Driving home from the airport, Rahul was angry with himself for having given into his friend's emotional blackmail to attend his wedding. More so when the friend hadn't spoken to him in the last four years. But he always had difficultly saying "No". He made a mental note to himself that the first word I am going to teach my kid is "NO".
It was a long drive home with the airport about 40 kilometers from his residence. The road was empty with no signs of trafffic. People preferred the newly laid outer ring road but this was the shortest path to his house. In the distance he could see mirages of swirling water. It was incredibly hot for an April afternoon. He wondered how much worse was it going to be in May. His eyes suddenly rested on someone with a parked bike waving for a lift. Being a skeptic, Rahul didn't want to be the good samaritan who gets robbed in No Man's land. But for some strange reason he decided to stop and offer the person a lift. He stopped the car next to the person and drew down the windows. He was surprised to see that the person asking for a lift was a girl wearing a cap. It made him all the more suspicious but having stopped his car he had no choice but to let her in.
She profusely thanked him for it was not normal to offer a lift to stranger these days. Rahul would nod and say a few words but never paid any attention to what she was saying for he was lost in his own world imagining the worst possible things that could happen to him. He decided to play it cool and not show his emotions. The girl introduced herself as Meghana and that she worked as a HR professional in a consulting firm. He wasn't entirely convinced but kept his doubts to himself.
She explained to him how she had ended being on this road at this time of the day all alone on a bike. He would nod in silent agreement not that he cared about the story. Suddenly the girl put her hand into the purse she was carrying and drew something out. Rahul was scared for his life. Is she going to draw out a pistol? Am I going to be robbed point blank? But thankfully she just took her cellphone out. This relieved him greatly. May be it was not such a bad idea to help someone in trouble. They had just reached the outskirts of the city when she asked Rahul to stop the car for her home was close by. He could see some apartments in the distance.
Getting down from the car, she handed him her visiting card and invited him for a cup of coffee. Was she giving him her phone number ? He could read something beyond friendliness in her tone. He felt happy and proud at the same time that some girl other than his wife could be interested in him. All through his life he had dreamed that he would fall in love and would have a great story to tell his kids but since that didn't happen he took the traditional route and let his parents find a bride for him. Otherwise he was pretty sure he would never have found the courage to ask a girl out.All these thoughts made him blush but he came back to reality and realized that this was an offer he would have to let go. He replied "Some other time.." and left the place lest he should be tempted to take up the offer.
He looked back one last time as she waved to him. Once he had moved out of sight, Meghna dialled a number and said - " He's clean". The woman on the other end replied "Thank you" and replaced the hand set. She picked up her mobile and dialed Rahul.....
It was a long drive home with the airport about 40 kilometers from his residence. The road was empty with no signs of trafffic. People preferred the newly laid outer ring road but this was the shortest path to his house. In the distance he could see mirages of swirling water. It was incredibly hot for an April afternoon. He wondered how much worse was it going to be in May. His eyes suddenly rested on someone with a parked bike waving for a lift. Being a skeptic, Rahul didn't want to be the good samaritan who gets robbed in No Man's land. But for some strange reason he decided to stop and offer the person a lift. He stopped the car next to the person and drew down the windows. He was surprised to see that the person asking for a lift was a girl wearing a cap. It made him all the more suspicious but having stopped his car he had no choice but to let her in.
She profusely thanked him for it was not normal to offer a lift to stranger these days. Rahul would nod and say a few words but never paid any attention to what she was saying for he was lost in his own world imagining the worst possible things that could happen to him. He decided to play it cool and not show his emotions. The girl introduced herself as Meghana and that she worked as a HR professional in a consulting firm. He wasn't entirely convinced but kept his doubts to himself.
She explained to him how she had ended being on this road at this time of the day all alone on a bike. He would nod in silent agreement not that he cared about the story. Suddenly the girl put her hand into the purse she was carrying and drew something out. Rahul was scared for his life. Is she going to draw out a pistol? Am I going to be robbed point blank? But thankfully she just took her cellphone out. This relieved him greatly. May be it was not such a bad idea to help someone in trouble. They had just reached the outskirts of the city when she asked Rahul to stop the car for her home was close by. He could see some apartments in the distance.
Getting down from the car, she handed him her visiting card and invited him for a cup of coffee. Was she giving him her phone number ? He could read something beyond friendliness in her tone. He felt happy and proud at the same time that some girl other than his wife could be interested in him. All through his life he had dreamed that he would fall in love and would have a great story to tell his kids but since that didn't happen he took the traditional route and let his parents find a bride for him. Otherwise he was pretty sure he would never have found the courage to ask a girl out.All these thoughts made him blush but he came back to reality and realized that this was an offer he would have to let go. He replied "Some other time.." and left the place lest he should be tempted to take up the offer.
He looked back one last time as she waved to him. Once he had moved out of sight, Meghna dialled a number and said - " He's clean". The woman on the other end replied "Thank you" and replaced the hand set. She picked up her mobile and dialed Rahul.....
2 comments:
Did this happen for real or just a story? Good one though.... :)
@Reji - Its pure fiction :)
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