Was this close…

I’m in a confession mood right now. Going with the flow, I am going to recall an incident that happened with me on a rainy afternoon in Bombay back in 2001. This was the time when I was working for Microland as a Snr. Systems Engineer (recently promoted that too). I was working on-site at Procter & Gamble in a dilapidated little building in Mahalakshmi. I had to go to my main office in Andheri to sign and accept my promotion.

Since it was raining heavily, I decided to take a cab to Andheri even though it would have cost me a fortune. Unfortunately it was raining so heavily that I couldn’t even find a cab. The traffic was moving at a snail’s pace due to the incessant rains and water logging in what essentially is the second most low-lying areas of Bombay after King’s Circle. I was standing under a dripping thatched shelter bus stop contemplating on whether it’s worth going to Andheri. As I was just about to turn back and make a dash towards to the office, I spotted a yellow-black fiat slowly chugging its way towards me. I frantically started waving my hands in a bid to catch the driver’s attention under these conditions. Bless his soul he immediately stopped…but much to my dismay I saw a guy seated in the front besides the driver and a girl sitting at the back.

The driver asked me in a typical Bambaiya fashion “Kidhar jaaneka hai boss?” I replied back in the same lingo “Andheri jaaneka hai mereko…lekin aapka ‘savaari’ hai na”. He replied with a devilish smile “Boss shared karna padega….idhar aur koi taxi nahin milega aapko”. I was like…what the heck, I don’t give a damn…just had to go and collect it as I had to leave for Delhi the next day. I was totally drenched and sat down at the back besides the girl. I had no clue if the middle-aged man sitting in the front and the girl were related or not. So I just sat tight, hearing the blathering of the driver about how the government doesn’t do anything about the roads during monsoon and the corrupt RTO officers. After about 10 mins or so, the girl suddenly asked me “Do you work around here?” That was the first time I saw her face…fair, radiant and wet. I replied in the affirmative and generally started chatting about the weather and her occupation. She apparently was from Delhi and was in her 3^rd year Medicine at Jaslok hospital. She was getting back to her Girl’s hostel in Bandra before the situation went through the roof.

The other guy in the cab got down at Prabhadevi after about 30 mins of traveling from Worli at a pedestrian’s pace of approximately 10 kmph. On the way from Dadar to Bandra we merrily chatted about motley of topics ranging from Medicine v Engg and Delhi v Bombay etc. She spoke in a sweet dulcet but firm, crisp and clearly. I really was enjoying the conversation I was having with her on a miserable day. I had no clue as to how time passed but I suddenly found that we were in Bandra. The cab screeched before a lousy rust colored building. I quickly exchanged phone numbers with her and moved on. On my way towards Andheri, all I could do was think about her. She had really caused a flutter in my heart…it was a passing thought I guessed.

I flew to Delhi the next day afternoon to work on some God forsaken project. The conversation about Delhi with Sanjana just ruminated in my brain. I used to smile at myself while working late hours….strange. I made up my mind to call her once I came back to Bombay which I did. We spoke at length, continuing on the topic that Bombay was a zillion times better than Delhi (which I firmly believe is). We decided to meet up at Barista (I seriously didn’t know y I choose that stupid place) in Bandra. Things just got better as we spoke about a whole bunch of new topics ranging from euthanasia to Stem cells and abortion. We enjoyed each other’s company that day and I was really keen to meet her again….and we did and a lot many times after that.

It had come to a point that we started calling each other everyday and talked on the fone till wee hrs in the morning….till that very fateful day on the 7^th of August, 3 days before I had to leave for the US. She called me over to stop by at her place (hostel) before I left. It was an unspoken message that we were going around without ever uttering it to each other. I went to meet a few of my friends place that afternoon and headed to her hostel at around 7 in the evening. She opened the door and stood before me in a resplendent red spaghetti strap and low cut jean, showing off her fair under belly. She had nicely decorated her room with ribbons with a big wine bottle on the side table and a well illuminated candle. As soon as I entered the room I greeted by a big warm hug ( I am more than certain that I heard a few sniffs). We had a couple of tall glasses of crystal clear white wine and generally chatted about where our relationship was heading. It was really tough on me and more on her coz we had become emotionally involved.

Out of the blue, I did not know what overcame her and our lips met. The feeling was of a gentle dew drop falling on my lips. I held her tighter…the feeling of her supple breasts crashing on my chest was the warmth and strength I needed to make my headway to the US. Unfortunately in the heat of the moment, we had no control of where we were headed. Flailing hands and wet lips were the order of the day. I slowly and carefully undressed her exposing every part of her pearly white skin….she certainly did look like an angel. She helped me undress while our lips were still locked for a precious few minutes. I was a wee bit buzzed…but I was in totally control of the situation…I certainly did not want to mess up on a beautiful little act.

As we were fondling each other, I heard a loud bang, a gun shot to be precise. I jumped up totally startled, though praying in my mind…GOD please don’t ruin this for me. I heard a huge roar “Shoot that bitch….Ohhh that’s that’s just awesome dude”. I peered down the bed much to my dismay Lookateem and Goli playing “Enemy territory”. I was just woken up from my sweet lill siesta dream to the bitches’ incessant screaming.
‘GUTENTAG’