An Encounter Chapter 2

I was stumped. I didn't know what to say or how to react. Dammn, why did life had to be so unfair! 

I was cursing Destiny and fate when I heard her break out into a loud laugh. I was confused. 'Has she lost her mind?’, I thought. ‘Maybe because she's been through so much and cried so much that she's immune to it now.' I thought. She was looking at me, still laughing. I raised my eyebrows at her.

"Ye story bolne pe 500 rupaye extra milte hai." [saab, this story fetches 500 extra bucks.] She laughed again. Anger coursed through me. How could she! Did she have no heart? How could she make up a story like that and use it so casually? Didn't she know the pain of being betrayed?

"Mere gaon me mai ek aadmi se mili, pyar hua. Usne mereko bola ke bhagke shadi karenge kyu ki ghar wale khilaf the. Phir mereko idhar lake bech dia" [ I met this man has in my village and fell in love with him. The family was against us and he convinced me to elope. Then he got me here and sold me off .] I heard her say. I looked back at her, confused, if I should believe it or not."ye story pe 1000 rupaye zyada milta hai." [This story fetches 1000 extra bucks] she laughed and I shook my head in exasperation.

"Asli story sunega kya saab?" [Do you want to hear the real story?] I shook my head. I didn't want to hear anything anymore."Accha hai. Sambhal nai paoge" [Good. You won't be able to handle it]We turned as a vehicle screeched to a halt near us and two men emerged. I recognized the men to be the same as the ones I saw earlier that night, trying to kidnap the lady outside the concert venue. She pushed me away from a little and stood up before me.

"A.. Bola na nai ane ka hai tere sath. Wapas kyu aya?" [Didn't I say I won't come with you? Why are you here again?] She yelled at them."A haramzadi chup chap chal. Nai toh idhar hi uda dalega. Chal... Aur ye chikna kaun hai?" [Aye rascal, come with us quietly or I'll shoot you here itself.. Move... And who's this guy?] one of them spoke"Are dada,ha toh Rockstar hai ki... Kay nav hyacha.. Haan.. Rihaan!" [Bhai, he's that Rockstar right? What's his name.. Haan.. Rihaan] the other one spoke."Kya be shane.. Tere pichu toh waiseich ghumti hogi na chokrilog. Is jaisi randi ke pichu kya ghum rela hai?" [So mister, you must be surrounded by an unknown feeling of rage and possessiveness coursed through my veins and I stepped ahead. Without thinking any further, I just punched him on his face. The man landed on his back, blood flowing through his nose."Saab! Ye kya kia tu ne.. Ab ye log chodega nai.. Bhag ja saab.. Bhag jaa.." [Saab.. They won't spare you... Run!]I heard her yell. The other man quickly came behind me and held me by my neck. The older one quickly got up and walked towards me. "Bada dam dikhata hai? Bohot taaqat hai? Bada akadta hai.. Aata bagh kadto tujhi dum. A chottu, dhar tyala. Atach don goli takto dokyat ani game khallas." [Showing me your strength, huh mister? Showing off your muscles... I'll show you what strength is. Aye chottu, hold him. Two bullets... Two bullets in his brain and game over] he said taking out his gun.

She quickly moved forward and moved his hand away. Taking advantage of the distraction, I hit the man holding me with my elbow. His grip loosened and I quickly turned around, giving him a kick in between his leg. I then turned towards her to save her from the gunman.

She had somehow taken possession of the gun and pointed it towards him. He was trying to nab her but she proved too quick for him. I immediately moved forward punched the man, who fell down. I shook my hand as it hurt. Blood started oozing out and I winced a bit. But I had my full attention on the man in front of me. I kicked him and punched him a couple of times more until he couldn't move anymore. I went up to the bench and sat down. She came up beside me and held my hand.

