Diya Rai – Coincidence

Diya sipped some water from her bottle and sat down on the stone bench situated beside the lake. Her workout clothes stuck to her damp skin, making her all the more ravishing. She was soon joined by Karan, who had also jogged for a kilometer along with her. He plopped down beside her with a huge sigh.

“That was an energetic performance, Diya.” He chuckled.

“That was shit, actually. I can do much better. I am just out of touch. Should get back to the routine.” She was still panting.

“What made you stop jogging?”

“I thought life was becoming happier and I needn’t care much about my looks, since I had found a person who would accept me as I am. But then everything turned upside down. Hence, I am here, again. Back to square one. Also, it feels good to jog again. It’s like I am pushing all the toxins out.”

“Can we jog together daily?”

“Sure. Okay, what about breakfast?”

“There’s a restaurant named Bhoj, which serves Indian food. It’s just been three days and I am already craving for our food. Can we go there?”

“How far is it?”

“Just a two-minute walk from here.”

“Okay, jog on!”

“Oh, no! Enough with jogging. Let’s walk.”

“Ha ha ha. I was just kidding, Karan.”

The duo reached Bhoj after a five-minute leisurely walk. They ordered Garlic Naan with Malai Panneer Kofta.

“So, when should you go to work?”

“I’ll start by ten. You know, I can work leisurely. This assignment requires me to write about Docklands culture. So, I can even head out in the name of research and observation.”

“That’s cool. Where do you stay?”

“In a posh apartment in Newquay Promenade. My newspaper has bore all the expenses.”

“Wow! How’s the apartment like?”

“Elegant is an understatement. It’s fit for a queen, actually.”

“Well, you are a queen. I mean, all the women are queens in this world.”

“So cheesy, Karan. Anyway, thank you.” Diya blushed. “Well, what’s your plan for today?” she continued.

“I am gonna go kayaking in Yarra and then I’ll be just visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens. If I have time, I might also visit the National Gallery of Victoria.”

“That’s quite a plan, Karan. I’ll see if I can join you. Anyhow, I’ll be out and interacting with some Australians in the park. Where do you stay?”

“I stay in the prestigious Quest Grand Hotel in Spencer Street. Drop in if you have time. We can talk over some wine.”

“Sure. Have you made any buddies over there?”

“Not yet. I think there’s an Indian in the room next to mine. He keeps to himself most of the day. I should talk to him today. He seems to be touring alone.”

“Well, it’s good if you can hang out with him, since I won’t be available.”

Karan flashed a wide smile. Then they shared the breakfast fare and left the restaurant.

*****

“Hey, I think you stay in the room next to mine. Am I right?” Karan asked jubilantly.

“Room next to yours? Where do you stay?” The other guy asked rather blandly.

“Quest Grand Hotel. Arey, I have seen you entering the room next to mine. So I thought you’d be staying there.”

“Yes, of course, I am staying there. But I have never seen you.”

“That’s because you are too absorbed with yourself.”

“And who are you to say that?”

“Just a lad who is trying to strike a cordial friendship with you.”

“Oh! Well, I – I thought that you – well, never mind. I am Josh. And you are?”

“Karan Patel. I work in Bangalore. My native is Surat.”

“Wow! This is a coincidence. I work in Bangalore, too.”

“Hi-five!”

“I am here on a holiday. What about you?”

“The same. You know, I have another coincidence, too. An old flame of mine has also come to Melbourne on a writing assignment. We are now on good terms with each other. She is working in Waterfront City. I’ll be meeting her in the evening. You can join, too. I think we can hang out as a trio from tomorrow.”

“That sounds great! Okay, what’s your next plan?”

“Royal Botanic Gardens. Care to join?”

“Sure, buddy.”

For the rest of the day, Josh and Karan stuck together. They even tried out some street delicacies and joined some games by the bank of Yarra river.

“You know, this is so much fun, Karan. I thought that vacationing alone is the best thing. Glad that I found a good company.”

“I am enjoying this, too. Wait till you meet my friend. She is more fun.”

“Can’t wait!”

*****

Diya sipped her third cup of coffee. She had been typing for more than two hours, rewriting and editing the paragraphs that she’d already written. Hannah Bach, her colleague, peeped from the next desk. She was a radiant Australian beauty, with slightly plump cheeks, well-arched eyebrows, blonde tresses, and a smile to die for.

“You are getting too worked up, Diya. I think you need to chill.” She spoke with a crystal-clear Australian accent.

“I know, Hannah, but I want to excel. This is my magnum opus. My newspaper’s gonna pay me lots of bucks for this assignment. Who doesn’t want some extra bucks?”

“That’s perfectly okay. However, you need some refreshment, too. You can take a walk, talk to other people, and make new friends.”

“I do relax, Hannah. And I am in the process of making new friends. You are already my friend. I had a friend coming to Melbourne along with me in the flight. He has taken a room in Quest Grand. We hang out together.”

“Sounds exciting!”

“Hey, why don’t you join us? I mean, if you are free in the evening, you can join us for some refreshing walk.”

“Sure. Just text me the place, okay? I’ll be there.”

“Okay.” Diya beamed at her.

After Hannah left the desk, she heaved a huge sigh and thought, ‘I think I should go out now and meet an Australian to provide me an insight of shopping in Waterfront City.’

A few minutes later, Diya visited the The Coffee Club Cafe and ordered Potato Wedges with Cheese & Bacon toppings. As she was gorging on her snack, a young lad in his late twenties, seated opposite to her and flashed a warm smile at her. Diya returned the smile. He was sturdily built with wonderful facial features – honey-brown eyes, rich black hair, and perfectly aligned jawline. Diya decided that the newcomer would be a perfect person to speak about shopping in Waterfront City.

