Met her

I met her in the stairway. On my way down. I deliberately don't take the elevator from the 7th floor. The animated chatter of the co-employed, the smells of day-old deodorants, creased clothes, stares in your back...I detest them all. The routine inherent in the mobile steel enclosure kills me.

She was refreshingly unobstrusive unlike the rest of them. Did not look up, continued onwards fluidly. Almost felt as though we were meant to meet. Just the two of us. Design or destiny? Design, wasn't it? I had chosen to be there with her.
Felt good that I wasnt alone. They say dangerous stuff happens to lone women in lone stairways. Or is it dangeruos stuff happening to lone women?

Something about her seemed familiar. She was like someone you see often but never get acquainted with; the stranger never spoken to. I walked a little briskly to keep pace with her. She still did not turn nor did she bother to exchange a glance. I had had a normal day. The kind of day you have as an accomplished MBA in your late 20s working for a stable, reputed MNC. Its another day when youve chosen to live with mediocrity and wrung the last traces of idealism out of your life. When its all about precariously walking the rope to nowhere trying to justify to yourself in particular and the world in general that you havent been a 'failure'.

I spoke first. The greeting elicited a gracious smile. And I noticed her eyes. Sparkling with a genuineness I hadnt seen in awhile. So I decided to be a little bold and told her bout my day and that I had seen her around but hadnt spoken with her before. She looked at me and nodded. Well, it wasn't a dismissive nod so I continued. Told her about my work, the petty squabbles, the ego wars that were fought so mindlessly yet religiously and the home(?) I was returning to.
Id found a listener and a patient one at that! So I kept talking. Realised i was almost on the final landing leading out of the stairway and sheepishly told her that Id been impolite to have carried on a monologue without so much as asking her what her name was. It was strange that she had been content to listen for so long. No questions. No comments. I asked her again (wondering if she hadnt heard me). She looked right through me, smiled and didnt answer.Why was she so averse to conversation? And I had been so selfish to pour out!

I walked out as the evening sun seemed unsure of wanting to set over the city and the early moon stood waiting her turn. I thought we would part ways. But she seemed to linger. I secretly rejoiced. I wasn't alone anymore! I held her hand and purposefully dragged her along.

Silence and I were friends.