Chris sat under the tree and felt the pleasant breeze fanning his light brown hair. He was at peace though a traffic jam on the highway had all the chaos to kill the beauty. It was a busy Monday morning. Everyone had to get to their destinations without a fuss. Vehicular traffic and speed shook the highway meant for Jaipur from Delhi. It also cemented life in all its intensity and uncertainty. A dull hot day of March had got people sweating in 2018. Chris had not anticipated a day like this. In the morning he woke up without an alarm. Something so unusual really as he loves sleeping and alarms are a turn off since the day he had understood life. It was a casual day with a lot of promise. Immersing himself in his passions was one of the ways to combat the loneliness he felt in his life threatening disease of AIDS. An infected syringe had done its bit when he was enjoying a drag of cocaine in his college days. Ten long years it was pure bliss with all the makings of a well-settled guy in his early 30’s until disaster struck and all was a cynosure of gloom. The successful businessmen each day took life as it came. He just didn’t see himself bow down to something he hated. For a business meeting, he left the house on a jolly note leaving behind his two cats Casper and Blondie. Life pinches when you least expect it. Sneha proposed to him last week but he had to turn her down stating that he did not believe in the institution of marriage. As a secretary, she was the best any pharmaceuticals company could hope for. As a life partner too she could have been the perfect fix but that path had to be bombed to avoid heartache.

Lisa saw Chris sitting under a tree and walked towards him. It was a peaceful sight. She gave people on the road a miss and kept walking till she could see him clearly. A mesmerising calm sat on her face. In her mid 60’s she was an epitome of grace and beauty though her attire was of a gypsy. Unsettling but intriguing. It was a long haul on the highway. Constant honking and shouts filled the air. Lisa had paint on her clothes. Chris was clueless why it was so.

“O young man, I love to paint though I am an old woman. if that is what you are thinking.” Lisa interjected reading his unsaid words.

“Mam, thats a very good habit.” how did she even have a clue what I was thinking he thought to himself.

“Why are you so serious? It’s a beautiful day after all. I’m here to feel life instead of cribbing about the chaos that is in front of me. I have a flight to catch to Amsterdam but the traffic jam seems to have other plans. So it was good to catch you being yourself when the whole world is in a rush and foul monotones. Jams like these show people in their real avatars.” quipped Lisa.

“Mam, lucky you that you have someone to go to. I have burnt all bridges and would not mind it if my life ends here.” added Chris.

“Its a solo trip bugger. Why should I stop living if no one is around to add to my happiness. Divorced at 50 with no children but my passions keep me busy. My ex-husband and I are good friends but not so much that we should travel together. Strangers on the road are my family. Look by fluke I bumped into you and now let’s see how it unfolds.” shared Lisa.

“A free spirit at heart. Not bad, that input mystery woman.” smiled Chris.

“You can call me Lisa.”

“Hi Lisa, I’m Chris.”

Chris was a lanky man with thin shoulders. Lisa was a full bodied woman. Life it seemed was sucking out of him though he was rich with all the luxuries at his disposal. Lisa had nothing but she was happy. This Amsterdam trip she won in a hamper which just fell in her lap unplanned. An unplanned life was her mantra for living life to the fullest. She had powers that brought her to places at the right time always. Forces of nature guided her and she directed herself to their will. She loved to paint and that also became her means of earning money. A carefree life with no care in the world. Paint, eat, socialize and wait for the inevitable and till it comes eke to heart’s wish and be merry. Her profession got her prospective clients that had no strings attached. She lived life on her own terms and was in the pink of health. Hitting the gym was her favourite activity. A mix of yoga and aerobics had put her in good shape and old age got all the benefits because of this investment. The wealth of health is luxury. Envy for many in her circles and Lisa felt truly blessed. She was a controlled freak and that helped a great deal to have a balanced healthy life.

Chris was unhappy. His health was cheating on him everyday. Medicines were just not effective. Fatigue kept knocking at his doors. Choosing to sit under the tree on that day was out of need. He was feeling suffocated in the smell of petrol, heat and crowd. Traffic failed to move. He had shut his car’s engine and got off the highway so as to walk to the tree and sit in peace. An hour had passed and in his own company he was just fine till Lisa ran into her and her happiness was rubbing on him in a positive manner. He was half her age but miserable. Meeting her had pepped his mood suddenly. His insides felt a surge of life. Was this on purpose he thought to himself? Here in front of him was a woman who was all alone but lonesome spells never bogged her down. She wore her singlehood as a crown as a badge in healthy spirits.

The traffic was slowly beginning to clear off. A truck had caught fire and smoke was billowing after it had skidded to a halt thus stopping traffic. Help was on its way though the driver was unhurt. Villagers from nearby places had come to the rescue to douse the flames. Onlookers belonging to the elite club stood at a safe distance.Very soon the two strangers shared enough so as to part as acquaintances. People had smiling faces. The rustling of the leaves was soothing and therapeutic. Squirrels were moving comfortably beside them. They sauntered around him as well as Lisa and looked at them with blissful eyes. Wise men say squirrels approach you with a message from the Gods. A message to loosen up and enjoy life. No one was unscathed on this Earth. Everyone had some issue or the other but they didn’t stop living and loving. Unfamiliar faces revved up their engines and sped. The noise pushed Chris to wake up.

He looked at the tree while sitting in the car. It was deserted. Squirrels were jumping still. Eating nuts and enjoying their bonhomie. Breeze was mild but pleasing. The villagers slowly were dispersing to their respective houses. The truck strewn with gallons and gallons of water was standing at peace. The highway stared at him for a split of a second and within minutes moving traffic was filling up too. He had zonked off simply. Did he really get down and walk to the tree he was clueless or was it a dream? A dream that was so insightful and so real. Was Lisa a figment of his imagination? Did she really exist? He stepped out of the car and walked to the tree. There were faint footsteps but none locked the fact that they were his and Lisa’s. He couldn’t believe whatever he was feeling. The swelling of his armpits and neck had disappeared. He was feeling hungry. His skin had a glow. A feeling of tiredness was amiss. He was sweating profusely and fever was not in his system which was an off and on buddy. He was cured of AIDS. He couldn’t believe his luck. There were so many options that were open now all of a sudden. Chris was an atheist when he lost his parents to a flood in July 1993. 530 people had been killed in eight states of India. His parents lost their lives while he was in London studying. He was 5 years old then and was raised by his Uncle Tom a lawyer. Post finishing his studies he relocated to India to produce medicines for such natural catastrophes thus he set up a pharmaceuticals company to realise his dream. Bumping into Lisa was a life changing experience for him.

Lisa who is she? An angel who passed and blessed him while he was asleep. Did it actually happen? She was too good to be true. She had said she bumped into him and let’s see how it all unfolds. Thinking on these lines Chris got back in the car. He started the engine and was all set to drive when Lisa appeared on the road again. She looked deep into his eyes, smiled and vanished.