Jai Ganga maiyaan ki = Glory to the mother, river Ganges.

With trembling fingers, the stranger wiped the tears from her cheeks. She lifted her gaze to face the girl and spoke in a hoarse, hesitant voice, “Do you believe in destiny?”

“Huh?” The girl’s lips parted slightly.

The stranger’s eyes shone with unshed tears, and her voice trembled. “Do you think it’s all pre-written? That our future is already scripted, no matter what we do?”

The girl blinked as a breeze stirred the nearby grass, tickling her ankles. Brushing the dust from her kurti, she stood and walked a few paces toward the river. “I... don’t really know,” she said. “But I think our choices shape where we end up... even if the starting line isn’t ours to pick.” She looked over her shoulder, smiling at the stranger.

The stranger’s gaze fixed on the girl as she pushed herself up and approached her companion. “Do you believe in that saying, every dog has its day?” she whispered. “Because I’ve seen people born in dirt... and then die in dirt.”

The girl tightened her lips, eyes lowering before locking back onto the figure ahead. “Life’s like that, isn’t it?” Her nose scrunched. “We can’t change the circumstances we’re born into, but we can choose how we deal with them. Sometimes, that’s the only hope we’ve got.”

The stranger scoffed. “Yeah, hope. Hope for something, only to watch it fall apart one day.”

The girl bit her inner cheek. A silent pause hung between them before she offered a forced smile. “Hope’s what gives our suffering some meaning.”

The stranger looked down at the clay path, her eyes tracing footprints faded by the veil of time. “We always think things will get better,” she murmured. “But for so many, they never do. They die clinging to a false sliver of hope.”

The girl folded her arms across her chest, eyes fixed on the ground. She lifted her head, narrowing her eyes at a faint beam of light flickering in the distance. “Hope can be a double-edged sword,” she whispered. “It gives us strength, but it can also lead to disappointment.” She walked a few steps forward, her eyes lingering on that distant glow. “Hope isn’t about ignoring the darkness. It’s about finding light within it. About choosing to see beauty… even when it’s hard to find.”

The stranger’s eyebrows furrowed as she followed the girl’s gaze. They stood quietly for a moment, surrounded by the distant hum of the sleeping town and the gentle murmur of the river.

“I want to believe you,” the stranger whispered. “I really do.” Her throat tightened as fresh tears pooled up.

The girl turned, facing the stranger with a warm smile. Without a word, she extended both arms and wrapped the stranger in a gentle embrace.

The stranger’s tears soaked into the girl’s shoulder.

The girl stroked her hair in slow, steady motions. She didn’t try to offer words of encouragement or consolation—just held her closer, a quiet reminder that humanity was still alive in this world.

Gradually, the sobs softened into sniffles and shaky breaths. The stranger took the handkerchief offered by the girl, wiping her face and blowing her nose. Her eyes were swollen and red from constant crying. “Thank you,” she whispered in a hoarse voice.

The girl smiled. “You’re welcome.” Her hand continued caressing the stranger’s back. “Sometimes we just need someone to remind us we’re not alone.”

The stranger nodded, her body still trembling with occasional sobs.

The girl’s eyes flickered up at the moon, now dipping lower on the horizon. “Where do you live?” she asked. “It’s almost one in the morning.”

The stranger’s eyes dropped to the ground, blinking rapidly. “I’m not from around here,” she said quietly.

“Oh,” the girl replied, nodding slowly. “Okay…” Her smile returned. “Do you want to go home? Or stay a bit longer?”

The stranger’s lips tugged upward. “I’ll go home in the morning,” she said. “For now, I just want to be here… with nature. With myself.” Saying this, she lowered herself onto a smooth rock and trailed her fingers through the cool water, watching the ripples break and settle.

The girl settled beside her, looking at the shifting current of the water. “I can stay too,” she offered. “If you’d like, of course. We can talk more… or just sit.”

The stranger nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. “I’d like that. It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone to talk to.”

