Solitary Travellers

She met him on a cruise on her way to someplace she didn’t remember or didn’t care to remember anymore. Many would easily pass her off as a person whose beauty delights the eyes. But her eyes didn’t delight anyone because when they looked into them, they seemed to be looking past them and their self-righteousness, making her smug and others diminutive.

His was a face with features hardened with time but spoke of kindness. You would look at him and his dapper attire and make a conjecture if he was a rich fool or just a man with taste for finer things.

“Hello” he said in his domineering voice

She turned around sharply, not because the tone demanded her attention but she remembered how small was the number of people she really knew and threw a nonchalant glance at him which was penetrating in its own way, perusing and making an estimate of his intentions. To some it would seem to be another casual exchange of pleasantries between two strangers on a voyage but an entire season must have arrived and left before she replied “Hey”

“Are you too travelling alone Miss? “ he asked attempting a conversation

“ Ahh well, I thought we all were. Travelling alone.” Replied she with a smirk, realizing somewhere inside that this coldness was uncalled for. But if you would have known her better, you would know why she thwarted any such attempts which threatened to leave her picking up the broken pieces again.

A simple and honest being would have shied away from her giving a damn about her pretentious self but he only looked her in the eye and said with a perfunctory grin “ Yes, I believe we all are travelling alone. Together.”

She smiled hesitantly, the kind which rests on the lips and does not reach the eyes. She craned her neck to look up at the cloudy sky which was threatening to bring down a catastrophe any moment.

“Shall we talk about the we-e-eather then?” drawled he

The response was only a raised eyebrow.

“You know, if it wasn’t for weather, strangers and acquaintances would have always remained the same, strangers and acquaintances. It brings people together.” He smoothly replied

This time she chuckled softly because she felt she could like him a little and the rest of the evening was spent listening to the pittar pattar of rain by a small window in a dimly lit restaurant. But the evening had made them realize that they had more in common than they would have thought. What they talked about is not worth mentioning, it’s enough to know that what one talked about was enjoyed and debated by the other.

When it was time for goodbyes, he asked “So, when can we meet again to discuss the weather?” with a brief benevolent laugh

For a little while she kept on looking at him, trying to put together some words that would make for an apt response to the proposal. It was not that she didn’t like the prospect of having a companion to share the trivialities of life with. She feared she liked him too much to part ways someday. Drawing a deep breath she said “There have been estranged lovers aplenty. Maybe this time I could do with a friend” with an imploring glance.

He looked down for a moment. Looking up, he turned his gaze at her and studied her face fondly, she looked resplendent and radiant in the morning sun but there was something amiss. He nodded and gave her a reassuring grin. In response, she smiled and this time her smile reached her eyes too.