A Night Journey

"Oh my god, Mom! The weather today was unbearable I could hardly breathe. It was so hot I had to drink at least five extra liters of water," Bella exclaimed over the phone, wiping sweat from her forehead. "But guess what? I nailed my exam! The hall was cool and comfortable, all thanks to the air conditioning and the management's efforts to keep it hygienic."

"That's great, dear," her mother replied, relieved to hear about the successful exam.

"Yeah, it went smoothly. I'm heading to the bus stop now, so I'll call you later, okay? Bye, Ma."

With a smile, Bella ended the call and waited for a ride. Just then, her eyes caught sight of someone a tall, handsome man with strikingly Western features standing nearby.

Holy... wow, he's Handsome! she thought to herself, feeling her heart race.

A vehicle pulled up, interrupting her thoughts. After a brief negotiation with the driver, she stole one last glance at the mystery man before climbing in. The journey to the bus stop was brief, and by the time she arrived, the sweltering heat had given way to a cool, refreshing breeze Bangalore's weather had its signature unpredictability.

Bella checked the board for the bus schedule and sighed. She still had an hour to wait for the next public bus, which would take over eight hours to get her home. Safety in mind, she opted to wait it out and began wandering around the area.

And then, fate played its hand again she saw him. The same handsome man from earlier. Twice in one evening? What is happening? she wondered, her pulse quickening.

The man answered a call, and Bella seized the moment to observe him, stealing glances while pretending not to. He spoke for nearly half an hour, his voice calm and confident. She felt the heat of embarrassment rising in her cheeks. Stop staring, Bella, you're not subtle!

Determined to regain composure, she pulled a novel from her bag-One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat-and opened it to the page she'd bookmarked. But just as she was about to lose herself in the story, the unexpected happened: the man ended his call and sat down right next to her.

Her heart raced. Is it fate, God? Bella wondered, frustration mingling with curiosity. Why do you keep sending him into my path? She shook her head, determined to resist the pull of attraction. It doesn't matter. Our paths aren't meant to cross. I won't let myself be drawn to him anymore.

Minutes passed, and soon an express A/C coach bus pulled into the station. Its sleek exterior promised a faster, more comfortable ride, but Bella knew she couldn't afford the fare. Despite the temptation, she reminded herself that safety was her top priority, especially with the long journey ahead. With a quiet sigh, she watched the bus glide away, leaving her behind.

Finally, the bus she had been waiting for arrived. Without hesitation, she climbed aboard, found a seat, and settled in. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept drifting back to the man she had seen. His image lingered in her mind, captivating her in a way she didn't expect.

Why can't I stop thinking about him? she mused, leaning her head against the window. The city lights blurred as the bus pulled away, carrying her into the night and into the unknown.

Bella sat on a two-seater, watching the bus slowly fill with passengers. She couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity about who her travel companion for the night might be. The bus was almost packed, and she noticed people hurriedly searching for any available seat.

Just as she was lost in thought, he appeared again-the handsome man from earlier. He placed his luggage carefully in the overhead carrier, his eyes scanning the bus for an empty seat. When his gaze fell on the seat beside her, Bella held her breath, anticipation and nerves mingling. But to her surprise, he hesitated, continuing to search for another spot.

Before he could decide, a large man broad, with a heavy frame stepped forward, eyeing the same empty seat beside her. Bella's heart sank. She wasn't sure why, but the thought of sitting next to the stranger filled her with unease.

Desperate, she glanced toward the man who had captured her attention earlier, silently willing him to change his mind. But before he could move, the large man plopped down beside her, making the seat creak slightly under his weight.

Bella shifted, adjusting herself to give him more space, though it felt like a futile effort. The man didn't seem bothered, settling in comfortably. Bella exhaled, feeling an odd mix of relief and disappointment, as if she had narrowly avoided an accident but missed an opportunity.

She leaned back in her seat, trying to shake off the strange tension. At least I'm safe, she told herself, but her thoughts drifted back to the boy who hadn't taken the seat. Why didn't he?

As the bus engine rumbled to life, the large man beside Bella kept glancing anxiously out the window, as if searching for someone. His fidgeting made Bella curious, but she remained quiet, hoping he'd stay put until the journey began.

Just as the bus finally began to roll forward, the man abruptly stood up, muttering something under his breath, and hurried toward the door. Bella watched in surprise as he stepped off the bus, leaving the seat beside her empty.

Before she could fully process what had happened, he appeared again. The handsome stranger took a quick glance around, and seeing the now-vacant seat beside her, he finally sat down.

Bella felt a rush of relief and maybe something more. Thank God, she thought, unable to suppress a small smile. For the first time that evening, she felt the journey ahead might be peacefull.

Bella wanted to thank him for sitting beside her, but hesitation held her back. What if he's not interested in talking? she thought. After all, he didn't choose the seat at first. Letting out a quiet sigh, she decided to keep her thoughts to herself and pulled her phone from her bag.

Dialing her mother, she held the phone to her ear.

"Hello, Mom! I just got on the bus," she said softly, careful not to disturb the quiet hum around her. "I'll reach by early morning tomorrow, so don't worry. Have a good night's sleep. Bye, Ma."

She ended the call, letting the familiar warmth of her mother's voice calm her nerves. Then, she opened her social media apps, scrolling through her feed. Every now and then, a soft chuckle escaped her lips as she read funny posts or responded to messages.

She was absorbed in her phone, but she was also keenly aware of the presence beside her.

Bella tapped through a few mobile games, but her interest waned quickly. Her mind was restless, and the games couldn't hold her attention. Just as she sighed in boredom, she noticed the battery icon flashing her phone was nearly dead. A pang of disappointment hit her as she realized she had no backup battery or charger.

With a resigned sigh, she turned off the phone and tucked it back into her bag. She shifted her gaze to the window, watching the world outside blur into darkness as the bus sped along the highway. The cool breeze whispered through the small cracks of the window, calming her in a way her phone couldn't.

Then she heard it "a voice".

It was smooth yet sharp, carrying an air of confidence with a hint of arrogance. "You should carry a power bank on long trips," the voice said, breaking the quiet hum of the bus.

Bella turned toward the source, and her breath caught. It was him-the handsome stranger beside her, his tone teasing but not unkind. She hadn't expected him to speak, and for a moment, she struggled to find the right words.

"I... I forgot it at home," she admitted, offering a small smile. "Bad timing, I guess."

He smirked, leaning back in his seat. "Happens to the best of us."

The ice was broken, and the journey suddenly felt a little less long.