Expect The Unexpected !!!

 –  Dummies Guide To Travelling At Nights …… Alone     

The clock on the tower at the middle of junction ticked 1 in the morning. On deserted road, walking alone at that hour of the day, my thoughts flew back to the comforts of the distant ride in the car half an hour back. It was evident that the time was running against me. Not a single vehicle passed by in the past 30 minutes.  Another 15 miles of journey awaited me, and I walked looking back intermittently to see if any vehicle would appear.

And I walked…..

………………………

“Oh come on dude. A hundred cab’s pass that way even in the middle of night” , I claimed.

“I have travelled that way even at 2 in the morning at times”, I continued as two of the curious one’s listened.

“So, Lets do it then”, one of them affirmed.

And we proceeded to book the tickets for the 10.30 show in a theater in the middle of the town.

……………………….

The horn from a approaching vehicle brought me back to reality.

I made my move, turned back, pointed my thumb in the direction I intended to travel and I waved. I tried putting up a face of a school kid trying to get that couple of extra marks which he requires to pass the examination.

And the fellow zoomed past me. I was not sure if he paid no attention, or if I was even visible to him.

“F*r ,” my impatience grew and few words of praise escaped. Infact I shouted I realized. The echo from the flyover wall was loud enough.

You never know who that Good Samaritan who would dare pick you at the middle of night be.

You never know.

As my brain tried searching the broken link of the thoughts that it was occupied with, the ear’s heard the rattling of another approaching vehicle.

The action of the hand seemed involuntary as it took positing of waving for a lift in the direction of my travel. And I stood watching patiently as the vehicle neared.

The wind blew in a rhythm like the waves of the sea on a full moon, strong and high, yet steady.

And I watched the vehicle move past me in equal speed with which it neared. I hung my head facing down and uttered those words that escape the mouth when in frustration, intentionally this time.

I heard the vehicle halt couple of blocks away.

 “he is the man !!!” , I turned back and ran towards the vehicle, wondering if he would give me the lift.

………….

“Dude, its already 12.30. I seriously doubt if you will have any mode of transport at this hour”, he exclaimed. “Lets go to my place”

“buddy, I have been travelling this route for years now, “ I boosted on my experience of travelling at nights. “I will find something or the other & reach I will !”

“Suite yourself “, he bayed a fairy well at the point he dropped me.

Another 15 miles of journey awaited me, and I walked looking back intermittenly to see if any vehclie would appear.

And I walked….

………

“I am going towards X-road, will drop you till the junction”, the man in the car said.

“You will find something or the other from there to your destination “, he advised.

“Anything will do sir”, I said to him in a thanking tone as I seated myself by his side.

“where on earth are you coming from at this hour!”, the man questioned as the vehicle picked up some speed.

“A movie- “, I replied too quickly I realized. The overflowing happiness of finding a lift after 40 minutes of walk on a winter cold night made the response time fast.

“Alone ?”

“Oh ! no no”, I was equally quick.”Alone in this route!”, I replied in a broken tone. The shivering made the tongue flicker sending the words intermittently out of mouth.

“I see”, the man exclaimed as he halted the cart at the junction as promised. “from here you will have no trouble going forward”

I showered couple of words of gratitude.

I was at the comfort zone now. There was movement at that junction and I was to make the choice.

And I choose, to have a cup of tea.

The junction was a busy place at any hour of the day. At night , there would be tea and snacks availbale.

The old lady was kind enough to keep the tea hot with all the utensils she had, and 5 bucks she charged for it was fair enough.

“It’s the British you see”, I heard a man speaking. At once I knew he was speaking to me as there was no other soul but for the old lady who paid least attention to any customer.

“they made us addict to TEA & the Chinese to OPIUM”, It was evident that he was drunk. Even as he sipped his cup of the tea, he spoke.

“I see”, I had no choice but to speak, “I never knew that !”, I was ashamed at my ignorance. What if it’s a drunken man speaking, he had a point.

“you youngsters have no knowledge of our history,” he stated to speak. And I made a narrow escape thanking him for that one point of wisdom he showered on to me.

I could hear him continuing the topic with another of the poor souls that halted for a tea , as I crossed the junction in search of another of those good Samaritans.

Another 5 miles…………..

………………….

“Boss, come on, I am going that way !”,  the Sardarji gestured as he spoke while I crossed the road.

“Oh ! thanks sir”, It was as though fate waited for me on a bike at the junction.”Thanks a lot!”

The first line he spoke as we set off brought my world to halt.

“Am a bit drunk”, he said with a smile I would define – teasing.”Hope you don’t mind !”.

“Dont mind – what the hell you think I am , super man ?, that I will jump to safety if you hit a road divider or worst case a speeding lorry”, I said to myself bewildered at the calmness with which he confessed.

“Stop the Damn bike- “, I wanted to shout but the next line he uttered, silenced me.

“Am a COP !”

……………………….                                                                                               To Be Continued…