The Vagabond

“I used to have a crush on you in college days.” I told Sonia.

We had met after a long time. She was my junior in college.

“Do you know what it means when a boy is interested in a girl” I asked her.

“Yes”she replied back.

“When a boy has a crush on a girl, he wants to get her into his pants, while when a girl had a crush on a boy, she wants to marry him.”

I was dumbstruck. I did not know what to reply back. Was it indeed so? What a male wants is just sex and what females want is security? I did not know the answer then.

A month back, my company sent me to Japan for training.

Japan is a beautiful place. Their culture is so unique, you can’t stop admiring.

So, here in my office I met Aiya. Aiya in Japanese means a beautiful silk. And beautiful she was, and like always Japanese are so soft spoken, warm and respectful towards you. I just couldn’t keep my eyes off her. The moment I saw her I wanted to have her. Yes, exactly in the way Sonia had told. I wanted to sleep with her.

And then that day I asked her out for a date. She agreed. She knew little English and I knew absolutely no Japanese. Still, we went out together, not on one but many dates. We spent as much time together as we could. She taught me Japanese a little.

We would roam Tokyo city at night. Wander across the streets, hand in hand. She made me eat all the crazy stuff which I would have not otherwise tried. We would even get drunk together. It was the best time of my life.

She even stayed with me for a night, but I did not sleep with her. I knew I cannot do this to her. She was such a pure soul. I knew, being from different cultures, our relation won’t stand the test of time. And I did not have the courage to take advantage of the faith she had placed in me as a friend.

May be she taught me what it meant to fall in love.