'Maybe what is what they call it?' She asked with a smile that was rather threatening.

'Abduction?' He said looking into her eyes, trying to tell her indirectly that he wasn't threatened, trying to make her understand the humour.

After a matter of few minutes, they were at the entrance of the marble-engraved building, upholding the Nishan Sahib.

'Seventh client, you ready to go in?' A long-thought reply came from her.

'That means I'll have to spend atleast 2 hours with you, again.'

'Nice catch.' she said to keep the banter going.

'Well, I'm not coming anywhere until you say why you've chosen me' he said settling on the steps.

Anjana felt his desperate need to know.

'Because... you are one of those limited edition guys interested in novels. Someone who can make an author too' 

Naveen chuckled in weird amazement of her reply.

'I should've checked the book'

'Good that you didn't.' An amiable banter led to a sudden feeling of comfort in each other.

'Anyways, if this is about that poem.. I have to say that you do not have to worry. It is just my way of writing a journal' he assured her.

Anjana really wanted to ask him about the scar on his left wrist, but decides to let go of it.

'No. I'm sorry, if you thought of it that way. The thing is.. my boss has asked me to find altruistic people and finish them off within the month I spot them. I'm quite ahead in my operation, thanks to you.' She tried to be as nice as possible.

Naveen smiled unwillingly. 'If your intention is to fix me, please don't try. You don't have to as well' He said succeeding in his effort to mortify her pure intention.

She was offended, but was willing to read between the lines. Probably, lack of understanding is his issue. He stood up and walked down facing her.

'Okay. You can still come inside.' Anjana requested.

'I think I have to leave.'

Anjana nodded hastily and walked into the Gurudwara, shortly waving her hand at him as her dupatta occupied her hair. She self-assured that she would be fine without him. In the hall that seats more than a hundred people, she sat in a corner, to satiate the soul.

Prayers rose in succession, persuading the heart to warm, accompanied with gratifying oneself with the Gurudwara Bhajan.

The dupatta slipped down her tresses as she got up from the Namaskara. Before she could pull it up, she felt a hand doing it for her. She knew who it was.

Naveen sat on the huge laid carpet beside her, trying to meditate. She fixed his head-covering in exchange, deciding not to talk until he did. People move out as the prayer gets over, except a few who were involved in meditation.

A phone call disrupts Naveen's meditation. Anjana also ends hers, as she looked at him switching off his cell.

'Naveen.. having a good time?'

He nodded positively. 'After a long time. Thank you.'

'Then, this should do.' She said as she took a 500-rupee note from her bag and put it into a donation box.

'Miss, isn't that too much?' He asked out of shock.

'Look at what's written on that box. It is for charity purposes, so there's nothing wrong in paying a big amount.'

He felt little that moment, but also felt good in the company of the rarity she possessed.

'To add to that Naveen, we realise how invaluable soul-treament can be, only after we grow up'

'You aren't hinting on me, I wish' he said sarcastically.

Anjana rolled her eyes and walked towards the prasad counter.

'This is the last one' the priest said seeing both of them.

'Give him this, please' she requested though she wanted to have the prasad.

The priest handed over the prasad to Naveen.

'We can split this' he offered.

'Just have it ya, I have it regularly anyway' she said.

'It's okay, you can have one handful, take it' he said and placed a handful of the sweet in her hand. She received it and joined her hands together, doing a funny gesture to thank him.

They exited the Gurudwara, on the road, which was only half-full now. Walking towards the east side, they approached the beach, still sharing the sweetness compassionately.

'Are you a Sikh?' He asked intrigued.

Anjana grinned at his expression. 'Is it a rule that you have to be a Sikh to go to a Gurudwara?'

'No, not at all. You said that you have the prasad regularly, so I assumed that you come here often'

She smiled and stayed silent taking a quick look at the shore.

'So, what is your story? And what is this craze about going out with a complete stranger? Crazy but in a serious way.' He asked without a pause. Anjana felt happy seeing him asking many questions.

'Looks like the Guru Effect is working out pretty well.' She asked sprightly.

'Yeah, maybe. Now answer my question'

'Two many.. which one should I answer first' she asked to play with him.

He shrugged his shoulder hinting her to answer any.

'This is my happy place. I actually landed up here by mistake and stayed forever.'

Naveen smiled.

'You know, sometimes we have a belief that we will somehow reach the place we ultimately belong to? This is where I belong, after the ashram I grew up in.'

His smile faded instantly.

'I'm sorry..'

