The Namesake

"Excuse me? Hi!"  

I turned around and saw a boy, sweaty and tired. His eyes showed that he had been walking for a long time.

"Hieee!"
I said, with an even wider smile.

"Could you please help me with this address and the exact location? I am new to this place." 

"Of course, go straight and take a right turn...(I proceeded to explain him the address he was looking for)."

"Thank you. By the way, I am Vayu."

"Vayu!? With an A or two As?"

"With two As. And you are?" 

"I am Taruna." 

"Karuna?"

"No, Taruna, with a T."

"Oh, Taruna, okay. What an unusual name! What does it mean?" 

(With a smile) "It means, a young beautiful tree."

"Hmm...a young beautiful tree!"

I boarded the metro at 6:04 pm. Exhausted. Tired. Toggling inside.

I reached home. 

Told my mother about the entire day and how I spent it, which mostly included fighting over an extra laddoo with my colleagues and a little bit of the insights about the kind of work I handled. 

She kept nodding and handed over a plate to me, filled with baigun bhaja, dal, chawal and some papad. 

Uff! What else could I ask for? 

Maybe... just a little more time to talk to him?
What! Who said that? Definitely not me.

*Ding*

Vaayu: I hope I am DMing the same girl I met today at the inner circle in CP. Are you the one? I am so sorry to be texting like this, but your profile picture is too small to figure out. 

(Took first 10 seconds to laugh at this DM).

Me: Hahahaha! Fortunately, you have landed on the right account. 

Vaayu: I am so sorry, I did not even say thanks to you, reason why I DMed you in the first place.

Me: Aww! It's fine only. You can say it now by the way? :P

Vaayu: Thank you, Taruna :)

Me: Hehehe! You're welcome, Vaayu. Hope you reached at the correct destination.

Vaayu: Yes, I did. Little tired though. 

.....

I was waiting for his text while I was not. Another story started on to the streets and got limited to the DMs. 

He came in like a breeze, an unsettling, raw breeze, that gives you comfort while it also makes your eyes wet. 

I did not know, until now, that not only humans, but their names also hold emotions, as much as them.

And just like that, something unnamed began to breathe between two names, one carried by air of memories, the other rooted to earth of my emotions.

Maybe that’s how all stories begin, not with promises, but with a simple “Excuse me?” whispered into the noise of a crowded day, finding meaning in the namesake.

THE END