The Exchange

Her Voice

On his entire ride to his hotel, he could not shake off the feeling that she was there...that she had been somewhere in the crowd and he had been unable to find her...just like he had been unable to stop her a year ago. All of the feelings he had dug deep within himself came flooding back...but, he had to stop himself. He had to carry on. If not for himself, then for her. As for the first time in a year, he felt as if they would meet again. For the first time in a year, he let himself hope. 

But, once he arrived to his room, he tossed his backpack onto his bed and searched up local bars , local venues in the area. Staying out into the depths of the night was his only way to cope, to survive the emptiness inside of him. He saw a listing for a singer named Maya as one of the hotel's recommendations. So, that is where he would go. Once again, he submerged himself into his routine...looking at himself in the mirror, gelling his hair back, counting the amount of teeth visible in his smile. He would meet some strangers as he always did and be the happiest he had ever been tonight. He repeated this to himself over and over again until his mind started to believe it. 

Once he got to the venue, he stood at the very back, helping the bartender with his duties as usual. The truth was that he had no interest in whoever this Maya was. Nor did he have any interest in whatever she had to sing. He could care less. He heard the crowd chanting her name uncontrollably, their applause shaking the entire building. He rolled his eyes, preparing to hear some raspy voice...some wanna be artist who did not deserve this fame. There was only one person in the entire world who deserved this...who deserved this much appreciation... and that person was gone. 

As the lights began to dim, the crowd went silent. He heard Maya say "Welcome everyone. Welcome to Switzerland. Thank you for being here tonight. Thank you for coming out on this very special night...the first night of this tour. I hope you enjoy what is to follow...I will start with a song that is very near and dear to my heart." 

"Saans mein teri saans mili toh mujhe saans aayiiii, mujhe saans aayyiii" 

And with those words, with those lyrics, with that VOICE, he felt his life return to him. It was her. It was his Akshu. He would recognize that voice from 1000 meters away. He would recognize that voice in his sleep. He would recognize that voice even after he was no more. That voice was his heartbeat. That voice was his destiny. That voice was his everything. 

And for the first time in a year, he found direction. He found purpose. He shoved through the crowd, pushing everyone in his way. People yelled at him, telling him to back off, some of them even shoving him aside. But, he did not care. No one...not even god could stop him from reaching her...his life, his love, his everything. 

And yet, when he finally reached the stage, his heart sank. The woman on stage was a mere stranger, someone he had never seen before. He thought maybe he was hallucinating, maybe he was imagining her voice...maybe what happened at the airport had gotten into his mind, making him believe things that were not there. But, the longer he stood at the front of the crowd, staring at this unknown woman, the more his heart became sure....this was his Akshu. He did not know how or why or if it even made sense...and the truth was, he did not care. He would figure it out even if that was the last thing he ever did.