It was a chilly December night in Ranchi. The temperature had degraded to almost 4 degree celcius. The clock was showing 9.45 pm. Sam, 22 was returning from his drama rehearsals. The main road was almost deserted. Most of the shops were closing when he noticed a herd of people standing in a queue outside a wine shop. It made him chuckle but deep down he was also craving for a peg or two. He was going to take the auto from the stand to reach home. He noticed the auto drivers chatting about an accident that occurred a few kilometers ahead. A drunk driver had killed some people and it had hampered their business. He asked them, ”Is someone going to Upper Market?”. They did not even respond to his question as if he did not even exist. Most of them were drunk. So he decided not to bother them and walk his way to his house. Sam calculated in his mind that it would take him almost 45 minutes to reach his house. His mom and dad were at a party. So he was somewhat relaxed.
He put his earphones and started his journey. The song was “Kabhi jo badal barse” from the movie Jackpot. He was humming the lines “KABHI JO BADAL BARSE, MAIN DAKHU TUJHE AAKHEIN BHARKE……..” It was that very moment when he saw the beautiful girl who was standing across the street looking tensed and worked up. Certainly the words of the song seemed to find the meaning. It was like the universe giving a sign to go.
Sam had seen beautiful girls but she was different. She had an aura of mystery around her. She was alluring.
Sam walked up to her and asked “Excuse me? What are you waiting for?”
The girl said with a hint of indifference “Auto”
“There has been an accident. So no autos are coming.”
“What? You serious?” She enquired.
“I am afraid so.” Sam replied.
“Listen I am going upto Upper Market. You could come with me If you want to.” He continued.
The girl looked at Sam constantly for 10 seconds and started crying lugrubriously. It made Sam uncomfortable and he looked around him to check for other life forms. She in a broken voice said “Please, Don’t hurt me!!”. Sam was agaped and abashed. He muttered “wha…what? Why would I hurt you? I want to help you.“
She continued sobbingly “I don’t know. I am a girl and alone.”
Sam was little confused about the plight of the girl. He declared that she could join him if she wants to. The girl decided to go with him half heartedly. Sam was always a thorough gentleman. He could make everyone feel safe. That was one reason which persuaded the girl to go with him.
Sam introduced himself. The girl revealed her name to be Naina.
They walked for 15 minutes without saying anything. Sam broke the silence and said “You know you are very naïve.”
“Why do you say that?” Naina replied.
“Do you think I was going to rape you?”
“Can you blame me? Don’t you check the news? ”
“Yes, but why stereotype? Just coz I am a boy and you are a girl, a beautiful girl alone. It does not mean I am gonna harm you” Sam said giving stress on the word “beautiful”.
She smiled. Sam asked her what she was doing there at night. She revealed that her parents died when she was young. She was raised by her grand father in Kolkata. She was visiting her uncle’s house after her grand father’s death. But her uncle wanted to marry her off to a rich man, who was twice her age against her will. They used to physically hurt her and even starve her. So today when she got a chance, she decided to flee from there. Sam was petrified to hear her story. He offered her to go to the police. But she rejected that coz her uncle was a powerful man. Sam asked what she was going to do after all this. She explained that she got selected in MPhil course from Carbondale University. She was going there. Her friends in Kolkata had arranged everything. She would be out of the country by tomorrow night. Sam was happy to hear that but deep down he was little blue because Naina was like his dream girl. Although he had met her only an hour ago but there was this uncanny romantic affinity that Sam was feeling towards her. There was this spark which was simply uncomprehending. He was deeply engrossed in his thought when Naina Said “Here is my stop. I will take the bus from there. Thank you, Sam.” Sam just stared at her blankly. She turned to board her bus. Sam was scarred by that Naina’s secrets. Sam just nodded and watched her fade away in the mist of that gloomy December night. Strangely at that time the song that was playing in his earphones was “RE KABIRA MAAN JA, RE PHAKIRA YUN NA JAA………”
I finished my story but Ria and Vishal were still engrossed into it. They were so drowned in the story that they did not even demand for food. Ria then asked “So what happened afterwards?”
I replied with a grin ”That was it. That was the story of ‘HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER’…..”
