EP 98 : Freelancer feelings: Deadlines and Expressions (Part 03)
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Welcome to the podcast from the bottom of my heart. There was a different kind of moisture in the air of Pangalore. Assume that Nishtha is giving a permission to go to Kolkata. She was sitting in a taxi. She was looking at the city while going in the rear window. She will be in Kolkata in a few hours. In the city where Riyan used to live.

The first thought of meeting her was making her heart fly. She knew how Rian looked. Only from her photos and emails. In the photos, Rian looked calm and a little stiff. But her words had a depth that pulled Nishtha towards herself.

After some time, the flight landed at Kolkata airport. The weather outside was completely different from that of Bengaluru. There was a sweet heat in the air and black clouds were shining in the sky. Nishtha emailed Rian in a taxi. Rian, I have reached Kolkata. It will take some time to reach the hotel.

Riyan's reply came in a short time. "Nishtha, very good. Go to the hotel and rest quickly. We will meet at the festival in the evening." After reaching the hotel and freshening up, Nishtha left for the festival. The busy market of Kolkata, its tall buildings and the crowd of people coming from all sides were looking good on Nishtha.

Nishtha was stunned when she reached the festival location. There was an exhibition of photos everywhere. The photos of nature, people and cities had turned the festival location into an art street. She walked around and reached a stall where a person was pulling pictures from a camera. That person was standing a little back, so Nishtha was not able to see his face clearly.

"This picture is amazing," Nishtha said suddenly. The man turned back and saw, and then Nishtha's breath stopped. The person standing in front was Riyan, just like he was seen in his photos. There was a slight smile on his face. "Did you like this picture?" He asked in a low voice.

Nishtha nodded her head and said, "Very good. You are a very good photographer." Rian smiled and said, "Thank you. Who are you?" "I am Nishtha." Nishtha replied. Rian's eyes lit up. "Nishtha? The same Nishtha who wrote about the Highlands of Scotland?" Nishtha laughed and said, "Yes, you are working as a volunteer, aren't you?"

Yes, Rian replied. So let's go. I'll take you to the festival. While roaming around the festival, Nishtha and Rian kept talking. Photography, freelancing and about their dreams.

Rian told him the speciality of every photo taken at the festival. Nishtha was listening to him very carefully. Rian's style of understanding the stories behind the photography, passion and photos was very impressive to Nishtha.

The evening was getting dark. The festival location was lit up. The colorful lights were making the photos even more beautiful. "Nishtha?" Rian suddenly asked. "Can you stay a little longer?" "After the festival is over, would you like to see the Hawra Bridge?" Nishtha thought for a while and said, "Sure."

After the festival ended, they both took a taxi to the Hawra Bridge. At night, the view of the Hawra Bridge was very beautiful. Thousands of colorful lights were flashing on this huge bridge built on the river Ganges. Standing on the bridge, Nishtha and Rian stood quietly for a while. Only the sound of the waves of the Ganges was heard. Kolkata is really a very beautiful city, Nishtha said at the end.

Rian agreed, but the beauty of every city is also made by its inhabitants. Nishtha looked at Rian and smiled. She wanted to say something, but the words stuck in her throat. After a while, Rian said in a low voice, "Nishtha, it was good to talk through email, but it was really nice to meet you in person.

Nishtha also wanted to say the same. She replied in a slow voice. "I am also very happy to meet you, Rian." There was a strange silence between them. Both were looking at each other. They seemed to have something special hidden in their eyes for each other. Then suddenly Rian took out his camera from his pocket and took a picture of Nishtha.

This picture will remind you of the festival. Rian smiled and said. Nishtha also smiled and answered. And this picture will remind you. They talked for a while while standing on the Hawra Bridge. Then Rian left him back at the hotel. Coming back to the hotel room, Nishtha saw the picture taken by Rian. She was laughing in the picture and there was a different shine in her eyes.

He realized that he has started to like Rian. The special relationship between them in the last few days was more than just an online conversation. He emailed Rian. Rian, today was a very special day. Thank you for supporting me. Rian's reply came in a short time.

Nishtha, I also liked spending time with you. This picture is amazing. You are just as beautiful as your writing. Nishtha closed her email while smiling. Riyan's words were creating a disturbance in her heart. She knew that in the world of freelance, she would not be able to keep up with them for many days. The distance between Bengaluru and Kolkata could also be difficult for their relationship.

But that night, he was just thinking that he has met Rianne. He knew that in the world of freelance, he would not be able to be with her for long. The distance between Mumbai and Kolkata could also be difficult for their relationship.

But that night, he was just thinking that he has met Rianne. The same person who showed him a special world through words and whose voice he was lost in. In the morning, Nishtha started writing a blog about the festival. The moments spent on the Hawra Bridge and meeting Rianne were wandering in his mind. But she was not able to include them in her writing.

This blog should have been about the festival only, not about her and Rian's story.

After a few hours of hard work, she finally wrote a blog. She emailed Riyan and then went out to visit the festival on the last day. The next few days were cut off for visiting Kolkata. She saw the Victoria Memorial, the Havra Bridge during the day, and many famous temples in the city. She talked to Riyan every night through email.

They would tell each other about their own day, share the festival experience and discuss future plans. But one question kept on wandering in their minds every night. What will happen next? The distance between Bengaluru and Kolkata was a big obstacle in their relationship. They both knew that long-distance relationships could not last long.

Still, they were holding on to hope. Maybe some way out, maybe they get a chance to live together in a city, or maybe fate helps them. For now, they were just enjoying each other's talks. They were trying to enjoy this special relationship as much as possible. The last day of the festival came. Nishtha had to return to Mumbai.

Rian had come to drop him off at the airport. Both of them stood quietly at the airport for a while. They didn't have words, they were just questions and answers that flashed in each other's eyes. Finally, Rian said in a low voice, "Nishtha, I don't know what will happen next, but I hope we will stay in contact."

Nishtha nodded and replied, "Sure, Rian. We will definitely keep talking." They hugged each other. Hugging was a way of expressing the love hidden in their hearts. Then Rian said bye to Nishtha and she went inside the airport. Even after coming back to Bengaluru, Nishtha and Rian continued their conversation.

They would tell each other about their work, life's ups and downs, and desires. Their words were never expressed openly. But their words, their emails, and their silence had a special relationship hidden. A relationship that didn't care about distance.

Will the distance between Riyan and Nishtha give them a chance to come closer? To know this, keep listening to the next episode of Dil Se Dil Tak Vid Khushi.

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