Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.

 

The Himalayan wind whipped around the bus stop. I hunched deeper into my jacket, the thin material offering little defense against the bite. My phone, as if sensing my misery chose that exact moment to die – a black screen mocking my predicament.

Just then, a splash of sunshine materialized beside me. A woman, her face framed by a riot of colorful scarves, held out a vibrant orange umbrella. Her eyes, the color of deep mountain pools, crinkled at the corners as she grinned.

“Looks like we’re stranded wayfarers today, wouldn’t you say?” she boomed, her voice surprisingly strong for her slender build.

I managed a watery smile. “Seems that way.”

“Don’t you fret, child,” she said, scooting closer and sharing the umbrella’s generous protection. “This old bird has braved worse blizzards than this.”

Conversation flowed easily. Mrs. Tashi, a retired yak herder on her way to visit her grandchildren, regaled me with tales of life in the high pastures, her voice rich with the rhythm of the mountains. 

Despite the biting wind, a warmth bloomed in my chest, fueled by her stories and the unexpected connection.

As the bus rumbled to a stop.. she squeezed my hand, pressing a single, delicate orchid into my palm. “Here, a little reminder that even in the harshest winds, beauty can bloom,” she winked.

The Orchid, carefully tucked between the pages of my notebook now, serves as a reminder of Mrs. Tashi’s kindness and the power of a random encounter to spark a fire in your soul.

It’s a small token.. but it holds the essence of a connection forged in the unlikeliest of places, a testament to the beauty of human connection blossoming even amidst the Himalayan winds.