A Fortuitous Night (With A Stranger)

Hayal is hungry and thirsty after a 158 km bike ride to this beautiful hill station, Nagarkot in the city of Kathmandu. Kathmandu is the country capital of Nepal, a country at the foothills of the Himalayas which is beautifully sandwiched between two culturally diverse countries India and China, and yet is known for its own significant and immaculate culture and history. By the way, while talking about the geography of the place, I have completely forgotten to talk about the main character of our story i.e., Hayal. Well, Hayal is a 21-year-old who has somehow managed to graduate from college. Hayal has never been much of a hard-working student and her grades clearly reflect the same. Hayal may have dropped out of the college in the first few days only if it hasn't been for her grandfather. No, no, it's not because of Hayal’s love for her grandfather, but rather the fear of all her sports bikes being taken away from her. Hayal loves her bikes to death and one can say even more than how much she loves her boyfriend. Oh! Sorry, I should have said her ex-boyfriend. And this brings me to Hayal's reason for this trip. Well, for everyone Hayal is heartbroken because of her breakup with her cheating boyfriend. But, in reality, this story has an entirely different angle. Hayal has never been serious about anything except her bikes in these 21 years of her life, not even her boyfriend. Both Hayal and her boyfriend have never been serious about one another. It's better to say that Hayal has been this guy's debit card (because for the credit card, you have to clear the bills later). As for Hayal, this idiotic punk has been nothing, but something to pass the time in college. This show-off couple has literally nothing to do except bunk classes, play sports, sit in the cafeteria, and if not this, just sleep in the classroom or the library. So, in essence, this breakup is nothing, but another excuse for Hayal to go on a road trip. Coming back to our starving Hayal, she somehow manages to find an eatery which in the local language is referred to as 'dhaba'. These are basically small under-the-shed restaurants that usually have self-service. When you are really starving, every little thing becomes an obstacle between you and the food. The same is happening with Hayal. Hayal gets her food, picks up her food tray, and X-ray visions the entire place for an empty seat and there ain't any. Luckily, Hayal sees a table at which a woman is peacefully eating her food, so she decides to go to that table. "Hi, there. I am sorry. There are no vacant seats. Can I sit with you?" This person says nothing and only nods once as a gesture of approval. Hayal sits, places her food on the table, puts down her backpack, and without waiting for a split-second digs in. After having a few mouthful bites, Hayal gulps down an entire glass of water and has a sigh of relief as if she has been starving for ages. This woman sitting in front of Hayal is a bit shocked seeing this. Hayal then tries to interact with this lady, saying, "Hi, my name is Hayal. I am here on vacation. What about you?" Instead of saying any words this lady looks at Hayal with an expression of 'what will you take to stop talking' on her face. Hayal embarrassingly apologizes and goes back to eating. This lady finishes first and leaves. Hayal also after clearing the bill goes around looking for a motel. Finally, Hayal finds one and goes straight for a shower right after getting in her room. After a nice, warm shower and a few hours of sound sleep, Hayal decides to look around the place so she ends up in a nearby flea market. While going through some stuff in a couple of stalls Hayal feels that there aren't many things of her interest in the market. Right when Hayal decides to go back to the motel, another conflicting thought comes into Hayal's mind i.e., 'if I go back now, I don't have anything to do, so why not explore the market a little bit more'. Hayal finally decides to go till the last stall of the flea market. Around about when the market is about to end, Hayal sees a few bikers in the nearby ground chit-chatting and this instantly lights a bulb in Hayal's mind. "Surely, the market may not have anything of interest, but it has definitely led me to some people who are of interest." Hayal starts to walk towards the park