The girl grinned, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, I’m a good listener then.”

They sat in peaceful silence, the quiet broken only by the gentle lap of water against the riverbank. Crickets chirped, frogs croaked, and the occasional rustle of leaves stirred in the breeze.

The stranger turned her head. “You know... I never thought I’d say this to someone—” she looked down, then up at the girl, “—but I feel like I can trust you.”

The girl’s gaze softened. “I’m glad,” she said. “We all need someone to trust sometimes.”

Hours slipped by. The stranger’s smiles came more freely, her laughter light and unguarded. At one point, she tossed her head back, a sound of pure joy escaping her throat. The girl watched her with a soft, content smile. Overhead, the stars glimmered into view, scattering across the velvety sky like tiny golden freckles.

The stranger’s gaze lingered on the girl’s face with open curiosity. “Okay, girl!” Her eyes sparkled as she clapped her palms together with a gentle smack. “You’ve taught me so much tonight. Now tell me one more thing. What do you think about life?”

The girl’s smile faded into thoughtfulness as she turned her face toward the water. Her eyes narrowed slightly, reflecting the silver sheen of the moonlit river. “I think... life is a beautiful mess,” she murmured. “It’s full of contradictions: joy and sorrow, light and shadow, knowing and not knowing.” Her fingers moved as she spoke, sketching invisible shapes in the air.

The stranger leaned in, her chin tilted, listening closely.

“And I guess life is a puzzle,” the girl went on. “We’re all looking for where we belong... trying to find our missing pieces.” She drew her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. “Sometimes we think we’ve found them, only to realize they don’t quite fit the way we imagined.” She paused, a small, knowing smile tugging at her lips.

The stranger watched her, spellbound, lips parted as if caught mid-breath.

“Life is a journey, not the destination. In fact, we don’t even know if we’ll ever reach the destination or just keep wandering through the maze, endlessly exploring the path.”

Silence followed, and the stranger’s eyes gleamed. “You’re incredible, you know that?” she whispered. “It feels like... like I’ve been given a whole new perspective to see things.”

The girl laughed softly, her eyes shining. “We’re just two wanderers, trading thoughts under the stars. But I’m glad my words meant something to you.”

The quiet moment lingered between them, soothing like a nightingale’s melody. The river flowed beside them, telling the story of life’s ever-changing nature, while the night deepened around them like a warm blanket in cold weather.

The stranger’s eyes sparkled as she turned toward the girl. “Umm… do you believe in love?” she asked hesitantly.

The girl’s eyebrows shot up, but her lips remained sealed. Then, her smile came slowly, tinged with something wistful. “Well… I don’t believe in romantic love. But I do believe two people can care for each other, like a mother does for her child. That kind of bond, yes. But love between a boy and a girl?” A corner of her lips tugged upward. “Nah. I’ve never seen or felt it.”

The stranger tilted her head, narrowing her bright eyes. “That’s an interesting perspective.” Her lips stretched into a gentle grin. “But don’t you think it’s a little… cynical?” She raised her eyebrows at the girl. “Don’t you believe two people can truly connect in a romantic way?”

The girl’s face tightened. She kept tucking the same stray strand of hair behind her ear. “No, that’s stupid,” she snapped. “Romantic love only exists in books and films. People come together for selfish reasons, and when the purpose ends, so does the relationship.” She concluded with a little shrug, her lips curling down.

A pause stretched between them, filled by the hum of crickets and the faint rustle of dry grass.

“Say two people get married, do you think it’s out of love?” the girl asked before answering her own question. “No. It’s to fulfill the expectations of society and the family.”

The stranger blinked. “But what about those real moments? When two people click, when something sparks?” she asked softly. “Aren’t those worth something?”

The girl waved a hand across her face, her expression pinching. “They’re fleeting. Temporary highs. Not built to last. And definitely not worth getting hurt over.”

Still smiling, the stranger replied gently, “Okay... but I have to respectfully disagree. I think love is worth the risk.”

