Interlocutions

Interview someone — a friend, another blogger, your mother, the mailman — and write a post based on their responses.

I stood on a sidewalk in front of the metro train station, waiting for a friend. I watched the people pass by. In my hand was a red umbrella, I borrowed it from my wife in anticipation of rainfall according to the weather report, but the colours of the sky didn’t look like they had any intention of turning dark.

I saw my friend Naren coming, he saw me for sure as evident by his expression, but I pretended not to see him and started walking away from the spot that I stood in. Although I have grown, at least physically, yet some small habits of childhood are still present like intentionally pretending to not see Naren even though I had.

“Now, you are going to tell me you really did not see me,” Naren spoke as he walked next to me

“Believe what you want to,” I replied, “so, how does it feel, after so many days going to the office by train instead of car?”

“Feels like wastage of lot of energy which could be used in a better place and I would prefer listening to podcasts on car speakers more than inserting earbuds in my ears any day,” Naren replied

We both worked in different professions in different companies which were almost on the same route. Usually, we would share a vehicle to office, one day mine and the other day his, but today is one of those days when driving wasn’t a very convenient option. Heavy rainfall throughout the night had resulted in part of the road being submerged in water which had further resulted in slow-moving traffic; hence we figured the metro train would be the better mode of transport today.

“You should have worn something more water resistant than your usual formal leather shoes,” I told Naren while we were going up the escalator.

He looked at my clogs and spoke, “remind me later to order a pair of those online. Hopefully I won’t have to step in a deep puddle of water.”

While we were waiting for the metro train to arrive, I glanced around at the crowd of different people standing, everyone out with a distinct purpose.

“Sometimes I look back to those days, standing with a backpack, waiting for the train to arrive, thinking what I will learn today at the place of internship, hoping I don’t screw up,” I spoke

My friend looked up at the train arrival board, “I spent so many anxious minutes looking at that board. I was always late, each minute felt like hours passing.”

“Well to say the truth I thought you would be late today as well”

“I was on time”

“Nope. Late by four minutes.”

“That is basically being on time as well”

The incoming train came into view.

“Have you ever imagined that you could have been someone other than an architect?” I asked

Naren turned behind to look at the buildings visible from the station, “No. I would always be an architect. I am pretty much clear on that. What about you?”

“Well, I like being a content writer, editor and the occasional photographer, but I kind of feel limited sometimes, like there are a whole lot of experiences out there to learn from.”

“I would suggest you rather focus on what you do but then again who am I to stop someone from trying something new.”

The train stopped and the doors opened and we became a part of the crowd that stepped in. 

Written by Anuran Chatterji

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