“I need a Steak Sandwich with Chips,” he ordered to the waiter and turned towards her.

“Hey, I am Diya. Diya Rai from India. And you?”

“Michael Peterson from Melbourne, of course.” He chortled.

“Well, I am new here. I am gonna stay here for a month as a part of my writing assignment. I am writing about the culture of Melbourne Docklands. So I thought I could speak to someone about shopping in Waterfront City. Can you throw some light on the topic?”

“Yeah, sure. Waterfront City is THE best place for shopping in the entire Melbourne, I must say. You have the Harbour Town shopping centre, where you can shop for almost anything in the world. Accessories, jewels, food, entertainment – you name anything, it’s available in that shopping mall.”

“Wow! Are you free now? Can you just take me there and show me around?”

“Sure. I am free now.”

“By the way, what do you do?”

“I work as a real estate agent in Newquay.”

“Oh! I stay in one of the Newquay Promenade apartments.”

“That’s cool! Tremendously beautiful apartments they are.”

“Yeah, right. Shall we move now?”

“Sure, babe.”

Soon, Diya and Michael were in the Harbour Town shopping centre, going around the various shops and getting to know more about them. As they visited the shops randomly, Diya noted down some crucial points about them in her iPad. Michael spoke endlessly about the shopping trend in Melbourne and she was deeply impressed.

“You are so knowledgeable, Michael. Thanks for your inputs. I am gonna bring out a top-class assignment.”

“My pleasure, Diya. Have you come alone or with friends?”

“Actually, I met an old friend of mine on the flight to Melbourne, coincidentally. He is staying in a hotel. We hang out together in the mornings and evenings.”

“Hmmm, nice. I don’t have much friends here. Just two of them. We hang out rarely. They are busy guys and they wouldn’t show up much. I live a rather lonely life.”

“Hey, don’t you have a girlfriend?”

“I don’t. I just went through a painful breakup. I am healing my wounds by myself.”

“I am so sorry, Michael.” Diya held his right hand in hers. 

“That’s okay. I feel better now. Thanks for the touch.”

Diya withdrew her hand and continued, “Well, if you wish, you can join us in the evenings. We can hang out together. I have also invited a colleague from work. We can have a helluva time. You’d feel even better.”

“Thank you! Take my number. Call or text me the place. Okay?”

“Sure.”

The duo exchanged numbers and chatted for some more time. Besides his knowledge, Diya was also impressed by his kind attitude. She wondered if someone could breakup with a good guy like him. However, her rational mind had other thoughts.

‘Who knows? He might have some sleeping demons inside him. Only if I get to know him better, I can know his flaws. Only if I strike a friendship with him, I can know whether his flaws are manageable or not.’ She thought.

“Okay, I have some work now, Diya. A client meeting. Call me in the evening. I’ll come to the place where you want me to come.”

“I’ll surely call you, Mike.”

After they parted ways, Diya went back to her office. She found Hannah to be in a deep conversation with someone on the phone. Hence, she silently plopped down on her chair and began working on her assignment with renewed vigour.

*****

“Hannah, this is Michael. Michael, this is Hannah.” Diya introduced the two Australians to each other.

“Hey, Australians don’t name their daughters Hannah. How is it that you are named with a Russian name?”

“My father is a Russian, Mike.” Hannah replied with a smile. At once, Diya knew that the two would get on well with each other. 

“Oh, how I love making new friends! You guys are really amazing. I am sure I wouldn’t have a boring stay here.” Diya said, happiness dancing in her voice.

“Yes, we’ll make sure that you have the most wonderful time of your life.” Hannah put forth.

“Diya, where is your other friend?” asked Mike.

“He is on his way. He’s bringing someone with him. So that would make five of us.”

“Voila! This is so exciting!” Mike hollered.

The trio entered Pok Pok, a Thai street food restaurant. They seated in the open space which provided an eye-candy lakeside view. As they munched on some fried chicken ribs and prawn crackers, someone patted on Diya’s shoulder. 

“Hey, Diya.” It was Karan. She stood up to introduce him to Hannah and Mike. In turn, Karan beckoned to someone to come up to their table. The guy was admiring an artist painting in the open space.

“Diya, this is Josh.”

At the next instant, Diya’s mobile phone slipped from her hands and fell headlong on the floor. Her hands turned shaky as she stared at the so-called Josh. Sweat beads appeared on her forehead. She hastily wiped them away with her handkerchief and smiled uneasily.

“Diya, are you okay?” asked Karan, taken aback by her reactions.

‘Yeah, I..I am okay. Hi, Josh.” She extended a shaky hand for a handshake. Josh held it firmly and replied in his sonorous voice, “Hi, Diya.” A million shudders passed through Diya’s spine before she could regain her composure.

Karan and Josh seated themselves and ordered some fish cakes. All the while, Diya avoided Josh’s unabashed stares. She never knew that things could take such a dramatic turn. Finally, she mustered up some courage and asked him, “So, why are you in Melbourne, Josh?” Her voice was deadpan.

“I just needed a break from my monotonous life. So, I am here on a vacation for a month.” Josh replied nonchalantly, oblivious to Diya’s questioning expression.

“Well, is Josh your full name?” She raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

“No. Josh is my second name.”

“Hey, why didn’t you tell me your full name?” Karan popped in.

“Just didn’t feel like it, Karan. Anyhow, what’s in a name?”

“Yeah, what’s in a name? Nothing. But we’d all like to know your full name.”

Even Hannah and Mike looked at him eagerly, as if his revelation will be next day’s headlines.

“I – I am Brian Josh. You can call me Brian, if you like.”

“Brian Josh?” Karan asked quizzically. 

Suddenly, a worried expression climbed over his face, as realization dawned upon him.

**********