I'm not even sure if that is his name. That's what it appeared like, through my sleep laden eyes, and through the small note he left for me between the pages of a magazine he sneaked out of the Business class to keep me company on my long lay-off.
So, Reigh.
Why Reigh?
Because Reigh is the most favorite stranger on the most significant days of my life, as yet. The most significant days implying to entire Boston episode that surprised out of the blue, that wooed me, and that which has left me overwhelmingly obsessed- in commonplace things, people and thoughts. Off late, it is easier for me to write about people, in every detail, probably because they've showered me with love, warmth, pain, disgust & several other intense emotions of the kind. To write about the little adorable nuances they portray; sometimes out of admiration, at times out of the sheer beautiful moment they provide the world with unknowingly. I've mentioned about this human in my Boston posts, however, this day, the human deserves to be written about in detail- one of the most exciting aspects being that probably he never gets to read this.
As against my expectations of having to board a fully packed flight, it was not so. So much so that, there were at the most one passenger per row. Amidst this, amidst the disappointment of possibly missing out on a good conversation with the fellow passengers, amidst the final moments of me not being home, amidst all the thoughts my head buzzed with, there was Reigh.
Ever so charming, with his signature wink after every sentence he spoke. Ever so intriguing on how there was always a little something left to be said by him, but he chose not to, and would anyway come back minutes later, to resume. This was his first nuance. After a couple of introductions on whether I was going home for a vacation or to visit someone and so on, he had to get back to work.
Moments later, he would come back. Again, with a set of different questions, always starting with the last question he would have previously asked, and yet, yet I would answer, hiding my smile on identifying the same. It was as if he knew, he knew that I craved for a conversation for the long time ahead up above.
Srilanka, India, languages, colors, dusk-dawn, the eyebrow, the accent he wished he had, dusky skin & how it was breathtaking to him- and, well, the women (fellow crew members & their fake cough) had to interrupt our excessively giggle filled conversation. " I have to get back to work, else I might get into trouble. " he said. I nodded in agreement. Now, finding solace in finally deciding to check upon the movie list. Lootera, it was. Only to sigh that it was from the book I read years ago, I have no memory of when. Mid way, Reigh comes back again. Probably done with his work for a while, probably after asking his colleagues to stay put and not interrupt. It could be anything, let it be something absolutely beautiful, for me, isn't it?
Next followed, some more talks. On how I should go back to Boston. On how I should never cut my hair short. On how I should continue travelling alone, more & far (oh dear Reigh, as much I love it, a company to travel would be the next best thing on earth, after that charm of yours.)
" You should come to Berlin. Not visit, but come! "
Why so, except ofcourse of the beauty it has to offer?
" That's where I am from. That's where I live. That's where we should meet again. "
( he said it with such grace, I could only smile and nod)
" You're absolutely gorgeous. I had to talk to you. Do not think of me as a jerk. " he laughed.
Don't worry about it, I said. (still smiling)
He had to get back to work again. The next conversation was on why I didn't want any alcohol, on questioning whether that is why I was, the way I was, (only he knows whatever he meant). Some more happiness and the world's best dessert later, I only looked below. To the constant lover of mine, to the sky, the clouds and all the thoughts. Followed by some more interrupted but well resumed talks.
The moment I had to leave, leave from the moment, from the flight, from Reigh,
he came running towards me. Handing over a magazine, he said-
" This is from the business class. I would have stayed with you if not for my tight schedule. But this should keep you company. You have a good life. And please, come back to Berlin. "
That is how he bid me goodbye.
Have a good life.
Never have I met anyone for such a short time, known someone so much, none have told me to have a 'good-life'. Like a reassurance, that we might not meet again. But immediately followed by a sentence, to have me back. To see me back. To have this moment back.
I'm having a good life, Reigh.
I will never forget you, that not so busy flight, your fellow crew members, and most importantly, the message you left me in the pages of that magazine. That magazine that still sits on my table, beneath the book from my Eyptian lovely and a book from Appa, given to me many many years ago.
Thank you for being you, Reigh!
