The time has just been a painful entity for me. It gives the appearance of moving fast when in reality it is a turtle-feet. And yet I have no desire for it to pass in a more formidable manner.

For eons time has perplexed the most advanced of brains and yet they have no conclusion.

How much time has passed? Ah time!!! I know not, but it seems like it was yesterday. And  at the same time it feels like an eternity has passed since.

I was at the end of my schooling, bathing in youth…..ah youth…..what a glorious thing. Just like a basketful of roses….there are thorns yes, but who looks at the thorns……just a basketful of beautiful roses.

I was the rose. I laughed smiled and fought with friends. Laughing and smiling.

In those days ,I often went to this shabby place called the mohan joint. The guy there made extremely good food and very cheap too. The place was not frequented much coz of its location in the backwaters of the township and was considered a little gloomy for the family taste. But not me, I had no qualms about going there anytime of the day or night for that matter. I enjoyed eating  good cooking more than anything.

It was that one autumn night in September when I felt the urge to go there. I felt the aroma of  food inducing me to commence a short journey . It was a clear night and I knew I will be back in an hour.

It was indeed a short journey. I reached mohan joint shop  and then I ordered and sat for my meal to come.

While I was sitting ,I observed around, being a natural instinct by virtue of being a human, as a pastime. There weren’t many people around and a few who were there were mostly  auto drivers. And then, I noticed him. He was a short , lean man with a very serious face and long hair till his neck .He seemed to be contemplating something, deep in his thoughts. He was wearing black….all black. It were such that if I hadn’t made out the assumption that he was wearing something, I would have though him to be a part of the darkness with a face.