The crowded place had a few murmurs beneath the dead silence of the day. I watched around, no one seemed familiar at all. A few were busy with themselves, while the others either didn't care at all to hold any conversation with the people next to them. Everyone seemed quite busy in their own land of thoughts. As though they have been building a whole new story in their mind. I struggled somehow to deal with the blank page of the spiral bound diary I mostly carried on my way through the busy metro.
The station reached as a few of them got down. I wondered why I was busy watching them get out and get into the running engine. However by then too, I couldn't write a single word except for the date on the blank sheet of paper. My mind wasn't empty though. You won't believe when I confess that there was a huge traffic of thoughts, which were somehow the reason why I couldn't even jot down a word.
My mind diverted as I shut down the diary. I set my gaze away through the window. The soft breeze was making my open strands of hairs tangle up, I didn't care. I desperately searched for a story to write on. In fact, I had a story in my mind but it won't come up,
"Excuse me" a voice caught my attention.
I turned around to find a guy next to me. He looked a bit younger to me, a wheatish complexion with a pleasant smile to ponder over.
"Yes" I answered handling my hairs as I tucked them behind my ear
"Actually my granny came with me, she needs help to stand up when she is seated, can you please.." he stopped but I knew what he meant.
I looked at his direction. An old lady in a saree smiled at me as she sat comfortably in one of those seats.
"Sure, anyways I will be getting down at the next station itself"
"Thank you so much" the boy smiled as the metro stopped. I walked closer to the lady as she smiled and stood up with my support. I was happy to help her out. It felt like I was in some kind of peace, that peace when you are happy with the fact of helping someone who needs you.
I got off along with the lady and that boy. She sat down over the bench for some time feeling tired as he rushed to get a water bottle. I took a seat near her as she spoke up for the first time in those few minutes,
"What's your name?" she smiled
"I am Aradhya" I answered
"Nice name, that boy, he is my grandson, his mother's name was Aradhya my daughter," she said. I could see her eyes tracing his presence who stood at a distance and smiled at his grandmother.
"Oh, I see" I answered as she turned to me
"He has no one but just me in his life now, both his parents passed away last month, " she said with utmost pain reflecting through her voice.
"I am so sorry to hear this" I was shocked.
Soon he was back. He smiled giving her the bottle and smiled,
"She spoke of the tale again right? I am Arav, its been a year she lost my mom and her daughter since then she lost her memory. Nevermind, thanks for the help I am grateful. Bye.."
He smiled and left. I sighed. Indeed everyone has a story to say. Some like me express it through words while others lose it this way. I watched them go away as he was talking to his granny all along the way. A smile crossed my lips that very moment. Where the messy me was trying to find a story, these two people made me understand what actually the word "SONDER" means...
It can make you have a story, just a minute gaze is required..