when she mistakenly bumps into a lady making her things fall on the ground. Hayal immediately helps this lady. While helping the lady pick her things, Hayal sees this lady's face and goes like, "Oh! It's you again. Now we have met twice, so can I have your name?" This is the same woman with whom Hayal has shared a table a few hours back in that eatery. This lady ignores this, takes her stuff from Hayal, and goes on her way. Hayal is taken aback, but she still follows the lady. "Hey, hey. What was that? I was just asking your name?" This lady stands mum for a second and Hayal gets it that the lady doesn't want to talk to her. So, Hayal compromises and says, "You don't want to tell your name, it's fine. But, if we ever meet again, I am not gonna let you go without getting to know your name." After this one-sided conversation, both go their separate ways. Hayal then goes to the park to meet these bike racers. After interacting for some time, Hayal races with these guys. Seeing Hayal's skill set, these guys are in total awe. And this is how Hayal ends up being friends with these guys. After racing with those guys, Hayal comes back to the motel. When Hayal is going up the stairs to her room, she bumps into another person. Luckily, the impact isn't much, so nobody falls down the stairs. This person right away apologizes and goes like, "Sorry, sorry. It's my bad. I was in a rush." Hayal picks up this person's mobile from the stairs, saying, "It's okay. This can happen to anybody." This person without even looking at Hayal's face, takes her phone and turns to leave from there. The moment Hayal realizes that this person is the same woman she has been meaning to know about, Hayal goes like, "Wow. Now, you have to tell me your name." This lady in confusion asks, "Huh? Excuse me." Now, this woman looks up and realizes it's the same girl she bumped into at the flea market and shared a table with while eating in the eatery. "I am sorry. Can you please let go of my hand? I am in a bit of a rush." "I won't unless you give me your name." This woman tries to make Hayal let go of her hand, but can't. After a sigh of frustration, this woman goes like, " Okay, fine. It's Anisha." Hearing this, Hayal straight away lets go of Anisha's hand, but Anisha doesn't realize it. So, Anisha yells at Hayal, "I said my name is Anisha. Can you leave my hand now?" Hayal smiles and says nothing. Using her eyes, Hayal gestures to Anisha to look at her hand as Hayal has already let go of it. Anisha is slightly embarrassed, but before any of them can give any sort of reaction to what just happened, Anisha is already gone. Hayal then turns to go up to her room. After taking only two steps, Hayal smiles and slightly hits the back of her head. Hayal subsequently instead of going up, goes down the stairs. Hayal is now sitting on the sofa placed near the reception waiting for Anisha to come back. The moment Anisha comes back, she sees Hayal sitting near the reception doing something on her phone. Anisha ignores this and goes towards the staircase. Hayal immediately runs to Anisha, asking, "Are you hungry?" Anisha's expressions show that she is getting irritated, and so she scolds Hayal, saying, "Listen, girl! I don't know what you are playing at, but please stop bothering me." Hayal takes Anisha's hand and drags her out of the motel. Anisha keeps resisting, but Hayal doesn't pay any heed to it. Finally, when Hayal stops outside a restaurant near the motel, Anisha yanks her hand out of Hayal's grip, yelling, "What is wrong with you, girl?" "This girl has a name and it's Hayal." "Whatever your name is..." "Hayal. Anisha, it's Hayal." "Okay, fine. Miss Hayal..." Hayal again interrupts, saying, "Hayal Erçel." Anisha clenches her teeth in annoyance and asks, "So Miss Hayal Erçel, what do you want from me?" "Nothing much. I want to eat with you." Anisha rolls her eyes and says, "And, why should I entertain such a request from a stranger?" "Because this stranger wants to be friends with you." "Sorry, I'm not interested." And Anisha turns to leave, but Hayal holds Anisha's hand from behind. Seeing Anisha’s glaring eyes, Hayal right away lets go of Anisha’s hand, and in a slightly requesting tone, goes like, "Okay, okay. Just have a meal with me and I won't bother you anymore, Anisha." "But I am not hungry." "Okay, fair enough. How about