Here’s the second part of the story, by Monalisa, exclusively for Different Truths.

Mud dripped into Leena’s recently manicured nails and her arms ached due to long hours of gardening. When the doorbell rang, she was watering a newly planted daffodil in her upstairs balcony. Dropping her water can, she scrambled down the narrow rungs and ran the steps to downstairs. Somewhere in the distance, there was a knocking—no, a pounding on the front door. Her pulse quickened. Could it be…? No, it couldn’t be a guest, it must be the meter reader. “Coming,” she called, sliding the last few feet on the soles of her new canvas shoes and flinging the door open.  A miracle of miracles, it was a guest. No meter reader ever wore a branded jacket and expensive aviators. She gave him her most dazzling smile and he took off his sunglasses and stared as if she were a ghost appearing out of nowhere instead of a frazzled woman who was just breathless from running down the stairs.

“Welcome, “she said. “I’m Leena George, owner of Sunrise Homestay.”

The man took a step forward. “Any vacancies?” he asked.

“Yes, I think so. Something overlooking the ocean. Everything here overlooks the ocean. Would that be all right?”

“Sounds great.”

“For how many nights?”

“I ‘m not sure. Could I let you know that?”

Leena smoothed the wrinkles in her jeans, wishing she had time to slip into something more hostess-like, wishing she sounded more professional and not so desperate

Leena smoothed the wrinkles in her jeans, wishing she had time to slip into something more hostess-like, wishing she sounded more professional and not so desperate, as if he were the first guest to appear in weeks, which he was. She held the door open for him and he followed her inside to the living room, where he signed his name in her register, Sachin Bhatnagar.

“So, you’re here on vacation?” she asked.

“Business actually. I’m an IT professional and my new short-term office is nearby, in Panaji. I thought I’d take a day or two off before I report and soak up some Goan sunshine at the beach.” He sat down in a chair next to the table and stretched his legs out.

 “I’m lucky to get a room, I guess. The weather’s great, the view’s spectacular, and I guess there is something interesting to see around here.”

 “I’ll provide you a list of all visiting places, Mr. Bhatnagar,” she replied.

 “Thank you, please call me Sachin,” he said.

“Maybe you’d like to see your room, Sachin,” she suggested, pushing her chair back from the table. He joined her a few minutes later in the living room with a leather overnight bag slung over his shoulder. “You live here all alone?” he asked, following her up the stairs. “My friend Roja lives with me. She’s a singer and she’s performing out of town tonight. ” Leena said.

She turned around to face Sachin. “Your room is right down here at the end of the hall,” she said briskly. “I think you’ll find everything you need. The master bath is inside the room.” Thanks.” She managed a smile, then hurried down the stairs to answer the phone.

Sachin changed into shorts and a khaki shirt in the bedroom he’d been given, ran downstairs and hit the beach running.

Sachin changed into shorts and a khaki shirt in the bedroom he’d been given, ran downstairs and hit the beach running. He was here on a mission and he could not let himself forget that. He sat down on the wet sand and stared at the waves that crashed against the shore. Then He kicked up the sand with his toes and ran down the empty beach one more time, feeling the sun on his shoulders, the wind in his face, until his muscles ached, and his heart raced enough. Then he climbed the wooden steps back to the house and relaxed in his room.

When Sachin came downstairs, an hour later after, Leena handed over a few brochures to him with details of visiting places including a picture of ongoing Goan food festival at the Baga beach. Sachin looked at the picture for a while and said in a clear voice, “There is nothing I would like better than going the food festival.  But I hate to eat alone. I hope you won’t mind joining me for dinner tonight.”

May be Sachin will recommend her homestay to others and it will lead to more guests staying in her homestay in the near future. She felt hopeful about a better future of her homestay business

Leena hesitated and thought for a few moments. If a guest does not like to eat alone, should she accompany him? After all, as a host, it is her responsibility to ensure that the guest feels comfortable in her homestay. If she joins him for dinner, it will definitely make him happy. May be Sachin will recommend her homestay to others and it will lead to more guests staying in her homestay in the near future. She felt hopeful about a better future of her homestay business as she said, “Okay, let’s go.”

