TAKEN FOR A RIDE..

In a city as crowded as Bombay, where everybody is always in a hurry, it is not easy to manage to flag a cab or a rick. And it does not help that I'm perpetually ten minutes late.

As I rushed out of the house for a meeting that was to happen within the next five minutes, I ran past the watchman- who, as I could see reflected in the glass, rolled his eyes, much to my indignation. I scampered out onto the road towards the spot where there were normally a long line of ricks. As I should have learnt by now, there had to be just the one lone one, standing forlornly but impatiently.

I started towards it, and suddenly saw a lady sneaking towards my rick from the opposite direction. As I quickened my pace, I saw her lift her saree skirts and run. She managed to get there quicker than I did-- me having lost a few seconds to the shock of seeing the act of running in a saree.

I managed to get a rick a couple of minutes later. As luck would have it, it was the most rickety piece of machinery possible, with a driver who more than made up for it with the amount he spoke. He criticised everything and everybody in sight- the people drive today, how things were in his day, and how the damned policeman always picks on guys who drive well i.e. himself.

As I crossed my fingers that my phone wouldn't ring to ask where I was, my eyes kept darting to the meter. Was it my imagination or was the idiotic thing falling faster than ever?! I made up my mind to pay just so much, and no more. After stopping creakily at each possible signal, we were at the very last one. How is it that I always manage to just miss it, only to have to wait till the FIVE out of six other lines are done??!! As if in mock sympathy, the meter clicked loudly, and fell one more time.

When I finally got there, I was twenty minutes late, and in no mood to argue. I gave the driver whatever he asked for, smiled politely when he said something about "Aaj kal ke bacche, always in a rush", and ran off.

Bah, I wonder what Murphy had to say about ricks.

WAYLAID!!

I've often been stopped and asked directions. Unless I'm caught in my area, I'm pretty blank most of the time- although sometimes I do manage a sheepish grin.. I only know how to go where I want to, and I march straight there, with Direction and Purpose.

As I sauntered towards Ruia to meet G late one evening, I was in my own world, desperately trying to get the loony tune of the "Aashiqui" song from 36, China Town out of my mind. Even shaking my head vigorously (the way dogs do it) from time to time hadn't helped. Jerking me out of my reverie, a voice bleated, "Maa-dam, maaaa-dam!!". On the dimly lit road and under the shadow of a tree, it was creepy. I turned to see a white-haired old lady in a white saree peering out of a darkened taxi, and my hair stood on end. Luckily, all she said was, "Bhagini Samaaj kahaan hai?"

I shrugged to show I didn't know, and then backed away hurriedly, only to walk a few metres to get caught by a bent old beggar man who wouldn't let me go. Honestly, he wasn't in the least bit scary. But I was already jumpy. I groped in my purse for change, shoved some in his bowl and scampered away.

As I warily slipped into my China Town mode again after a while, I was almost at my destination when I realised that a Face had popped up right next to me. A face surrounded by long hair- black at the bottom and an unnatural brown along the receding hairline. The eyes and cheeks were sunken, and there were pockmarks all over. Thankfully, there was a body too.

"Excuse me, I've been following you for quite a while.."
"Eh??!!" Shocked by how bold the statement was, I jumped back a shaky step.
"I'm from so-and-so college," (I missed the name), "and I was wondering if you would like to attend our Socials at Velocity.."
Whaaa.. ?! "Err, no, sorry, not interested."
"But it's FREE." He beamed to show teeth that were a bit too white in the creepy night. I peered, tremulously, looking for long canines.
"No, thanks, I'm not interested," I repeated, loudly, and started walking away quickly.
"But you can bring your friends too, and it's FREEEE!!!" He must have previously had success with the F-word, I thought, in a moment of rationality. He then pulled out passes to the event and tried to show them to me. As I shook my head and turned away purposefully, he said, "But why not??!!"
"I'm busy," I said as I scuttled away from the third chilling encounter that evening.

As I reached a more populated area, I heaved a sigh. I was no longer thinking of 36, China Town. There were now visions of huge teeth, pale faces, and blood-curdling yowls.