Fifteen minutes with a stranger

There was only one seat in the bus, the one just behind the driver. I went and sat on that seat, and the man sitting next to me said,
"It's very hot"

He looked odd, in his bright blue shorts, and a yellow jersey with a heavy bag on his lap and a water bottle in his hand. I replied,
"It's always.."

He offered his hand and told me his name, but unfortunately I couldn't grasp his name.

For the sake of courtesy , I asked him where he was from.

"America, " he smiled," Would you believe that if I said I'm from America?"

"May be, but you look Indian," I told him.

"Ha Ha, but go to any place in the world, the most common conversation starter is climate, "

"We started with climate."I agreed with him.

"I'm from Mizorom."

"That explains your spiky hairdo.what are you doing in Chennai ? "
"I'm here to collect my M.Phil documents, " he explained his position in Chennai.

Then he placed the water bottle near my mouth as if it was a mike and spoke,
" I'm here to interview you for a tv channel.What are you doing in Chennai?"

I cleared my throat, and as if really on TV and said, "Working for an IT company . Do they have militants in Mizorom ?"
"That's a misconception. Mizorom is free of militants."
"That rhymes, is it a part of some Tourism jingle?"
"No, I made that up now. Militants in Mizorom is a media created monster. " he replied.
"Rhymes again.Did you make that up now? "
"Yes I did," he smiled ,"I'm not this way all the time, but I'm in a mood to be funny today,"
"Good to be funny. You are good at this, M.Phil in some jingle making or journalism? "
"Economics, you know that's why I'm economical with my clothes," he said, pulling his shorts.
"But at the expense of exposing yourself to the Sun." I said.
"Yes, but think about the detergent usage ? I'm saving money," he explained his economic sense.
" Ahh.. the detergent usage. Are you working ? "
"I planned to get married before working."
"Are you married ?"
"I need to have a job to get married"
"Conflict...What do you actually plan to do?"
"I'm going to a monastery. Wear a red robe and live happily."

Before I could answer him, he said, "This is where I get down, it was nice talking to you Mr......never mind, I know you didn't get my name either."
"Yes.I didn't get your name.Didn't want to offend you."
"That's ok, we'll meet again.," he winked.
"Hopefully." I winked back.

He walked down the steps awkwardly. Nice man. Nice nameless stranger. Frank strange conversation.