The Stranger

The interview sucked. Everything went bad from the word go... I had forgotten the interview call letter. I ran around for a hour in search of a internet cafe. The internet was damn slow and the printer broke while taking the printout. I waited for 2 hours for the interview to happen and when it finally happened, I hardly answered any questions. I was annoyed by the events and at my own performance. I was hurriedly walking towards the bus stop. The sky was dark and silver linings were appearing as and then. After a minute or so, the rain came down cats & dogs. The bus at the stop started moving. I ran and boarded the bus. I was half drenched. I looked out for a vacant seat. There was only one at the end of the bus. I took that seat and started wiping water from my face. I looked into the rain through the window glass and in doing so, checked the old man sitting beside me. The old man must be of around 65 years of age. He was thin, bald and was wearing a big round spectacle. The big spectacle made him look funny. His dress was simple and a cotton bag hung on his left shoulder which was now lying on his lap. He looked at me and gave me a warm smile. I was in NO mood to smile back.

"Today it is raining heavily, Don't you think?" the old man said looking at me.  I just nodded in acceptance. I wanted to sit there and sulk. I did not want to talk about rain, weather or anything. But the old man continued from where he has left. He talked how green the city was during his early days. All roads were lined with green trees, there was less traffic...on and on he went. I was not listening. He was not bothered about my disinterest in his talks. He continued talking with the same smile on his face and energy on his voice. I was lost in my own thoughts. He kept a hand on my shoulder. The sequence of my thoughts evaporated in smoke and brought an abrupt end to my day-dreaming. "Son, from which place are you from?" He repeated. "Bhubaneswar", I blurted. Ohh!!! Bhubaneswar...the land of  temples; Konark, Puri... lord Jagarnath. I had been to there for a seminar a long time back. It's a very nice place. Then he told about his job. He is an economics professor in the state university. "He did not look like a professor", I thought. He looked like a comedian with his wide smile and big spectacles. But then he made me talk and we started talking. I told him about my hometown, my family, my job. He was listening and showed every interest in whatever I spoke. He told about his family, his grandchildren and his association with an NGO. He visits the orphanage every Saturday and today he was returning from there. We talked about the orphanage and he told, you must visit it someday. The children there needs more love and care. They will be happy to see you.

The announcement made by the bus driver about the next stop, made me aware that I needed to get down at the next stop. The old man asked my phone number. He opened his cotton bag and took out an old diary. He noted down my number with bold letters. When I was getting up, the old man said... Son, I understand you are annoyed today; just thought of cheering you up. This is what I do sometime at the orphanage when the kids there have a bad day. 

I got down from the bus. It was still raining and I stood there in the rain. The big drops were falling on my face. I did not know if it was tears or rain drops which were rolling down my cheeks. That day, I just have not drenched from outside but from inside too.