The wind hurried through the window kissing her curls.The lush strectches of land outside the moving train was like a false hope duping her to the world of forgetfulness.The cold wintry December afternoon seemed to be pale and foreign to her.
Gazing out from the window,she recalled all the things that had been going on in her life.The prolonged trial of her brother in the court,her job demanding more attention,her turbulent financial situation,her recent break up, everything came haunting like some uninvited nightmare.All she wanted was a little tranquility,a promise of hope,a ray of sunshine.
She had never imagined her life to be taking some of the most critical lessons of her life and she like a shattered warrior somehow struggled hard to wage every war with courage.She knew she was tired and lost.She remembered the carefree days of her life when she lived protected with her parents.She also remembered how one day a group of burglars broke into their house and destroyed her whole life.The incident of that day still creates ripples in her soul when she saw her parents dying in front of her eyes and her younger brother stabbing one of them in rage.
Since then she had been fighting the worst things one could imagine.Her nearest ones were the first to leave.She had seen the friendly eyes of her neighbours exhibiting disgust, warm friendships turning into bitter indifference.She sometimes questioned herself to what extent was God going to take her tests. She sometimes wanted to confide in someone, to be able to trust someone again, to speak her heart out and be vulnerable.
Just when she was wondering about her fate, when her eyes started to flood she didn't realize,she only realized it when she found a gentle tap on her shoulder and turning back she found a young man offering her his handkerchief.She refused but he offered again and this time she couldn't reject him.She thanked him and looked out of the window.The young man now came and sat in the opposite seat facing her.
Casually he asked-"Work?" She nodded disinterested to talk much.But the young man seemed to have made up his mind to engage in a conversation and thus stated-"It's good to cry,it relieves us of pain, burden and turmoil.I too shed tears in solitude sometimes." She was startled by the words and replied-"What if being strong is the only option left for you?" He smiled and said-"Then lady let me tell you,you have an ocean inside you.Let it roar sometimes."
A few hours passed and soon it got dark,the compartment was now almost desolate,there were hardly a few passengers who were all asleep.The young man too prepared to sleep.She was lost in the thoughts of meeting his brother after so long.She opened her bag and took out the sweater she had knitted for her brother.She carefully kept it aside and took out her diary to scribble.The young man said-" Lady,do you intend to sleep at all? Or are you a poet romanticizing about the night?" To this she smiled and the man said-" So you smile? I thought you are an expert at shedding tears.Well I must say that you look more pretty smiling."She said-" Sometimes life gives you immense reasons to feel sad."
To this he said-"Then lady search for that one Reason to make you happy.By the way where are you going? In pursuit of happiness?"
She replied in nod.
He said-" I am going to meet my destiny."
She was startled and before she could say a word he said-" Look, I don't know what life holds for me but I am still smiling.I have been through hell but I still believe in heaven. I don't know if I would be breathing in liberty but see I am smiling in joy today." She felt like confiding in him all his fears, worries and troubles.Before he could move,she went towards him and hugged him.He held her tightly in his arms.She knew it was wrong but it felt so right.Slowly her lips met his and soon the passion of their hearts made the cold winter night homely and warm.
First time in all these years she woke up Happy and felt light.Her eyes looked around everywhere to find the young man who seemed to make her world appear so colorful with his presence.But she couldn't find him.Her destination arrived and she knew she had to get down.But while heading towards the court she was wondering about the previous night and the young man who happened to touch her soul.
Her brother's innocent face made her forget everything else.Before she could have spoken anything,her lawyer informed her-" I guess destiny seems to have shown her mercy on you and we have one of the men from that night who has confessed his crime.Your brother will be free soon." While walking into the courtroom she was startled to find the young man standing at the witness box ready for accepting his destiny.She froze but her lawyer said-"There's the man,who could say,that innocent face could dream about committing such a shameful crime."