I was in the window seat of the last row in the economy class. Outside, a stream of lights flickered like fireflies. I knew I was taking a leap of faith. Hopefully there would be no regrets.
She had the aisle seat and was deeply engrossed in Hemmingway. I looked at her face, trying to read her story. She shifted in her seat with great difficulty; it was quite evident she was in pain. With what, I couldn’t really figure out. I shifted restlessly during the flight too; for they make me very uncomfortable. So I followed my usual routine - just plugged in my ipod and dozed off.
I must have done that for quite some time, because I woke as the airplane touched the ground. I usually rush out as soon as the flight lands, hating to be confined to a closed space. Today I couldn’t. So I just waited patiently, giving her the time she needed to vacate. She was hesitant and asked me if I was in a hurry to leave. I wasn't. She wanted to wait till everyone had left; I was okay with it.
Arushi from Lucknow, she introduced herself. She had a bad case of spinal cord dislocation, which made movement painful. Strain from work, she told me. The doctor had advised her complete rest. This trip to Mumbai was to wind up work commitments.
In the ten-minute conversation that I had with her, I discovered that Arushi and I shared quite a few things – a love for literature and the rains, a deep fascination with the ordinary, everyday things and the constant hunt for the extraordinary stories wrapped within. Oh, she too had dreams.
We exchanged numbers over a cup of coffee, hoping to keep in touch. The long taxi ride was worth it too (my friend was generous enough to take a detour, to drop her on our way). She spoke passionately about how she was living her dreams every day and that this was but a temporary pause. Her eyes lit up as she talked and I could see my aspirations come alive in them.
As I waved her goodbye, I felt a deep sense of calm within. I had just befriended the city of dreams.
