Prompt: It was the first snowfall of the year.
Much to our delight, the weather throughout the week had
been sunny and bright. The first snowfall of the year, as predicted by the
weatherman, seemed nowhere in sight.
So when my daughter, Sonali, called up to tell us that she
was driving home over the weekend I saw no reason to dissuade her. The three hour
drive from college to our house was something she had got used to doing over
the last couple of years.
"There is no chance of a snow storm at least this
weekend," I had told her jokingly on the phone.
I spent the morning baking her favorite banana cake and some
spicy chicken curry for lunch. She was going to start after breakfast so I was
expecting her home by lunch time. However, I had barely finished cooking that I
realized, it had become dark outside, there was a sudden strong gush of wind
and within minutes it started snowing.
I immediately tried to reach her on her mobile but there was
no signal. Finally, I gave up after trying her several times. By now my nerves
were on edge as I knew she was still an hour away from home.
Meanwhile, I noticed a car had pulled-up near our house and
a young girl with a bag and umbrella stepped out of the car looking completely
lost. I waved to her to come in. She looked a bit hesitant and then decided to
accept my invite.
"I am Angela. I was feeling scared driving in so much
snow. Thanks for letting me into your house", she said as she entered.
I realized, Angela was my daughter's age and she too was
driving home for the week-end. We spent the rest of the day chatting about the
college she attended and her family. In the night, while I prepared the guest
room for her, I prayed to God to take care of my daughter too. Sonali's mobile had not responded from the
time the storm had started and there was no other way of contacting her.
Surprisingly, by morning it had cleared completely. Angela
was packed and ready to go. She thanked me and left a note with her phone
number and a picture of her family.
Angela had barely driven out when I saw Sonali drive in. I
rushed out to greet her. She looked cheerful and happy as if nothing had
happened during her journey. Once inside the house she excitedly told me about
the family with whom she had spent the night. She recounted how her car had suddenly
broken down in front of a house and the lady of the house had invited her in.
"There are still good people left in this world. She
was so kind to me. In fact, her own daughter was stuck in the storm and she
could not reach her on her mobile," she said.
I was about to tell her about Angela when Sonali's eyes fell
on the picture Angela had left behind. "Oh you know them? This is the
family I spent the night with," she
exclaimed.
"I was about to tell you. This is Angela, the girl who
spent last night with us. Strangely, she too had stopped in front our house as
she was scared to drive in the snow," I heard myself say.
Sonali and I looked at each other completely dazed at the
co-incidence.
