A stranger with a book

 

What are the benefits of reading a book? Improves your vocabulary, increases your perspective of things, and the list goes on. But what if I tell you that a book helps in building conversations as well. I mean it. I spoke to a random stranger with a ‘book-factor’.

It was my first reporting module at ACJ. A new city, people, way of life, and of course a new mode of transportation. I was used to travelling by my scooter when I was in my hometown and at this ‘Singara Chennai’ I had to depend on local trains which I actually enjoyed, because, I have travelled in Mumbai local trains. So I was happy travelling in a ‘not-so-crowded’ train at pocket-friendly tariffs.

Being a Science graduate, I was clueless about how reporting actually works. Still, I had no option. Believing, ‘Experience is the best teacher' I started my day. It was my worst reporting experience because things did not work as per plan. But no worries. I was still satisfied because I could manage to do something better than nothing.

From Chennai Central, I took a train to Indiranagar. It was around 3:30 PM and the coaches were almost vacant. I always fantasise window seats, be it train, bus or car. I managed to get one in that train as well. I was glancing through my notepad when I noticed a guy sitting opposite to my side. He was wearing spectacles, mustard yellow shirt and hair well-trimmed. He almost resembled Tollywood actor Rahul Haridas to be more specific. But why did I notice him? He had shared a few of my habits or characteristics while reading a book. He was engrossed into it. He nodded his head while reading some paragraphs and he turned the pages carefully such that the pages didn’t tear. He was reading Rich Dad Poor Dad. His concern on the book increased my concern for knowing him. I knew I was staring at him for so long but I couldn’t stop. Finally, he looked at me and smiled. Wait! What? He smiled at me. I was over the moon. The conversation I was anticipating all this while.

Finally, I gathered courage and said, “I have heard that this book is good.”

“Oh really?” he said, moved forward and asked, “What did you hear about the book?”

Damn! I didn’t expect that. Nobody has ever spoken to me about that book before. It was just an ice-breaker to start a conversation and only I knew it. I do have an idea about the book now, but I didn’t back then. Still, I had to keep the conversation flowing and I said, “I heard that it is a must-read book. And that you will know its benefits only after reading it.” (I really hope he doesn’t pester me on this again.)

“Oh, nice. So, what do you do?”

“Well, am a student journalist. I am new to the city. I am from Kerala.”

“Wow! A journalist. That’s nice. I am new to this city as well. I am from Mysore.”

“Not a journalist yet. Student journalist. I am doing my Post Graduate Diploma in journalism here.”

“Oh. So where do you stay?”

“I stay at my hostel inside our campus. How about you?”

“I stay at my aunt’s place in Velachery.”

“Oh. That’s nice.”

“So, how is your work like?”

And the conversation continued for a while and then I asked, “What do you do?”

“I completed MTech from Mysore and I am working as an intern at a company near Chennai beach area. Wait. I have something interesting for you.”

He pulled out his phone from his pocket and swiped through his gallery and said, “I had seen a news channel’s office today. Check this out.”

And he showed his phone to me. It resembled any other newsroom to me, but then he explained, “The newsroom is small. But they have constructed in such a way that the shoot, the editing and post-production can be carried out from the same room. The props are also arranged in such a manner. Even if the space is small, the ideation of using it matters.”

I looked at those pictures again and he was right. It was a well-constructed newsroom. As I moved my eyes away from his phone, I noticed the train moving away from Kasturba Nagar. Indiranagar was just a minute away. I rose up from the seat as he was confused by my behaviour.

I explained to him that I had to get down in the next station. 

As the train was about to reach my station, I remembered something else and ran back to him.

“What was your name?”

Smiling, he said, “Aravind. And what’s yours?”

“Sruthi. Ok bye. Got to go.”

And I finally bade goodbye to my dear stranger who continues to be a stranger. It might be lame to expect that person to read this blog accidentally at some point in time, but, if that ever happens, imagine? How cool would that be?

 

(EDITS June 2021)

 

(EDITS December 2024)

I'm married to him :)

We got married on November 18, 2024.

How did it happen?

Well, long story short.

I shared this blog link with a friend about my fond memory of Chennai. After reading, he teased me for not getting any contact information despite caring so much about him and writing a blog and continuing to wait for him.

This provoked me and I was determined to find my stranger.

I was preparing for a certain exam then and hence I allotted half an hour every day to search for him.

I read all the Aravinds profiles of Mysuru University then. 

But in vain.

As a last step, I went to LinkedIn.

With the keywords I knew, I managed to find a profile closer to his appearance. Than his appearance, the profile resembled his genre of books.

I asked to a female friend of mine before hitting that 'Send connection request'.

The green signal from her boosted my confidence. With the upgraded details, I managed to get his contact details and sent my first message.

'Hi. Is this Aravind HS?"

And that's where it all began.

From that message to becoming his wife today. 

PS: This incident happened on July 24, 2018. I still remember this stranger because that conversation was worth it. Also, I had made a note of this incident in my personal diary back then. Referred it again to write this blog.