you just give me company while I eat?" After arguing for this long, Anisha realizes that Hayal won't let her go off so easily. So, Anisha finally agrees to join Hayal for a meal. Hayal peacefully eats her meal while constantly stealing glances at Anisha who is sitting right in front of Hayal doing something on the phone. Once Hayal is done, she clears the bill and comes out of the restaurant with Anisha. Hayal then turns to Anisha and says, "As promised, I won't bother you now. From here you can go wherever you want." Anisha is a bit puzzled, so she asks Hayal, "Aren't you gonna go back to the motel? You are also staying in the same motel, right?" Hayal laughs and asks, "Do you want me to tag along? (Seeing Anisha swaying her head as a gesture of saying no, Hayal further says,) Don't worry as I won't follow you. I need a smoke. So, you go ahead." Anisha goes from there. Then, Hayal pulls out a cigarette and puts it in her mouth. After taking two drags, Hayal throws the cigarette on the ground and stubs it with her boot. Without missing a beat, Hayal hurries to catch up with Anisha. "Woah... I thought you needed a smoke." "No, Anisha. Actually, I didn't want to make you uncomfortable, so I made the excuse." Anisha smiles and says nothing, but thinks to herself, "Such a liar. I saw you smoke and besides you even have the smell of cigarettes on you." Anisha doesn't say this out loud because she doesn't want Hayal to know that even after leaving from there she has turned a few times to check on Hayal. And also, no one knows what Hayal would make out of that. Hayal keeps walking next to Anisha till they arrive at the motel entrance and at that point, Anisha says, "Good night." Further Anisha goes towards the staircase and Hayal follows her. Hayal keeps following Anisha through the stairs, corridor, and all the way to Anisha’s room. Up until now Anisha doesn’t say anything, but now she turns and shouts at Hayal, “You said you won’t bother me, but you keep following me.” Hayal takes a step back and raises her hand as a gesture of surrender, meaning, “Hey, I mean no harm.” Hayal says nothing and simply pulls out the key from her pocket and unlocks the door next to Anisha’s. Hayal goes inside the room and closes the door behind her. Anisha feels slightly embarrassed. Here, in Hayal’s room, Hayal has a great time giggling and laughing while remembering Anisha’s flustered face. The next morning, well it isn’t a proper morning yet, Anisha hears someone knocking at her door. Anisha in a half-sleep state opens the door and it’s Hayal. While rubbing her eyes Anisha asks, “What do you want at this hour?” Hayal pushes the door open and gets inside Anisha’s room. “Wait, wait, what is wrong with you now? Didn’t you promise that you won’t disturb me anymore?” “That was for yesterday, Anisha. Today is a new day.” Anisha is still not fully awake yet, but hearing Hayal's answer and seeing Hayal go through Anisha's luggage like that opens Anisha's eyes wide awake. "What are you doing? What do you want?" "Picking clothes for you, Anisha." "Huh? But, why?" "To go out." Hayal's answers keep adding to Anisha's frustration. Anisha has had enough, so she holds Hayal by her arms and shakes her, going like, "What do you want? What's your concern? See girl! I am not at all interested in doing anything with you. So please, leave me alone." Hearing Anisha plead like that, Hayal in a serious tone tells Anisha, "Okay. Fine. See Anisha, I wanted to be friends with you. But, as you are so reluctant, let's try a deal." "What deal? See girl! I have already said, I don't want to have anything with you." "Listen to me first, Anisha." Though unwilling, Anisha agrees to listen to Hayal. "Come to this place with me and then you can do whatever you want. And before you say anything, I promise it won't be like last time. This will be the last time I bother you." Anisha doesn't want to entertain Hayal at all. But somehow, by going against her better judgment, Anisha agrees with Hayal and tells her, "Give me some time to get dressed. Can you wait for me downstairs?" "Sure. Please, dress a bit warmly." And, Hayal leaves. Anisha puts on jeans and a blue jacket before coming out of the motel. When Hayal sees Anisha, she comes to her. "Give me your hands, Anisha." Anisha shows her right hand and then Hayal smiles saying, "Both hands, silly."