"Saab, kya zarurat thi marne ki. Dekho, chot lag gayi na." [Saab, why did you hit them? See, you're the one hurt now.] she said and I could hear the pain in her voice. I was about to reply to her when I saw the man who held me, the younger one getting up and walking towards us with his gun. Instinctively, I took the gun she had kept on the bench and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit his leg and he fell down shouting and writhing in pain. All this happened so quickly that it took me a while to register what had just happened."Saab! Ye kya kia tum ne. Aisa nai karna chaiye tha." [saab! What have you done? You shouldn't have] she said with her eyes wide in shock and fear."Woh tumpar goli chalane wala tha. Mai kya karta. Idhar aas paas koi hospital hai?" [He was pointing his gun towards you. He would've shot you. I was helpless. Tell me, is there a hospital around?] I asked, not wanting to be the reason for a man's suffering.

"Saab, rehne do. Faltu me police ka chakkar ho jayega. Tum bas meri baat mano aur jo mai bolti hu karo. Inko kuch nai hoga. Mai sambhal legi." [Saab, let it be. This will be a police case if you take them to the hospital. You just do as I say. I'll handle everything.]"Lekin.. Inko chot lagi hai.." [But they're hurt]"Saab tum bohot acche ho. Par zamana kharab hai saab. Meri baat mano. Ghoda do idhar" [Saab, you're a nice man. But the world around you isn't listening to me and hand me the gun.] she said extending her palms. 

I didn't know why but I wanted to trust her. This random woman on the street was evoking feeling in me that hadn't been touched ever. I barely trusted people, hardly ever put my life at risk for someone, never felt so protective of someone. I shook my head and decided to do as she said.

Quickly taking the revolver, she wiped the grip with her saree to erase the fingerprints and then put her own prints on the gun. Then, tucking the gun in her waist, she turned towards me."Chal mere sath saab. Aur jo bhi ho, mere sath ich rehna." [Come with me saab. And no matter what, just stay with me.] she said and I nodded. With one last glance at the two injured men on the ground, we walked away. The rain had subsided but there was no one on the roads yet. There were no cabs in sight either. 

"Aaj ich transport strike hona tha. Ek taxi nahi hai" [Did there has to be a transport strike today! There's no taxi around.] she answered my unasked question. Just then, we saw one arriving in our direction. She waved for it to halt."Aaj din accha hai. Laga tha toofan me sawari nai milegi. Lekin dekho mil gayi." [Looks like a good day. I thought there would be no customers in this rain. But I got one I guess] the driver mumbled. He looked at her and then at me from top to bottom we quickly got in and shut the door. "Chalo bhai" [Lets go] I told him"Kya boss. Iss baarish me kidhar room dhundega. Idhar ich karle.. Mereko 500 extra de dena." [What boos! Where will you find a room in these rains. Do whatever you want in the taxi. I'll wait out. Give me 500 rupees extra thats it!]"Aye.. Bola na chalo" [Didn't I tell you to move] I said"Are saab.. Isko aadat hai.. Sharmao mat" [Aree saab.. She's used to it. Dont be shy] "Aye shane.. Chal bola toh chal.. Paka mat" [Aye.. Move when you're told to move. Don't act smart] she told him. The driver muttered something and started the car."Kidhar jane ka hai?" [Where do you want to go?] he asked"grant road. Udhar Me jo chamkili bar hai.” she said.

It was a typical shady bar with neon lights flashing and loud item songs playing inside. Women were dancing on the dais with skimpy clothes. She asked me to sit on a table and pull up my hood to hide my identity. I looked around and saw men, drunk enough to not be in their senses. A few of them were blowing notes towards the girls. Disgust was what I felt at the scene. How people wasted their money and spent it on something that was killing them eventually.

 I saw her walk towards the bar counter. She whispered something to a bartender who sneaked a phone into her hand. She quickly dialed a number. Handing the phone back, she moved further into a dark corner. Not feeling right about this, I followed her. In a dark corner, I saw her handing a packet and the revolver to a man who quickly walked off nodding at her. I quickly went back to my table and sat there like I was all along.

She came back towards me with a smile. I stood up and walked towards her."Chal saab. Thodi hawa khate hai." [Come saab, let's go out for some fresh air] she held my hand and walked out.