Serendipity

There are times when I get the strong urge to leave everyone behind and start over. The same conversations with the same people over and over again, have me questioning what I am doing with my life. I wonder how people can be content with the mediocrity of these meaningless interactions. I know I am not. For, I believe with every bone in my body that I'm destined for more. I spend days floating around in a dark abyss searching for something that my soul yearns but my mind can't comprehend.

I finally learned that sometimes leaving your comfort zone can be rewarding. Sure, I've been disappointed more times than I can count. But I realised today that sometimes people can surprise you and you can surprise yourself in return.

It's been a long day. I woke up early, studied, went for vocal training and hit the gym. I reached home by ten pm. I should be exhausted,  right? I wasn't. I got into bed thinking sleep would grace me with its presence.  It didn't. So I went from staring at the ceiling to staring at my phone screen. As I mindlessly scrolled through my contacts a sudden restlessness overcame me and I knew that sleep wouldn't come till I scratched an itch I couldn't see. Name by name I searched waiting for something to tick or for inspiration to strike but all I felt was numb indifference towards each and every one of them. I felt like my friend pool needed to be filtered. And so, I did something I never imagined I'd ever do. I talked to a stranger.

I went to the list of people who were online on Facebook and clicked on the first name of a person I didn't know. It was crazy. I felt like a creep. But somehow it seemed right. I typed a basic "hey" and I hit send before my brain could hop in and start telling me that it was a bad idea. What was the worst that could happen? He probably wouldn't reply.  He'd think I was some creepy stalker. I figured I had nothing to lose. I got an almost instant reply. And so that is how, at 12 am, I found myself conversing with a stranger.

People who know me will argue that he wasn't a stranger. They'll tell me that we know each other. I beg to differ. We only 'knew' the people we used to be...We know as much about each other as I would know about the next woman I pass on the road - close to nothing.  And that in itself was liberation.

And so we talked. I learnt more about myself as I went on to know more about him. Somehow all the nervousness and shame disappeared. Somehow, I felt whole again. It was a short lived conversation. We were both tired (I'm assuming he was). We said our goodbyes. I doubt we'll end up as friends. I'm not sure if I'll ever talk to him again. I can't even guarantee that our paths will ever cross. But that's okay. What we shared was special in its brevity and simplicity. Our exchange renewed my will to keep looking for whatever it is that keeps me up at night.

So thank you stranger. Without realising it, you suddenly made my world a nicer place and I can finally feel sleep creeping up on me. That sneaky bastard.