Graceful Exit

He walked slowly, his old age making his walk laborious, seemed happy to reach his destination – the only bus stop in the village. Just when he entered the bus shelter, the two youngsters who were sitting on the only bench in the bus shelter stood up and gave way for him to sit down. He politely refused and just stood inside the shelter leaning on to the dilapidated wall. He just watched the youngsters , a boy and a girl, enjoying their moments, talking incessantly as if there were no tomorrow. He smiled with happiness filling his heart seeing their gaiety and youthfulness which took his memories to his younger days.

He suddenly seemed tensed and looked at his watch. He started moving his posture now and then and the tension filled his face so much that the youngsters assured him that the bus will arrive soon and offered their seat again. But he didn’t even hear them and was busy counting down the seconds in his watch. The bus came at the right time and the youngsters boarded the bus holding their hands together. A broad smile came to the old man’s face and he now sat down on the lonely bench. The bus took off while the youngsters looked at the old man. He was sitting still on the bench; the broad smile on his face was of ultimate bliss.
His wrist watch was just lying down upside down on the bench.