A Love-ly Story

Isn't all romance unlikely? It takes many coincidences to align one after another for you to meet and be with someone who loves you deeply, unconditionally. My parents met when my father was on an unexpected break from his army duty, miles away from his post. I found an email in my inbox from that special singleton, who is now my boyfriend, right after I told myself that this would be the last time I would be checking messages in that account. But my friend Shiru's (I'm changing her name to protect her privacy) story beats it all.

More than 10 years ago, Shiru is touring New York in a bus full of Japanese tourists. They are out to Harlem to listen to some gospel music. As they pass in front of the Apollo Theatre, a woman passenger starts screaming, "Stop! Stop the bus! I want to see these paintings on the gates!" The bus driver indeed stops and the passengers step out to see the works of an eccentric muralist who has been painting the gates of 125th street from East to West end. Shiru gets out with the crowd and meets the artist. She doesn't talk much Enligsh back then, but somehow sparks flow between her and the localite. I am not sure if Shiru gets back on the bus or how she finds her way back to Harlem after that day. But today, she paints walls in Harlem and beyond, alongside her husband.