Part 2: The Bench by the Lake (Ani’s Story)

Haven’t read Part 1 yet? Check out The Bench by the Lake (John’s Story) - Part 1 to see how it all began — and to truly understand both sides of the story

My name is Anirudh.

But you can call me Ani. I like that better. Feels faster. Cooler.

I love Krishna. And sometimes, I go looking for him.

Today, I decided to look again

I told Mummy to pack lunch for me.

“I’m going to the park,” I said.

She gave me two chapatis with aloo bhaji in my yellow plastic tiffin.

I filled my red Spider-Man bottle and told her I’d sit by the lake for a bit.

“Don’t talk to strangers,” she said.

I nodded.

The walk was long, almost half an hour.

The lake was quiet.

The trees smelled nice.

I saw two old aunties walking slowly, a few stray dogs following me for a while.

I kept watching from the corner of my eye until they went the other way.

Some boys were throwing pebbles into the water.

One uncle was teaching his son how to bat.

There were lots of empty benches around the lake.

I was about to sit on one, but… I don’t like dogs.

So I looked for a bench where someone was already sitting.

And then I saw an old man, alone, on the corner bench.

Still. Serious.

Like he was thinking about a very big maths problem.

His skin was fair.

He had long white hair, and a rough, messy beard—like when Papa forgets to shave for three days.

A little wild, sticking out in places.

But he didn’t look scary.

Just… tired.

Or maybe far away in his mind.

I walked up slowly.

“Uncle, can I sit here?”

He didn’t speak, just nodded once.

I climbed onto the bench.

My legs dangled above the ground.

I opened my tiffin. I was starving.

I put aloo bhaji on a chapati and rolled it up.

Just as I was about to take the first bite,

I saw him watching me.

Hungry eyes.

“I’m hungry. Are you?” I asked.

He looked at me for a moment and nodded.

So I gave him half my chapati roll.

Then I opened my bottle.

“Have some, Uncle,” I said.

He took a sip… and then he smiled.

I started talking.

I told him about my friend who cried in className because he lost his pencil.

About how Mummy makes the best bhaji in the world.

And how one time, I gave half my lunch to a puppy, and it followed me till the gate.

He didn’t talk much.

But then, suddenly - he laughed.

A small one.

Like something inside him had woken up after a long nap.

I liked that laugh.

So I told him more stories.

And he kept smiling.

When we finished eating, I packed my tiffin.

“I have to go now, or Mummy will be angry,” I said.

I walked about ten steps.

Then I felt something and turned back.

And I saw it

The brightest smile I’ve ever seen.

Like he wasn’t just smiling with his mouth, but with his whole face.

Like a drawing where the sun has a face, and it’s smiling too.

It made me feel… warm.

I ran back.

I hugged him. Tight.

Like I hug Papa when I get a special gift.

He didn’t speak.

But he hugged me back.

His arms felt gentle.

A little shaky.

I think he had tears in his eyes.

Then I ran home, before Mummy shouted again.

⸻

When I got back, she scolded me like always.

“You’re late again, Ani!”

I didn’t answer.

I was still smiling.

Lost in the park.

She stared at me, still holding my arms.

Then she asked softly,

“What happened? Did you find something?”

I nodded.

“Yes. I met Krishna today.”

She blinked.

“Where?”

“He was much older than I thought,” I said.

“And he had the best smile in the world.”

⸻

In another part of town, the old man was walking home.

Light on his feet.

Maybe even humming.

When he reached, he rang the bell.

His son opened the door, surprised.

“Appa, where were you? You look… good.”

John didn’t answer right away.

He just nodded and sat down.

As his son poured him a cup of coffee,

John finally said,

“I feel better today.”

He smiled.

Then, after a long pause, added softly:

“I met God today…”

Another pause.

“…He was much younger than I expected.”

If this story stirred something in you — read Part 1 and drop a note.