A Strange Meeting

“Do you know what’s wrong with the world today?” I asked him, breaking the silence. He seemed slightly taken aback and looked around for a while before he realized I was talking to him. He opened his mouth to answer but changed his mind at the last minute and just shook his head.

It was very unlike me to be talking to a complete stranger, a random guy sitting next to me in the park. But for the first time in my life I didn’t care. He didn’t know me. He wouldn’t judge me. He might just think that I’m insane; but it’s not like I’m ever going to meet him again in any case! And besides, I had no one else to talk to. Or should I say no one else who would listen to me.

“Everything is a lie. Everyday is a lie. Look at all these people around you. See that man running there? He looks confident and smart right? The kind of person who is in control. But I’ll bet he is looking over his shoulder and wondering if anyone can see through his charade. See that woman on the phone? The one who is smiling? I’m sure there is a lie behind that smile. Look at them! Each one appears so happy, so content and secure. But if you can look through them, you’ll realize that each one is thinking about how miserable his or her life is. Each one is trying to deal with his fallacies, his limitations but each one puts up this façade of confidence. We all go through the rigours of life pretending to be happy so that no one sees that we are vulnerable. It’s all one big lie I tell you!”

He looked straight into my eyes and listened intently as I kept ranting away. I had to admit, it felt nice to have someone to open up to. Even if it was someone I didn’t know. Atleast this guy didn’t get up and walk away like the others.

“You know, we kid ourselves into believing we are something we are not. And then we spend out whole lives trying to live up to that. We…I…I made myself believe that I had talent and potential and that I was going to make it big. Sadly at some point reality always catches up with you. And there it stands with a sadistic smile all set to brutally murder your make-believe world.”

He wasn’t that bad looking. His rimless glasses and immaculate attire gave him a very sophisticated look. His intense brown eyes had this intriguing aura to it. It was almost as if he could see right into your soul.

“I thought I could write. Everyone besides me doesn’t seem to think so. I’m pretty much a failure. Not a single thing I have written has ever been published; another day, another rejection. And it is strange because I always believed that this is what I was meant to do, you know. Writing was my purpose, my mission in life. Do you believe we all come into this world with a pre-destined mission? That there is a reason for our existence? Have you found your purpose in life?”

He shifted a little and cleared his throat. Suddenly he seemed ill at ease.

“Oh! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to pry. It is none of my business is it? I guess I got carried away. I…I….I should be heading now. Thank you for listening to me. And I didn’t mean to tell you my sob story and disturb you. It all just…came out. I feel so much better right now, just having someone to listen to me. Thank you…You have no idea how grateful I am…I’ll never forget you...I don’t even know your name. What’s….Actually never mind, it is probably better like this. Goodbye.”

I stood up and turned my back towards him. I let out a sigh and took a few tentative steps. I smiled for no apparent reason and continued walking. Suddenly I stopped to take one last look at my silent, mysterious farishta. I turned around and saw him get up. He walked into the crowds and the last thing I remember seeing before being thrown backwards was his body exploding as a huge blast ripped through the park.