Diary of Pj (2)

Article: The Girl with a plan’ ~

It took two years, but I finally came across her—the girl I had been searching for, the girl with a plan. But meeting her wasn’t some fairy-tale moment. It happened during one of the most challenging phases of my life. Before I dive into the cherry on the cake, let me bake the base first.

I was in Bangalore, interning at a company. Life in the city had been a rollercoaster. In just three months, Bangalore had given me a lot: the identity of a “salary-man,” the experience of living in a paying guest accommodation, and, to top it off, a positive COVID test.

The news of my positive result came like a bolt out of the blue. It was a typical morning, 10:45 AM, when I got a call. The person on the other end struggled with English, managing to say, “You positive, address, we come.” I hung up, trying to process the shock. The results confirmed it—I had COVID.

What would a responsible person do? Inform those around them, of course. I told my PG owner, hoping he’d ensure the safety of others. Instead, he threw me out. No time to find another place, no empathy. Just like that, I was homeless in a city where I barely knew anyone, battling a virus and a language barrier.

I called every helpline, tweeted, and posted on social media, but all I got were empty assurances. Humanity, I realized, often prefers the spotlight of gestures over the shadows of genuine help. Finally, I called my parents. As Indians, we have an unmatched talent for finding “relations” anywhere. My parents found a family friend nearby who had an empty flat. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was a roof over my head—a quarantine haven.

Those two weeks were isolating, physically and emotionally. I missed my final exams, delaying my degree. I lost my sense of taste and smell. And just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, Bangalore announced a strict lockdown. My plans to leave for another city evaporated.

The family friend offered me a room in their flat, a gesture of kindness that felt like a lifeline. I threw myself into my internship, hoping for a job offer. But after months of effort, the company informed me they couldn’t extend an offer due to the pandemic’s impact. My physical health was shaky, my mental health crumbling. Even my friends seemed distant, caught up in their own lives.

I was at my lowest. Every night felt heavier than the last. The only solace was the kindness of the family friend who gave me a home-like environment.

One evening, after a late-night jog within the society complex, I stood on the balcony, trying to calm my restless mind. The Bangalore night was cool, the air carrying a faint scent of rain. And then, I saw her.

At first, it was just a silhouette on the fifth-floor balcony of the building opposite mine. Long hair caught in the breeze. Her movements were fluid, almost poetic. My heart raced, not from exertion but curiosity.

To confirm it wasn’t just my imagination, I turned on my phone’s flashlight, pretending to search for something. The light caught her attention. She shifted slightly, and for a fleeting moment, I caught a glimpse of her face. Even under the dim light, there was an unmistakable grace in her presence.

I didn’t know her name, her story, or even what she looked like up close. But something about her felt... different. It wasn’t infatuation or fantasy. It was the possibility of something real.

Over the next few days, I found myself drawn to the balcony, hoping to see her again. Sometimes she was there, lost in her own world, sipping tea or scrolling through her phone. Other times, the balcony was empty, and I’d stare at the spot, wondering who she was.

One evening, I mustered the courage to wave. She noticed, hesitated, then waved back. It was a small gesture, but it felt monumental.

Gradually, our silent exchanges grew into something more. She began waving first, sometimes with a shy smile. One night, she held up a notebook with a message scribbled on it: "Hi, neighbor. What's your story?"

That question lingered in my mind. What was my story? A guy who lost everything he planned for but somehow found a glimmer of hope in the most unexpected place?