Barsha Ghimire:

It was the freezing month of December and rained cats and dogs that particularly dark night. Streaks of lightning bolts followed by deafening thunderclaps made me shiver with cold and fear. I was nervous since there were no taxis around nor could I expect any public conveyance to come at that bizarre hour. Walking was an option, but a difficult one. Intrigued and bewildered, I slowly started walking.

Just then, at the far end of the road, I saw the light of a vehicle coming my way. With it soared my hopes of hitching a hike home, although I was still undecided about making my next move; whether or not to ask for a lift. The red car pulled up next to me and the driver lowered the windowpane. Visibility almost nil, I could not see him properly. “Where are you going?” he asked in a very soft voice.

My mother always warned me of keeping incommunicado with strangers, far less ask for a lift. But reason got better of me. It was impossible for me to stand in that rain any longer. I was drenched and a bout of cold would ruin my presentation the next day on which rested my career prospects. Wiping rain from my face, I replied, “I live at the far end of the next street?” He opened the door. I rushed in without looking at him.

His charisma instantly made a mark on me. Introvert as I am, the thunderstorm made it that much difficult for me to strike a conversation. During the entire journey, we didn’t exchange a single word. It was only moments before I arrived home. I could only manage to ask him to stop. “This is where I leave, please stop the car,” I said.

He stepped on the brakes and turned towards me, let a smile as I smiled too. No sooner had I walked out, without even throwing a glance at him, he moved back and sped off even before I could thank him.

It is now three years since that day. I haven’t met him nor heard from him again. Yet I remember the incident too vividly, as if it took place just the other day. That rendezvous was so wonderful that it gave me the memory of a lifetime.

No wonder I sometime feel stupid for not talking to him. I should at least have shown my appreciation and asked for his phone number. Angel as he is to me, he will remain so for bailing me out from the doomed December night.

Once again, as this frosty winter evening prepares to let the heavens open up, I am walking alone in the silence of the darkness.

Deep inside my heart, I wish for the rain to shower and once again hope that my angel would be back to escort me home.