He looks familiar, Aditi thought as she looked at the man sitting next to the replica of Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night. It was a busy evening at the restaurant. And so, without delving deeper into her thoughts, Aditi went to take his order. He wanted a hamburger and a glass of lemonade. While jotting down, she tried not to stare at the scars across his right hand or the red stains on his left wrist. From up-close, Aditi was now sure she had seen him somewhere, but couldn’t quite recall where.
Forty minutes later, she went to the mysterious stranger with the bill. He paid his dues, gave a handsome tip, and coughed, “Thank you, Aditi.” And then, he left.
Aditi stood there, stunned, wondering how he knew her name. Then it hit her–the car accident! He pulled me out of my wrecked car before it burst into flames! She tried to follow him, but he was already gone.
When Aditi came back, she found a note on his table. It read:
Dear Aditi,
The night of your accident, I was on my way to rob a bank. But when I pulled you out and took you to the hospital, I realised how fragile life really is. We can’t risk it for anything. Today, I’m a painter, living an honest life. Thank you for saving me. I will always keep you in my prayers.
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