A temple, An Evening, A Stranger

 A temple, An Evening, A Stranger...

It was at the fall of dusk as the chants and hymns echoed from temple walls. The gentle tinkling of her grandmother's anklets, the robust ringing of the bells as the priest gave the evening aarti although very juxtaposing felt very much like home. With the vibrant orange hue smeared on their foreheads and the small chain of pale jasmines knotted in their hair, she and her grandmother moved from the spiritual chambers on to the busy road. She stood near the street light scrolling through her phone as she waited for her grandmother to finish buying flowers from the street vendor. 

Someone cleared their throat and she looked up from the lighted screen. It was a stranger. He cleared his throat for the second time and asked, " Do you know any music shops around in this area?" She shook her head and said no. He smiled and continued "I thought you would know because you looked like someone who was into music". She smiled and and said no again. He smiled and walked away. Maybe it was the Temple or the Chaotic Evening or the Mystic Stanger but she couldn't stop the smile from covering her face the rest of the night.