The bus companion

It happened several years ago but it was significant enough that I still remember this incident as if it happened yesterday. I used to take the office transport to commute to my office. There would be a "barely operational" bus which would take me to and fro. I was required to wait at a designated spot at the highway where the bus would pick me. My halt was one of the most used one where other colleagues would also board the bus. I being a quiet person would not speak with them much asides discussing if they knew where the bus was stuck.

One day a very unusual incident occurred. One of my colleagues was carrying many bags. I knew him by face but I had never spoken to him. I saw that he was struggling to hold the bags and a couple of bags were about to fall. I sensed it and like a seasoned cricketer I caught the falling bags before they hit the ground. The man thanked me and introduced himself as D. I too introduced myself and helped him by carrying a few bags for him. That day onwards we started speaking with each other.

D was an engineer. When we spoke I would ask him about his work, profile, and other professional details (this is my way of telling that I do not wish to go beyond a sinple professional friendship). Whereas D would ask more personal questions to me like my family, what I do on weekends etc. I would give him clear answers in a way to tell him I am not interested in anything beyond professional small talks.

Once D informed me that he performs music and is a beat boxer. I knew a bit about music so I praised him. Next weekend he sent me a few YouTube videos of his performance. He was definitely talented. I told him so. He told me that he was going to perform at an office event on the next weekend. He asked me to attend it. Unfortunately I was not able to attend it for two reasons: I shifted to a new house and my work location was also shifting. Both these happened on the same weekend.

After the office event, he texted me. I told him about the home and location movement. We spoke over the phone and he did sound disappointed. We had become good friends over the last few months. I told him that we will stay in touch. A few months later he moved to Netherlands. Later COVID lockdown happened. We had lost touch with each other.

Last month he sent a DM on Instagram. He told me that he is coming to India. He is getting married and invited me to his wedding. I was happy for him. He is a nice man and deserved to be happy. However his wedding was going to be at his native place. I had no vacation days left, so I was unable to attend. But now we are in touch with each other.

It is amazing to meet people like D. I learnt a lot from him. He is a good friend and I wish that our friendship continues.