Choices! What will it be? #80

On 10th October 2010, I was in Bangalore when I got a call from my younger brother informing me that my father had passed away. I was shocked because I had a long conversation with him only a few hours ago.

  
I packed my bags to attend my father's last rites. I immediately booked the first flight, which was at 6 am, and my father's last rites were scheduled for 11 am, and I was supposed to do it being the eldest son.

One of my friends offered to drop me off at the airport on his bike, but I refused because the weather was too cold and the airport was more than 50 km from my home. I booked a cab to pick me up at 3 am and reached the airport, but it was a cold morning, so I started sneezing. I had a cup of coffee after check-in and waited for boarding.

The plane was on time. I sat in my seat, where a man was already seated who greeted me with a smile. I kept my bag and exchanged smiles.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

I felt like sneezing again, and he asked me, "Are you feeling cold?"

When I said yes, he gave me a Coldarin, which is a common tablet for colds, and I took it and felt it was nice to get help from a stranger. We talked to each other and exchanged pleasantries.

Then we were formally introduced. He told me he was a senior manager from Mumbai going to Delhi, where he was to attend a meeting. We soon developed a friendly relationship.

During that two-hour trip, we shared a lot about our lives, especially because he was also a corporate worker like me. When I told him about my father's death, he probably felt the pain in my eyes.

During the conversation, I found comfort in sharing personal stories about my father's death and my family. This made him emotional, and he held my hand and gave me his shoulder to lean on, where I even fell asleep for a few minutes.

After a while, he encouraged me to focus on myself and act on my desires. An unspoken connection, a sense of trust, was developing between us. Time passed, and with an hour left, I wished I could spend some more time with this stranger.

Suddenly he asked, “It feels like this journey together is a coincidence. Are we getting closer?” His statement shocked me. I confessed, and I felt we were perfect for each other. He asked if we could meet again.

Out of curiosity, I asked if he would stay in Delhi for a few days. He smiled, avoiding a direct answer. When I was ready to land, I asked to exchange numbers.

He jotted down my number in a notebook. I had not switched on my phone yet, so I wrote his number on the boarding ticket. When we were leaving the airport, he said, "Forget the past because that was all you and your father had to live together.

I said, "I will be free tomorrow, and I will wait for your call."

Then I asked him when he would call. He said, "Tomorrow at 8 p.m. sharp."

I said okay, then he said something very strange. He said, "If he is still alive."

I found his words strange, so I asked him, "What do you mean, why won't you be alive till tomorrow?"

He didn't answer but gave me a very strange smile.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

Sitting in the cab, I felt that I had had a good time with him, and as he had given me hope that everything would be fine, I felt a new hope when I reached my destination. I bid my last farewell to my father at the crematorium, and then I got busy talking with my loved ones.

This stranger whom I barely knew and some of his behavior was bothering me. But I thought I was tense because I had to attend my father's funeral. I thought he was a nice person who helped me in my tough times and consoled me.

The next day at 8 pm, I was eagerly waiting for his call. But several days passed without any communication. Every time a call came on my phone, I expected it to be him.

He didn't call and then I forgot about him and came back to Bangalore. Suddenly one day, when I was checking my bag, I saw my boarding pass on which the stranger's number was written, so I dialed his phone number. After ringing for some time, the reply I got was from a lady. I asked her if this number was of Bidaan.

The lady said, "Yes, this is her husband Bidaan's number, but Bidaan is no more in this world."

I was surprised because I met him only last week and he was in perfect health.

I asked the lady, "What happened to him?"

She told me that he had died of a heart attack on the flight from Bangalore to Delhi about two months ago. Then she asked about me. I was confused, so I expressed my sorrow and disconnected the call.

I can't deny that he had eased my depression to some extent during that trip, and his influence remained in my thoughts. I sometimes wonder if he was just a dream or an imaginary person, yet his words consoled me during my rough time.

Despite the uncertainty, I have come to accept that Bidan's mysterious presence profoundly affected me and taught me invaluable lessons. I remember his voice, face, and smile, and in a way, they succeeded in reaching the depths only trained psychologists would reach.

The question remains to date, "Did I meet him?"

I was very uncertain and had many doubtful thoughts running through my mind. However, I thought it was one of those strange incidents that I have gone through in my life. But I believe that sometimes such incidents give meaning to our lives.

I invite @senehasa, @tammanna, and @eliany to join this interesting contest

Beneficiary @steemladies