They took a rental car. Leena gave directions and a few minutes later, they were at

“Seafood Paradise” restaurant at the Baga beach. Sachin let his eyes drift over the top of the menu card and looked at Leena, who was busy looking at the sea through the big glass windows. Sachin smiled and cleared his throat.

“How do you feel about money, Leena?”

“I like it,” she said with a smile “Do not you?”

“I like what it buys”, He admitted,” Good food, good wine and a good vacation in Goa, once a while.”

“Let’s drink to that,” Leena said raising her glass of wine.

“If only there were more of you, I would not have to worry much.”

“What do you worry about?” He asked, setting his menu on the table.

“The usual, paying the bills. It’s a risky business, the homestay”. Most of them go belly-up within the first year. I am still surviving because my friend Roja pays me rent.”

“How about the Banquet Hall? You don’t own it?”  Sachin inquired.

“No. it belongs to my step-sister, my father has divided the properties before he left us,” Leena said calmly.

When the waiter came, they ordered Goan shrimp with wild rice, crab curry and a Green salad for two.

“What about you?” Leena asked, folding her hands on the tablecloth.

“What do you worry about?”

Above all, he wanted to tell her that he is on a mission directed by the Indian Yogi.

He wanted to say the truth to her that he is always worried about his work at Toronto and he has lost the zeal of being alive. Above all, he wanted to tell her that he is on a mission directed by the Indian Yogi.

“What, me worry?” He asked with a smile.

“I’m on a vacation. I’ve got no worries at all.” He lied.

“So, you could use some extra money, could not you?” He inquired. He wanted to get more information from her so that if possible, he can help to make her life better.

“Of course, could not anyone?” She took a bite of crab meat and relished its taste.

“Do you have a boyfriend or anyone special in your life?” He asked.

Only she knows that her heart beats a little faster every time she gets an email from Sharfaraj.

Leena squirmed uncomfortably. Only she knows that her heart beats a little faster every time she gets an email from Sharfaraj. Only she knows how much she looks forward to his emails.

“It’s a long story,” She said at last, “Actually we are pen pals.”

“You mean, you have never met him?” asked Sachin as he took a bite of salad and chewed thoughtfully.

“How could I? He lives in Gangtok, amidst the wild Blue Mountains. But I know him better than most people I know,” she said proudly.

“Do you even know how he looks like?”

“Oh yeah. He is on Facebook, but it is not important. He is just a friend”

“Sounds like a special friend though,” Sachin insisted, leaning forward and looking deep into her eyes.

She met his gaze as she refolded her napkin in her lap.

“A very special friend,” she repeated. “He writes the most beautiful emails. May be its solitude and the beauty of nature that brings out the sensitivity in some men.”

 “You should meet him and find out,” Sachin remarked.

Leena looked up from her wild rice. “Find out what?”

“If you want to take the next step, move from friendship to something else.”

“I already know, I was in love once. It was the most painful experience of my life.”

“So, you are afraid to explore life, afraid to get involved, just because someone hurt you in the past.”

She straightened her spine against the back of the chair.

“I just do not want to go through the same pain again.” She defended herself.

“I mean, if we cannot learn from our mistakes, what’s the use of living? Now I am happier on my own, making my own way in the world.” Her eyes shot sparks into the air, so bright that it made him feel proud of her.

They both ate in companionable silence for the next half an hour.

“Dessert?” he asked, and she shook her head.

He took out his credit card and laid it on the plastic tray left a moment earlier by the waiter.

He took out his credit card and laid it on the plastic tray left a moment earlier by the waiter. After a while, having received his credit card and receipt, he followed her from the dining room.

 “Thank you for the dinner Sachin. It is a special dinner, which I will never forget. None of my guests ever made me feel so special.” Leena said as Sachin opened the car door for her.

“You are most welcome,” Sachin responded back with a smile that came straight from his heart knowing that he has been able to make Leena happy with the dinner which he arranged to serve her and he has been successful in his mission which the Indian yogi had set for him.  As he drove along, he felt a wave of bliss engulfing him.

(To be continued)

Photos from the Internet