust the process, right?â She said.
We looked at each other briefly. She was the one to break the silence.
âSo what next?â she asked.
I smiled and replied âThatâs my favourite phraseâ.
She laughed and said â âHey, I kinda like you. Would you like to do something for me, if I request you?â
âMe? What can I possibly do for you?â
âWrite my stories.â
âSorry?â I looked at her quizzically.
âYeah, I mean it. I want you to tell my stories to the world. How you wish to do it, will be your call. Donât worry, I wonât ask for credits or anything!â
I shook my head.
âWhat kind of stories?â
âMoments. Anecdotes. About life. Love. Lessons.â
âWell, I am sorry to say this, but would people read?â
She placed a hand on my shoulder. âI like your curiosity. Good, keep that up. We all need to take leaps of Faith sometime or the other. Into the Unknown, your words, remember?â
I got her point. I smiled back and nodded in agreement.
âWhy donât you share about them yourself?â I asked.
She took a deep breath, looked around at the sky above, the trees around, as if to take in the fragrant air.
âI am too busy observing, my dear. And I know youâll do a great job. You can take this as your âWhat nextâ...she winked.
âI am Tiara,â I said, extending my hand.
âTrishaâ, she said. We shook hands and exchanged email IDâs.
âLetâs go back upâ, I said to her.
âWell, you go ahead Tiara. I wish to spend some more time here, taking pictures. Go, join your friends.â
âAre you sure?â
âYeah, please!â
âIt was amazing to meet you, Trisha. Can I get a hug?â I was blunt enough, but I did say that.
We hugged for a brief moment. Some strangers, I tell you.
âJust be careful okay? Itâs quite steep in hereâ I said.
âHow does it matter, when you know youâre on the right track?â she said, softly. The twinkle in her eyes suddenly enveloped me in tranquil confidence.
We said goodbyes and parted. As I walked ahead, I felt a sudden surge of hope gushing through me. Was it the embrace? Or her smile? Or her words? I suddenly recalled I never asked her where she stayed. I stopped and turned back to ask.
She was not there.
I looked around. She was nowhere to be seen.
âTrisha!â I called out. There was no answer.
I was nearly getting worried, when her words came back to my mind.
âHow does it matter, when youâre on the right track?â
I smiled. I donât know how, but I knew she was okay.
A moment later, my phone beeped. It was her email, as if she had read my thoughts of concern that she was fine or not. The email had an attachment. It was one of the pictures that she had clicked a while back. She wrote a message â âHereâs my picture, whether you want to include it or not, how to include it, itâs your call. It is always your call.â
I walked back, smiling at the picture. She was a bit weird, somewhat like me. I was happy with the encounter. My curiosity heightened but comfortably calmed at the same time. To me, meeting Trisha was like the water that my Soul had been thirsting for, since a very long time.
(Note :- This is a work of fiction and does not mean to resemble anyone in real life. Images and story are copyright to the author.)