Stranger with smilefection

Early morning, on my way to the swimming pool, I was at the standard Red signal. Waiting at the junction I typically use the 40second countdown for a quick warm up routine on the bike.

Twisting my body grab the opposite end of the scooter and stretch my back. Releasing it at the count of 20, I twist to the other side and grabbed the other end. And, came face to face with a young face under a helmet on a bike that just pulled up next to me.

I’m used to folks give me stares as I bikersersise. But this one gave me a toothy grin, which became bigger as the bike drew closer. Then she waved an excited ‘hi’.

I returned a rather unsure ‘hi’ trying to recognise who it was scanning her and her mother in the front. The mother was equally confused, trying to ascertain the same.

I had to break the suspense, “Do I know you?” She shrugged, the toothy grin intact, and said, “Dekha hoga kahin…” (I may have seen you somewhere…”

She probably connected to my early morning routine, both of us in work out gear at 7:15am. Or, she was drawn to another girl on a bike. Or she just is a happy person.

I immediately broke into a smile too and gave her a big ‘hi’ and a bigger wave.

As if in agreement, the signal turned green.

I was smiling long after I lost sight of them. How many more people would she have infected with her cheer, I wondered.

Hello, happy world! Hope you’re having a happy day too.