She turned and I could see her face. Oh!  The face held my gaze and I stared at her. Here was a face I had been searching for many days now. I am a photographer by and was searching for a face which I could photograph and send it to that international photography meet. The last date was fast approaching and I had not found that face which had haunted me in my dreams.

This was not a face to launch a thousand ships. But, a face which had innocence and a certain tenderness on it. Her eyes were huge and black. I got out of my car. She was walking towards me. Unexpectedly she did something which I was not prepared for. She looked different I thought but my God she was……………

She came towards me. I looked at her. I understood what she meant I told her to get inside the car.

“How much?”

I said

She muttered something

I agreed

“But you will be free at about four in the morning”. I said

She looked at me

In her eyes I could see the innocence of a lamb, sadness of a fawn

I almost embraced her

And this was a strange feeling.

I controlled myself and we went to the sea

I had a spot in mind.

There were very few people at this time.

She looked at me with questioning eyes

‘I want to take your photographs.” I said

No I won’t ask you to do anything impossible

Just want to take a few snaps of yours.”

So the next few hours I was telling her to sit on the rock

She ran along the sea side like a small child.

The moon was out. The night sky looked deep cobalt blue, the sea silvery foamy with white waves.

She sat on the rock while I adjusted the lenses and she sat with her arms folded around her knees looking distantly at the sea

After some hours I collected and packed everything. I looked at my watch it was half past two.

She was sitting on a rock staring at the sea lost in her thoughts. I felt hungry. I realized I had not asked she must also be hungry. I felt ashamed of myself. I had been too engrossed in my own world. I remembered that I had some sandwiches with me I went to the car to keep my things and took out those packed sandwiches.

I looked at her she smiled. I offered her the sandwich. She took it

“Thank you.’ she said

We sat there silently looking at the vast expanse of the Arabian Sea The stars in the sky,   small bluish white clouds drifting and floating in the sky. A cool breeze was playing with her hair. She looked like a child innocent yet forlorn. Looked as if she was a misfit for the life she led.

“What’s your name?” I asked her

She was startled

“Surbhi”. she said

She looked at me with sad eyes

“Where are you from?’

She was from a small place in Utter Pradesh. She had lost her father and was the eldest When she had finished her education she came to Mumbai for a job. Her younger sister and mother were in the native place

“But my mother got ill and I brought her to Mumbai for the treatment. The treatment will require lot of funds so we had to sell a piece of land.”

“Surbhi” I said “You don’t look as………

I left the sentence halfway but she understood what I wanted to say.

“I know what you are asking”. She said

“No I am not a call girl but one of my friends suggested this to me so that I can earn the required money quickly.

Today was my first night my friend had accompanied me.”

Yes, I remembered a girl waving her hand as Surbhi sat in my car that night.

Oh my God this poor innocent girl was in a financial crisis and a deep mess

I looked at her. She was looking at the night sky her face looking sweet. The light and shadows were playing on the surface of the sea. The waves made some strange sounds in the stillness of the night.

“What do you do?” She asked me

“I am a photographer.” I told her

“Are you married?” She asked hesitantly

“Yes.” I said and smiled

“I have a small son he is eight years old.”

My wife and son have gone to US for vacations.”

We sat silently for some time

I asked her about her mother

She said she has to go through a heart surgery and she would have to arrange funds for that

I asked her hesitantly if she was aware of thee danger if she chose the profession her friend had suggested

“Yes I know anything can happen but sometimes in life there is no choice.”

As a small child I dreamt of becoming a doctor which I could not because of lack of funds.

When I got this job here in Mumbai I thought my difficulties would end now. All I wanted was a happy life for my mother and younger sister.

“Did you ever think about yourself.” I asked her

She looked at me and smiled a poignant smile

‘I never think about myself.” She said

“Is there nothing you would like for your self.”

“You don’t want someone to love you.”

“Yes, she said she sometimes felt that someone should be there for her to take the burden from her shoulders to help her to get on with life.

A small house with happy kids and she smiled

But these are distant dreams and I don’t think I can indulge in these fantasies when my mother needs medical help’

‘Do you love your wife?’ she asked a little shyly.

“Yes I said I loved my wife and my son

I took out a photograph of my family from my wallet and handed it to her.

She took it and looked at it

Then she looked at the sea again

“You wife is sweet.” she said and “your son looks cute.”

I smiled

“Are you happy.” she asked me

‘No don’t answer you look happy

I said happiness is a state of mind

You can never get everything in life.

 yes she agreed

‘Kabhi kisi ko mukkamal jahan nahi milta

Kahin jamin to kahin assman nahi milta!”

“That’s my favorite quote.” I said

“Mine too.” She said

“I don’t know why but I feel I have known you all my life.’

I knew that feeling. I felt that I had some relationship with this girl.

We must have met somewhere sometime I thought

Travelers in time and space.

I looked at my watch .it was half past three.

Time to go home.

She looked at me with pleading eyes and I knew she wanted to talk

Poor girl she was tired of all the responsibilities on her delicate shoulders.

“Do you believe in God.” she asked me

I was going to say no but stopped

She suddenly said you have to believe in him

“This planet the sea the night the stars everything is his creation and everything everyone has a role in it. And this meeting also has a role to play however small may be.”

I was silent

Then asked her din’t she felt that God had been unjust to her

She nodded that sometimes she felt that way too but the phase did not last long

“I am a happy person.” she said and smiled a sweet smile

“And what is happiness can you tell me.’ I said

Its not about the proverbial treasure at the end of the rainbow.

Its like a beautiful musical note from a haunting melody.

Its like something elusive like a pain in an oyster which turns into a pearl.

Its like finding a star a lone star shining on a dark night

Or its like gazing at the sky full of stars with someone who is a stranger still feels like a long lost friend.”

We got up to go .She slipped her hand in mine and silently we walked towards the car.

Who was she a stranger a long lost friend a traveler in time and space. There was some relation. There had to be.

We reached the car

Silently we drove. She wanted me to drop her at the hospital gates.

We reached the hospital. She got down without a word

She gave me her hand

‘Thanks.” She said “For a beautiful night my friend.”

She walked away and I felt sad