'Please don't be. I always believe that life has given me enough lessons, intact more than I've ever wanted to learn. Infact there is more gratitude than remorse now, and that is enough to overlook all the bitterness and the thorns. They hurt, but we don't have to thrive on them, right?'

They sat down on the sand floor facing the ocean.

'Even now, look at you and me, having fun being complete strangers.. isn't this surprising? I don't think life does this to eveybody, everyday. This is a gifted moment.. Did I say too much?'

Naveen turned towards the shore, realising that his world of what-ifs held him back high time from thanking the universe for what he was given at the moment.

He admired the optimist in her, having a way with every single problem in life. He took out his wallet and opened it revealing two photos in it to Anjana.

'My mother and sister' he showed the photos to her.

'Very pretty they look, Naveen!' Anjana watched them happily.

'Mom just resigned her job at a firm, because of her passion to join a NGO'

Anjana listened to him concernfully.

'That's great Naveen, I don't think everyone have the guts to take that step'

'It is. But not for a family that has to struggle everyday to earn its bread.. Aadhira supports her, but I just couldn't accept it. Its been almost a week since I spoke to them because of this.'

Anjana nodded.

'What makes you upset? Is it the fact that she prefers her passion over the family responsibilities..?'

'That is there but also... please don't judge me for saying this..'

'I won't' she assured him.

'I will be earning in the next three months.. and the thought that the entire responsibility of taking care of the family is going to come down to me.. is.. I don't feel great about it'

'Hmm..'

'I don't mean it in a bad way Anjana.. its just that.. I'm scared. I'm terrified. What if I'm not able to take care of everything? What if I run out of money before the month ends?!'

'My life was perfectly planned a week back. Running the mill with what mom and I earned was the plan.. now with a indefinite income from mom's side.. I just don't know how to handle things at home. Sometimes, I  even feel that we would have done better if my father had stayed with us'

Anjana pressed her hand on his.

'It will be fine' she whispered.

'Sorry for burdening you with..'

'Shh..' she said as she took his left hand in hers. Glancing at the scar, she looked at him.

'I do not have a family to take care of, but I can understand what you feel. Also, I think it's normal to feel so Naveen.. many do not communicate about this. Managing finances could be one of the difficult things when you begin, you might even hate it at a point. But as time passes, you will find a way with it as you will not be left alone to struggle. You can even call me when you need help.' She said holding the smile that promised.

'And don't get pissed when I say this, but if you ask me, I would say that what your mother did was right..' she said trying to mince her words.

'I knew you would say that..' he said.

'Really?!' She asked flabbergasted. Naveen shook his head.

'How?' She asked surprised.

'Hmm.. I don't know.. maybe I can read your line of thoughts now..' he grinned.

'Well, yeah because isn't it important for her to follow her dreams? She must be fifty now right?' She enquired.

'Yeah 49.. 50'

'If not now, then when? In a society, where the foresets can't be changed even in a scary dream.. don't you think that we must cheer the game-changers. Think of the good part.. she'll be happier than ever!' Anjan said with a cheerful smile.

'You're making an effort to evolve Naveen, so trust your journey from here.. And I pray, I pray that you will be so happy and content in life that you will never want to bring back a father that left. That day isn't very far, I tell you' she preached with certainty that convinced him to believe in her.

Naveen took to his heart some of what she said and left some behind. He did not want a perfect end to this conversation, but liked to linger around these emotions with her, that he mostly liked to be personal. A change wishing to be as constant as the calmness in her eyes.

'Naveen, look at that. It is a full moon.' she called out excitedly pointing to the sky.

'Anjana, we might have to leave now.. it's 10.30' he said in a hurry to get up. He messaged Grace and apologised for his behavior.

'What are we running behind, an express? Let us be here atleast for ten minutes, please'

'If I stay longer with you..' he murmered under his breath.

'What?' She asked at the top of her voice.

'Thank you. Thank you, that I'm going to believe in complete strangers hereafter.' He said in an attempt to tease her with a pinch of honesty too.

'Good kno, make a lot of friends. Nothing can be more interesting than knowing people.'

She gazed at the sky glow with the moon and the stars. He turned to look at her. The reflection of the moon in her eyes caught his attention and he looked up. Twinkling silvery stars here and there, with the ethereal moon gleaming as the clouds' grey embrace withdrew.

He closed his eyes, seeking a silent prayer from the endless sea of midnight blue. An instant answer came down him, taking him through a path to glee, slowly, like a child. She, accompanied him throughout the journey. He felt that he belonged to her for a very long time, her heart, a place where he could thrive vulnerably. The next thing he felt was, nameless, but he could say what it was, like everyone called it.

LOVE ❤️