A Stranger, not a Stranger

[Jessie POV:]

Not until the weekend will I remember the love and warmth of family and loved ones after everyday work stress.

My family lives about 80km from where I live. I have been travelling every weekend for the past 3 years to see them and to get away from busy city life. I board every Friday evening and reach there by night, enjoy two days with my family and return by Sunday evening. I wasn't always fond of travelling just after a tiring day at work, but my family was one of the two things keeping me up. 

I still remember that day, the first weekend, when I boarded the train home, three years back. I stood by the door as all the seats were occupied, a typical crowded weekend, enjoying sightseeing. The train stopped in a small station for about 2 mins, with probably not more than five houses, distant from each other and that was the first time I saw him. This guy's house was quite near the station making his face visible from the train itself.

Ever since, every weekend, I looked forward to getting on that train in the same compartment, about where the train stopped each time. It sounds funny, but it was the one thing that makes the rest of my journey wondering who he was. There were times when the train stops a bit away from that house, or days when I miss the train but am pretty sure he will be always there on the balcony, every weekend like he was bound to be there.

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[Adhil POV:]

I always wanted to be a teacher, sharing wisdom, but my girlfriend wasn't that much into teachings and kinds of stuff, that I let it go. Although, being an engineer wasn't that bad, at first. It took me a lot of courage to finally decide to pursue what I want to do. Holding my dreams back was never on my list. So when she gave me the choice, either her or my passion; I let my heart decide.

That evening, I was standing on my balcony, with some pain and a bit of relief, looking at a train stopped for a moment. I hated living in this house alone, where every hour a train passes and the sound makes me go nuts and so close to my house. Even though getting out of a kind of bad relation calms somethings down, I was pretty alone in this huge house. Mostly I didn't care, but there were times like this when I wish I wasn't. 

I was looking at the trains that stopped there, as usual, but this time I caught myself looking at something different. And I am damn sure that I saw a girl by the door staring at me.

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[Jessie POV:]

Working on the day of Christmas eve is terrible, but Christmas spirit is everywhere. People getting cakes, houses with stars and lights, the atmosphere full of bliss and with the warmth of our loved ones.

It's been three years, and not once did I see the balcony guy miss a day out to stare at the passing trains. Not during the holidays did I see him with his families or his friends, just there standing in his huge house with no decorations or anything and maybe looking into the oblivion.

Until on Christmas eve, I couldn't find him at his house. I was quite surprised to not see him but felt happy to think he might have gone home to his family too and kinda disappointed to not see him too. But my thoughts changed once I saw him at the station platform, at a distant, looking right at me which a hint of a smile on his face. 'Cause of all those years I saw him, I knew it was him but seeing him near all of the sudden made me slip back into the crowded train, cutting him off of my sight. 

It was not a bold move but it was scary for me when I saw him in front of me for me, therefore I hide and soon the train started moving. Truth be told, this was the longest minute I ever felt. 

Even though I felt terrible, I didn't regret what I did yet I spent the rest of the journey thinking about what I could have done instead of what I did. As I reached my home, everything changes as you fall into the warmth of your loved ones during the holidays. 

My childhood friend -slash- my best friend, Jani, always visits us during the holidays and hence it happened to be my favourite holiday. Everything was splendid and warm and each year just got better and better. Since Jani visits us once a year, she always crashes at my home even though her home was next door. I told her what happened at the station at night, for which she was not quite surprised. She talked me in to go and meet him the next time, during the new years eve. 

My parents surprised me by agreeing and telling me to invite him home for the new years'. After knowing my parents for all those years, I never thought they would even think of saying such things, but all in Christmas spirit.  On Sunday, I returned to my apartment with Jani this time and was pumped to wait for the coming Friday.

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[Adhil POV:]

Holidays were around the corner and as always I wasn't much into spending family's eve alone. For a change, I thought of inviting my old colleagues for Christmas dinner, and as predicted I got turned down. On the day of Christmas eve, I went to town got some presents, and got one for the woman on the train. I was quite nervous and happy thinking of hopefully giving a Christmas card for the woman. I waited on the platform for the train to pull over and searching for her on her regular compartment. 

The train as usual was crowded, yet I was able to spot her. I smirked when I saw her searching for me on the balcony and seeing a hint of sadness and frown on her face. I moved a few steps forward towards her and soon she noticed me; in horror. 

My heart ached in pain to see her move into the crowd avoiding me, but I knew I could do nothing, but watch her go. I kept wondering why she would hide from me. Maybe we have never met each other in person before, but we are not strangers to each other either.

Another week passed and I walked towards the balcony as usual on a Friday evening waiting for the train to pass and stop by. I couldn't find her there. After last week, I knew something would go wrong but I still hoped to see her. I kept searching for her in vain and within moments the train started moving. 

During new year's eve, I thought it would be nice to see a friendly face, guess it wasn't my day.

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[Jessie POV:]

Someone spending holidays alone is sad. Jani was determined to make me meet him and invite him. For me, meeting a stranger-non stranger was a huge deal, but to invite him, was crazy. Despite some protests with Jani, I agreed on inviting him too. After what I did last week, I think it only seemed fair. Hugging Vani, I got down on the station and walked towards his home. 

It was just about 2 mins walk from the station to his home, probably, and I saw him heading inside. I walked up to his front door. I could hear things footsteps, running. For a moment I was super nervous and even thought of backing off at the last minute. 

Grabbing some courage, I knocked on his door.

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[Adhil POV:]

Just when I was thinking of going inside, I saw her walking towards my front gate. I was all excited and surprised to see the woman I have watched for the past three years, the woman who made me look forward to every weekend, was walking right to my house. 

I ran towards the front door and god knows what and all things I knocked down by my path. I could hear her footsteps creaking near to the front door and she knocked twice. With mettle, I opened the door to see one beautiful woman who I have seen a hundred times, yet for the first time. 

She smiled at me and I could see her face glowing and her eyes go small and narrow from her genuine smile. It was the best way to end the year and I knew it was the starting of a beautiful friendship. All my thoughts vanished just like that as she talked to me for the first time.

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[Jessie POV:]

"Hi."

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A story by Sreesha Swathi

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