This morning onboard the KLIA Express, I sat at one of the two folding seats facing the luggage rack. My usual spot.

I opened my backpack and realised that I didn’t bring any books. I took out the iPad instead, and continued drawing a work-related assignment. I had 27 minutes to kill.

Halfway through the journey the lady seated next to me turned and asked, “Excuse me, what tablet is that?”

“It’s an iPad mini. It’s small and kind to my back,” I told her. We then started chatting about iPads, then about sketching (she told me she sketches with graphite pencils). Then we found ourselves talking about art and children (both her teenagers are into arts).

Most of the time I found myself agreeing to her opinions.

Nowadays, even if I don’t agree, I will still nod. Nodding in understanding. Most of the time I will find myself trying hard to understand how the other person come to his/her conclusions.

I realised that one cannot just simply change other peoples’ convictions. Especially in a very short time. And especially to someone who you just met. What they choose to believe is theirs, and I have no reason in getting others to see my point of views. I’m a stranger, after all. And besides, trying to get others to agree with your opinions in less than 20 minutes is difficult. Well, unless you’re on TED.

I closed the iPad. I can do work later.

I asked her what she does for a living. She took out her purse and gave me her card. I took a photo of it and returned the card, “You don’t have to waste your card.” She chuckled.

As the train approached the airport, I slowly got up, gathered my things, and thanked her. She thanked me back. “From one art lover to another,” she said. “Thank you for starting the conversation,” I replied.

On my way to the departure hall I stopped at the very first (or only) bookshop after the security check. I thought about getting a good novel that I can get myself lost in on the flight with. I saw “LESS”, a novel that won Andrew Sean Greer a Pulitzer Prize. Picked it up and read a few paragraphs. I put it back. Maybe next time. I moved on to another rack, and saw the usual motivational books: Jack Canfield’s, Tony Robbins’s etc.

Then I saw two books that urged me to reach for the wallet. One of them was Deep Work by Cal Newport. I have listened to his “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” and thought this time I should get one of his books.

But no, I didn’t buy the book. What did I buy then?

Malcolm Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers.