I watched her beautiful lips move, stuck in awe, staring at her. She kept talking to me as I heard her most beautiful voice as her lips moved trying to make words. It dawned upon me that this girl was trying to communicate while I was conveniently lost in her beauty. I tried to focus, trying to make sense of the lip movements and the sounds emanating from her mouth. I could clearly see that she was exasperated trying to get through to my thick skull.

I could hear her say now very clearly,”Helloooo?!, she said waving her hands.Doo Y-o-u Sp-e-ak Ee-n-g-l-eesh?”, she said pointing a finger at me, accusingly.

I realized that the girl had given up the thought that I understood her, or maybe she thought I was mute. I tried to speak to dispel her fears but could utter only a mere squeak, embarrassingly. I cleared my throat, coughing to find my lost voice.

“Yes, I do” I answered affirmatively. “I’m sorry I was lost in my thoughts,” I tried to explain.

“Finally”, she said, relieved. “I’ve been trying to find my way through this fog to the nearest grocery store but I think I’ve been moving around in circles. Could you please tell me which way to go?”, she asked imploringly.

I looked at her, surprised at first, and then smiled, “I am going the same way too. You can tag along if you like?”, I offered hesitantly.

She was relieved, having found an able ally to guide her through this mist. “That would be great. I don’t think I would’ve made it even with directions. The fog is so thick.”

I was equally relieved having gotten her approval and pointed her in the direction we should be walking as I looked up her and smiled as we started making our way through the fog. I couldn’t help but thank the gods for providing the company of a beautiful girl on this wonderful morning. I was intent on saying something interesting and making a good first impression but I could hardly think of anything interesting. Her beauty had rendered me incoherent and unable to think.

Finally, mustering some courage, I asked her “Are you new around here?” She looked back at me astonished.

“It’s just that I don’t usually meet girls losing their way in the fog everyday,” I added, trying to explain the reason behind my question.

“Oh yes, I am visiting a friend. I have been here only couple of days,” she confirmed. “The fog is not really helping, I must’ve missed a turn or something and the whole place is like a maze. I thought I knew where I was going until I saw myself pass the same sign twice. I was totally lost,” she tried to explain her problem.

I smiled again, “Yeah, it is really difficult for someone new to go around here. The streets are really small and almost all of them look similar. It’s really easy to be lost if you are not careful.”

I just couldn’t help but smile, as she walked gracefully next to me. We were walking so close, I could smell her perfume. I wondered if I smelled as good as her. I wanted to keep the conversation going and keep her interested.

“Is this your first time here? Or have you been here before?”, I asked.

“Yes. It is my first time here,” she replied.

“Do you like it? It is a really beautiful small country place and the weather is always so pleasant. Today is just an exception though, I said, looking at the fog

“I haven’t been to a lot of places really but the drive from the airport was really good. I am planning to go out this weekend when I am not so busy.”

We reached close to the grocery store as I was getting ready to tell her about the places she should visit. I realized later maybe it was a good thing I didn’t, it would’ve been awfully boring. I was sad that it was such a short trip to the store. She looked relieved that we finally made it there. She looked at me and thanked me profusely as we made our way to the entrance of the store.

I looked at her and asked, “Do you want a cart for your groceries?”, wanting to tag along.

She said, “No. I only want some ice cream.”

“Ah! Right there, in that aisle, I think.” I pointed to her in the direction of the ice-cream aisle and walked past her looking for orange juice. I quickly looked for orange juice with pulp but was unable to find any.

Darn it! I cursed as I searched everywhere. Pulp! Pulp! Pulp! Pulp! I kept repeating in my head as I looked for it. I finally found one lying in the corner of the shelf. Found you, sucker, I said to myself delighted and rushed to the ice-cream aisle slowing down as I reached the aisle. I walked past the selection of ice cream, with one hand in my pocket, trying to look cool and the other carrying the orange juice, as I kept searching for the girl through the corner of my eye. I looked up noticing that she was nowhere to be seen, cursing under my breath. I looked around frantically wondering if she had already left.

I was only gone for a few minutes, I thought. She couldn’t have left so quickly. I shouldn’t have spent so much time looking for pulpy orange juice, Should’ve got whatever was there-I continued to curse myself as I kept searching thinking of all the possibilities in my head moving across the store. I found a hint of red peering through a stack of books in front of a counter. I rushed there as I found the angel waiting to pay her bill. I stood behind her breathing a sigh of relief.

“Hi again, I said, Got everything you need?”, I asked politely opening my wallet getting ready to pay.

“Yes.” She held up the ice-cream like a trophy she won.

I quickly paid for my juice as she waited. I picked my bag up and walked out with her as I noticed that the sun was rising and the fog was clearing. I was hoping to walk her home and I stood there disappointed.

Looks like you can find your own way home now, I said, surveying the landscape.

“Yes. I think I can and I have to go that way”, she said, pointing to opposite direction we came from.

“Ah! How did you end up there if you started that way?” I wondered out loud.

“I have no idea. I told you I was lost.” She sad laughing.

“I bet you walked right through this place,” I said mockingly.

“I am sure I didn’t,” she said, mildly amused, almost sticking her tongue out.

She waved in a really cute way as she started to walk away from me.

“Oh, by the way,” I stopped her, “What is your name?”

“Archana. And yours?”

“Jagadish”

“Aha! Jagadish,” she said nodding, “Have a nice day Jagadish.”

“You too, Archana,” I said, as she walked away from me.

I watched her back as the distance between us started grew. A lump formed in my throat knowing this could be the last time I see this angel. I watched her hair move to the wind as she made her way ahead. I felt like a part of me was being ripped from my body as she continued walking away. I stood there wondering if she would turn around but I did not want to wait that long. I mustered all the courage I could and shouted her name out loud. She stopped in her tracks and turned around and asked, “What now?”

“Umm.. Can I walk you home?” I shouted again as I walked closer to her.

A beautiful smile spread across her lips as she replied, “I thought you would never ask.”

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