A small smirk tugged at the girl’s lips. “You have every right to disagree. But I like to live practically rather than chasing some fairytales.”

The stranger chuckled. “Fairytales, huh? Maybe.” She tilted her head. “But that’s what makes life exciting, the ‘what ifs.’ You call it practicality. I call it settling.”

The girl raised an eyebrow. “You think not believing in love means I’m settling?”

“I think you’re shutting the door on something that could be beautiful,” the stranger replied. “Something that might even change your whole existence.”

The girl gave a half-shrug. “Or maybe I’m just being realistic. Better that than walking blind into disappointment.”

The stranger’s expression softened. “Maybe. But I’d rather risk disappointment than live without hope.” She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, fingers laced.

The girl mirrored her posture. “Hope is dangerous in some terms,” she said quietly. “It sets people up to fall.”

The stranger nodded slowly. “Maybe. But not everyone falls. Some people really do love, deeply and selflessly.”

The girl chuckled dryly. “Nobody loves like that. You’re dreaming, Miss. Wake up before it’s too late.”

An uneasy silence settled between them.

The stranger shifted, her eyes narrowing. “Tell me one thing.” Her tone softened. “Don’t you see any love between your parents? Or anyone else in your family?”

The girl blinked at the unexpected question, hesitation creeping into her voice. “No. There is no love,” she said harshly. “Just obligation and fights. If there was love, they wouldn’t be tearing each other down every other day.”

The stranger’s smile wavered as she extended a hand, placing it on the girl’s shoulder. “I see... where you’re coming from,” she murmured. “But love doesn’t always look perfect. Arguments don’t erase it. Sometimes, they are the signs that it’s still there.”

The girl jerked her hand away, eyes narrowing. “Love is just a lie people tell themselves. An excuse to hurt one another.”

“I don’t think it’s a lie.” The stranger kept her voice calm. “I think you’re protecting yourself. And maybe that’s okay for now. But don’t shut the world out completely.”

The girl’s eyebrows drew together, her lips pulling into a scowl.

Still, the stranger smiled and slid an arm around the girl’s shoulder in a loose side hug. “Let’s not fight,” she said. “Today, you taught me something about life and careers. I tried to change your perspective on some emotions. I’d say we’re even now.”

The girl crossed her arms, turning her head away with a huff. “Whatever.”

💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫

As the sun rose, its golden rays stretched across the landscape, brushing the river with soft orange light. The water shimmered like scattered diamonds, casting ripples of magic through the quiet morning. Birds sang in sweet bursts from the trees, their melodies light and playful.

Both girls stretched their arms, as if shaking off the weight of the night and breathing in a new beginning.

The stranger twirled once, her eyes alight with unfiltered joy. “Man, I feel so young and wild and free!” she exclaimed, raising her arms in the air. “Jai Ganga Maiyaan ki!” she cheered with a grin.

She turned to the girl, her expression serene now. “Ah, girl, thank you for the night. I’ll head home now. Bye!”

As she turned to go, the girl called out, “Wait—what’s your name? Your address? What if I want to check on you?”

The stranger smiled, stepping closer, and spoke gently. “You don’t need to check on me anymore. From here, I need to shape my path alone. You’ve already done enough for me.”

Their eyes met, and for a moment, silence said more than words.

“And as for my name,” she added with a playful shrug, “let’s stay as the Girl and the Miss Stranger.” With that, she turned and walked away, her figure slowly disappearing around the corner.

The girl stood still, emotions stirring like leaves in the breeze. A soft smile touched her lips. “Who knew a chance encounter could change someone’s life?” she murmured.

As she turned to leave, her eyes landed on a folded paper resting on a nearby rock, a note written hastily.

“Thank you for being my hope – Miss Stranger.”

A/N: Hello, lovely readers!

Also, I'm curious - what does love mean to you?

Share your thoughts, opinions, and experiences in the comments below. And if you like the story, do vote!