What I learnt from talking to one stranger every day for a week

We’re back on the roads of Bengaluru, almost. This time to meet seven strangers over seven days. This ambivert girl was scared as hell. I’m the type of girl who never takes off her headphones at the airport, buries herself in a book during any commute, and hangs out with only her best friends at a party. So yes, talking to strangers is a big no-no-no-no. But it’s a new year, and I’m ready for a whole new round of crazy, embarrassing moments and mind-boggling learning, starting with a simple one—when you stop the music, and throw your phone and your shyness away, there’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored. There are a whole bunch of cool, fun, creepy (run fast asap!), idiotic people out there that you need to meet. Every person has their own story to tell, and that’s way, way, way more than an Instagram story.

Monday: Hello, cabin crew?

There I was, stuck in the never-ending security line, mentally preparing myself to get back to Bengaluru after my semester break, when I saw her. “Hello, girl crush?” my mind piped. Put together and effortlessly chic in a blue-striped formal jumpsuit, she radiated confidence as she strode towards the line. Something about her made me think, “I need to be friends with this girl.” And as if the universe conspired, she turned a little towards me. Was she going to talk to me? I wasn’t sure, but I wasn’t about to let this moment slip. So, I blurted, “Hey.” Turns out, she wanted to talk to me but was really nervous. She had no clue how to navigate the check-in process, and I became her impromptu guide through the line. We laughed at the irony when she told me she’s cabin crew. It was her first flight and she was headed to her training base. “What made you choose this career?” I asked. “I just went along with a friend who was going for an interview,” she responded. This girl was actually as badass as I thought! No prep, she just served. And guess where she was heading to? No sh*t, Bengaluru. She was going there for the first time, and scared to be all alone in a new city. I told my girl that she could count on me. We swapped numbers, and just like that, I walked away with a new cabin crew bestie!

Tuesday: Books and nerds

This one’s for my fellow nerdy girls. On day two, I found myself in a Pride and Prejudice book discussion at my university (Christ College, Bengaluru). I had read the novel ages ago, but joined because I’d seen book clubs be romanticised in plenty movies and, well, I’m all about aesthetics. Luckily, the set-up was cinematic—a cosy room, chairs arranged in a circle, and a handful of people clutching their well-loved copies of Austen’s masterpiece. Quickly, we dived into everything from Darcy and Elizabeth’s electric chemistry to Elizabeth’s trailblazing feminist streak, and one girl stood out—Gauri. She had this effortless way of presenting her points. Even if she disagreed, her confidence and elegance made you nod along. By the end, I found myself walking out of campus with her, swapping book recommendations like old friends. She raved about her favourite, Attachments (by Rainbow Rowell), and promised to lend it to me so we could gush about it together. Who knew a chance encounter over Darcy and Elizabeth could lead to a potential new favourite read—and a new friend?

Wednesday: Breakups and breaking wine bottles

What better way to get over a heartbreak than putting on the baddest revenge dress and smashing wine glasses with a hammer (literally)? Honestly, this stranger wasn’t even part of the plan. Her name is Suhana. We barely shared a few classes, and we’d never exchanged more than an occasional smile across the hallway. Then, out of nowhere, I get a text. “Hey, I know this is kinda random, but I got sponsored tickets to a rage room. Wanna join?” I decided to be impulsive (plus, free tickets to a rage room!). As we changed into our rage room gear, we traded break-up stories—how it all went down, how we couldn’t wait to smash some plates and bottles. The instructor told us we could start, shut the doors, and left us in the quiet. We exchanged a nervous laugh, grabbed our hammers, picked up the first bottles, and...damn. We were hyping each other up with every swing, cheering like we were smashing our exes to bits. It was cathartic, chaotic, and, honestly, one of the best experiences of my life. Take it from me, next time you go through a break-up, grab a stranger and hit the rage room.

Thursday: Through the eyes of the blind

On day four of meeting strangers, I ended up at Enable India, an NGO I hadn’t planned on visiting at all. A casual suggestion from a friend turned into an impromptu trip, and that’s where I met George Sir, who introduced me to Sachin, a visually impaired guy with a spirit that had me hooked instantly. He was funny and sharp, and spent time patiently showing me how he used disabled-friendly tech in ways that made me question how little I knew of a world different from mine. But it was something he said that stuck with me, “We focus so much on Braille and tech, but we forget that people with disabilities need the same childhood everyone gets—playing around, going out, all of it.” It was a check on the many things I take for granted every day. I signed up to volunteer regularly, immediately.

Friday: Artists and free therapy 

What does an aesthetic college experience on Pinterest include? Pottery workshops, naturally. It had always been on my college bucket list, but I had never gotten around to it. For this story, I thought I’d treat myself to a solo date, and perhaps meet someone along the way? So I booked a session. And as I settled in front of the pottery wheel, listening intently to the instructor’s guidance, I noticed a girl around my age, exuding a warm, radiant energy (yes, there is something about me and energy, huh). I struck up a conversation. Her name was Aarya, and, like me, it was her first pottery experience. We shared a chuckle about how clueless we both were and tried to help each other as we fumbled through the process. Side by side, we shaped our pieces while exchanging stories about our lives. At the end, we both inscribed our names inside our pots, adorned them with little flourishes, and promised to reconnect the next time we attended an art workshop.

Saturday: Clubs and combs

It was Saturday night at Gatsby, and my friends and I had little intention of eating but were fully committed to dancing the night away. So, we ordered the cheapest items on the menu to avoid being kicked out before getting busy clicking photos, because obviously. Then came the crucial part of the evening—the music kicked in, inviting us to the floor to dance. Now, if you’re an introvert and not exactly a dancer, it’s a struggle. So it wasn’t long before I made a quick escape to the washroom. While fixing my hair and snapping some much-needed mirror selfies, a girl in a dazzling silver sequin dress asked if I had a comb. I did, and as I handed it to her, I couldn’t help but ramble about my introverted nature and lack of dance moves. She laughed and admitted she wasn’t much of a dancer either. Her secret? Learn a few basic moves, follow the beat, and, if the song allows, jump. She said the key is to let go and have fun, even if you’re doing it awkwardly, because no one cares. And to my surprise, she grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the dance floor, where we both danced with abandon—and, funnily, it wasn’t all terrible.

Sunday: Till death do us part

This one is inspired by one of my favourite Instagram accounts, @meetcutenyc. Here I was, taking a stroll in the warm sunshine of Church Street, ready to meet and write down the meet-cutes of Bengaluru couples. This isn’t New York City, but I had to take my shot. I mean, screw what they think, right? So I went up to a young couple walking hand-in-hand on Church Street. Turns out, they had an arranged marriage. “We may not have had a love marriage, but our love for each other has gotten stronger every day, and I don’t regret a single thing,” the man said. Their names were Srishti and Sagar, and despite it being fixed, they dated for almost a year—celebrated festivals together, hung out with cousins, played card games all night, and had a trip to Goa, something they’ll never forget, like the expensive pre-wedding video Sagar couldn’t say no to when Srishti asked!

This piece originally appeared in the January-February 2025 print edition of Cosmopolitan India. 

All Images: Adobestockphotos.com

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