© Deekshita Srinivas)
( hurrying up to go to the terrace, hurrying up to not let my coffee cool, smiling because- MOMENTS! )
So, Reigh.
Why Reigh?
Because Reigh is the most favorite stranger on the most significant days of my life, as yet. The most significant days implying to entire Boston episode that surprised out of the blue, that wooed me, and that which has left me overwhelmingly obsessed- in commonplace things, people and thoughts. Off late, it is easier for me to write about people, in every detail, probably because they've showered me with love, warmth, pain, disgust & several other intense emotions of the kind. To write about the little adorable nuances they portray; sometimes out of admiration, at times out of the sheer beautiful moment they provide the world with unknowingly. I've mentioned about this human in my Boston posts, however, this day, the human deserves to be written about in detail- one of the most exciting aspects being that probably he never gets to read this.
As against my expectations of having to board a fully packed flight, it was not so. So much so that, there were at the most one passenger per row. Amidst this, amidst the disappointment of possibly missing out on a good conversation with the fellow passengers, amidst the final moments of me not being home, amidst all the thoughts my head buzzed with, there was Reigh.
Ever so charming, with his signature wink after every sentence he spoke. Ever so intriguing on how there was always a little something left to be said by him, but he chose not to, and would anyway come back minutes later, to resume. This was his first nuance. After a couple of introductions on whether I was going home for a vacation or to visit someone and so on, he had to get back to work.
Moments later, he would come back. Again, with a set of different questions, always starting with the last question he would have previously asked, and yet, yet I would answer, hiding my smile on identifying the same. It was as if he knew, he knew that I craved for a conversation for the long time ahead up above.
Srilanka, India, languages, colors, dusk-dawn, the eyebrow, the accent he wished he had, dusky skin & how it was breathtaking to him- and, well, the women (fellow crew members & their fake cough) had to interrupt our excessively giggle filled conversation. " I have to get back to work, else I might get into trouble. " he said. I nodded in agreement. Now, finding solace in finally deciding to check upon the movie list. Lootera, it was. Only to sigh that it was from the book I read years ago, I have no memory of when. Mid way, Reigh comes back again. Probably done with his work for a while, probably after asking his colleagues to stay put and not interrupt. It could be anything, let it be something absolutely beautiful, for me, isn't it?
Next followed, some more talks. On how I should go back to Boston. On how I should never cut my hair short. On how I should continue travelling alone, more & far (oh dear Reigh, as much I love it, a company to travel would be the next best thing on earth, after that charm of yours.)
" You should come to Berlin. Not visit, but come! "
Why so, except ofcourse of the beauty it has to offer?
" That's where I am from. That's where I live. That's where we should meet again. "
( he said it with such grace, I could only smile and nod)
" You're absolutely gorgeous. I had to talk to you. Do not think of me as a jerk. " he laughed.
Don't worry about it, I said. (still smiling)
He had to get back to work again. The next conversation was on why I didn't want any alcohol, on questioning whether that is why I was, the way I was, (only he knows whatever he meant). Some more happiness and the world's best dessert later, I only looked below. To the constant lover of mine, to the sky, the clouds and all the thoughts. Followed by some more interrupted but well resumed talks.
The moment I had to leave, leave from the moment, from the flight, from Reigh,
he came running towards me. Handing over a magazine, he said-
" This is from the business class. I would have stayed with you if not for my tight schedule. But this should keep you company. You have a good life. And please, come back to Berlin. "
That is how he bid me goodbye.
Have a good life.
Never have I met anyone for such a short time, known someone so much, none have told me to have a 'good-life'. Like a reassurance, that we might not meet again. But immediately followed by a sentence, to have me back. To see me back. To have this moment back.
I'm having a good life, Reigh.
I will never forget you, that not so busy flight, your fellow crew members, and most importantly, the message you left me in the pages of that magazine. That magazine that still sits on my table, beneath the book from my Eyptian lovely and a book from Appa, given to me many many years ago.
Thank you for being you, Reigh!
© Deekshita Srinivas)
( hurrying up to go to the terrace, hurrying up to not let my coffee cool, smiling because- MOMENTS! )