The 'Passing Cloud' One

Life is a travel. 'This will pass too' hangs on the air. You are not the same you ever again. So are the people you meet. The 'passing cloud' ones are the brief ones but they leave a memory etched on your heart. Or I am just articulating the polite version of One-night-stands and One-week-stands. These ones leave you with suspense - should you have pursued that one? were you too afraid to risk it? Was he be the one?

Traveling alone is my type of quality time. During this period it's not about the destination but the journey. Right from the airport's security every single person on the way is a find - is a destination. When you strike a conversation with a fellow passenger you get a visa into their world & experiences. For some reason, it is much easier to talk to strangers. I probably think because there is nothing at stake. They could switch seats at the maximum. One could get over it easily.

On one such travel, She met Him. Yes, time for some based-on-true-story part. He was a co-passenger, after a vivid turbulence, she felt his gaze on him. She felt weird. But he said what she wanted to hear. Despite the stranger anxiety, she felt special. It was as close as it can get to the damsel in distress and the white knight situation. They smiled which lead to a conversation. The conversation grew into lunch at a romantic restaurant during their transit. All within the safe walls and scrutinizing eyes of CCTV camera - an odd way to feel safe and special. He had everything she wanted - good manners, fun to be with, well built, brown, rich. But that uneasiness of liking a person she met hours ago prevailed. As they reached the destination, she got his Facebook id and waved bye. Now and then she checks his relationship status but never did she have the guts to send a friendship request.

What was wrong with him? Is time important in deciding the one you love? If its an obvious yes, whatever happened to love at first sight. For all she knew, he could be a white liar who trafficked women to lead a nice lifestyle. If she wanted to get to know him, she could have sent a request and may be scheduled to meet him later. That would have been a way of paying the time factor an attention. But again what about the possibility of him being an underground guy? However, there existed another welcoming possibility, what if there were better ones out there with a clearer, less uncertain profile?

She travelled again and this time happened to be transited at the same airport. Sentimentally, she got seated at the same table alone and ordered a club sandwich. As she was prepping for a wave of nostalgia, a voice from behind asked if she minded if he sat with her. Oh Not at all! He was tall with deep dark brown eyes and a very (very) well groomed beard. They talked, laughed, shared food and shopped at the duty free till it was time for her check in. This time she didn't get his Facebook id.

She had come to face the reality that she wouldn't be needing it after all. As she boarded her last flight to home, there was another guy. He was helping an old woman find her seat, which happened to be adjacent to her (accidentally) and quickly through a glance at her. She suddenly felt like the girl in the cross road commercial. He was different from others that most of his conversation was with the Granny but aimed at her. She couldn't help but smile to herself. As they were about to leave, an immigration form dropped into her lap (accidentally). It said Call me '9945673485'. She dropped it without a second glance, smiled at the guy and walked out of the airport.