Princess and Stable Boy

Ramu kept knocking on the door of the bathroom for hours. But the bathroom was sound proof, no one heard him. Most of the flight was sleeping too, and no one came to use the facilities as well. He came out only when the flight was ready to land, and Air-hostess noticed the door marked engaged. 

Angry air-hostess, "What are you doing when it was time to land?"

"He could not tell her he was struggling to open the door and embarrass himself, so he kept quiet." 

Angrily she pointed him to head to his seat.

It was his first trip on a flight, and only many days later, he learns the latch that opens the flight bathroom door. He lands in the country, and the process of immigration happens very quickly. After all, he was going to work for the Emir. The job has its benefits, even if it is just a driver post. Sundar came to pick him up, and finally, that was the first Ramu felt relaxed on the whole trip. Very soon, he got the keys to the car he was going to drive. It was his dream car, a Mercedes. His job was simple, be a backup driver. So, no one explained the rules. He rarely had to work. At least, that was the plan. But life had different plans for him.

First Trip

Ramu just finished wiping the car clean and went on to sit on a chair. After coming to the country and seeing his favourite car, he could not wait to drive it. But weeks passed, and he had no real drive. His drives till now were limited to take the car out of parking for cleaning it. It was not that he did not drive at all. He drove a Toyota Corolla and learnt how to ride a car on these foreign roads. Sundar had that car for his trips to travel to their room and back to the workplace. 

Sundar was busy enjoying the beauty of that black Mercedes when the call he was waiting for had come. A man dressed in military uniform asked Ramu to take his car close to the house. It means he was going to take someone out. His happiness had no limits. He walked to the car, opened the car door and got it, showing utmost grace. But in his mind, he was jumping all his way to the car.

He was waiting at the steps anxiously when the door opened, and someone got in. He saw, in the mirror, it was someone wearing a burqa who got in. Ramu was not much interested in who it was. He wants to drive the car. Ten minutes into the drive, the excitement started to settle, and that was when he felt he disrespected the lady by not wishing her. 

He said, "Good Morning, Madam".

She had a jolt. No one talks to her, especially no men were supposed to talk to her. She kept quiet.

He thought she did not hear and said again, "Good Morning, Madam."

She did not reply to his wish, instead asked, "Are you new here?"

"Yes, Madam", replied Ramu.

"No one told you the rules?"

"I learnt the important rules. It is free right here instead of free left in India. How you should give way to bigger cars, somethings like that."

She noted he did not get what she was asking. She took this as an opportunity. She wanted someone to talk to other than his family. So she also did not tell him the rules. "What is your name?" she asked.

"Ramu, Madam. Can you tell me your name Mam, if you don't mind?" asked Ramu.

"My name is Azmi", said the girl.

They reached the college of the girl. Before she got down, Ramu said, "Bye, Mam. Have a nice day." For Ramu, who just finished Engineering, the greeting was very normal. But for Azmi, it felt like a hug from her grandma, comforting. She had tears and was worried Ramu might notice. But the Burqa came to her rescue. 

"Bye", she said. But the thought of that comforting voice did not leave her.

Trip to future 

Ramu did not consider the conversation as path-breaking. But for Azmi, it was. Now she needs to make sure she gets to go with Ramu. How can she do it without getting any attention on why? She had to make a clear plan before poaching the subject. 

Ramu was on the steps waiting for another chance to drive. The trip to college was a long one. But that day there were enough cars in the parking, and it was also not a working day. He was settling down for another boring day of doing nothing. That was when something crazy happened. One of the helping ladies walked to him and asked to take the car out. 

Sundar, who was close by, said, "There is a different car for that. Go in that."

Ramu interjecting said, "I am not doing anything I can go."

Sundar said to the lady, "This one time, from next time you have to use the other car."

The car was heading at full speed when the lady said, "Slow down, what is the hurry?"

"I thought you needed the groceries now."

"I have never bought any groceries in my life."

"What?"

"Have you not recognised my voice. It is me, Azmi."

"Good morning", said Ramu.

"Good morning"

"But why do you have to come in disguise."

"I am not allowed to go anywhere alone. The maid, even though she is of my age, she is allowed to go out."

"You are Emir's daughter. Your safety is important."

"I feel cramped with all this."

"Do you do this frequently?"

"This is the first."

"Why me?"

"Felt we being of similar age, understood each other."

"Hmm...!"

After few brief seconds of silence, Ramu said, "I am scared. I want to take you back right away."

"Don't worry. No one knows how I look except a very few close relatives of mine. I in disguise, no one will think I am the Emir's daughter."

"I am still not confident."

"I am not going to take long, don't worry. Drive to the local sweet market. I want to eat baklava with tea. After that, we can head back."

"I don't know the route."

"I will give you directions", she said, and they were in the sweet shop in ten minutes.

Ramu was waiting in the car when Azmi was getting down. 

"Don't you know anything about this country? Women are not to go alone. Get down and come with me."

"I am scared."

"No one needs to know. Come."

Anxiously Ramu walks next to Azmi as they head to the sweet shop. Azmi urgently brought the Pista flavoured Baklava, which she likes the most, with a side order of Cinnamon tea. Ramu still was not in this world. He turns to her, and she orders the same for him. Azmi has the first bite, and her face starts to glow with the biggest smile. Ramu had no clue of this as he was worried about her safety on one side. Second, her face was not visible in the Burqa. He was anxious and kept looking around to make sure no one noticed her. She brought his attention to the Baklava in front of him and signalled to eat. 

He had the first bite, and his eyes widened. He looked into Azmi's eyes, and she knew what he was telling her. He had another piece and looked again into the eyes of Azmi. That was the first he noticed the widened eyes. That's when it hit him, what she had to go through so much, just to have a sweet. They finished the sweet and headed back to the palace. 

Slowly the heartbeat of Ramu started to settle down. His mind was looking forward to reaching the palace quickly. Azmi was not ready to go home yet, but she knows she does not have the luxury. She wants these movements of freedom to last. So, she started her conversation with Ramu.

"How was the sweet?"

"Excellent."

"Is that all, don't you have anything more to say."

"Thank you for introducing it to me."

"You are a complete waste. The first time I had a Baklava, I spoke about it for an hour."

"I am not in the mood to talk. I want to take you back home safe."

"Boring," she said, and Ramu did not hear it. 

He looked back in the mirror and noticed Azmi's eyes. There was no longer that happiness he saw in the sweet shop. He felt guilty. He wanted to change her mood somehow.

"What is your major in college?"

"Why do you care?"

"Okay, Azmi. Sorry for asking."

She never heard her name taken by anyone. At home, everyone called her by her pet name. The word Azmi sounded wonderful, coming out of Ramu's mouth. Ramu looked back and saw that glow back. She turned to look into the mirror, and their eyes met for the first time. The lips gave in, and they both smiled.

"Political sciences."

"Great."

"Are you educated?"

"Yes. I finished my B.Tech in mechanical engineering. Got a scholarship to study masters. But, I am here now."

"But, why?"

"My father passed away. The scholarship was not enough for my education and running a family."

"I don't understand."

"You are not supposed to. It had to do with money. You have enough of it. You are Emir's daughter."

"I don't know it is good or bad."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay. Let us change the topic. What made you think of this disguise."

"I need to tell you a story, but we are already here. It will be for the next trip", Azmi said and got down. 

Ramu calmed down finally, after reaching, he thought that was over. But Azmi knows her and Ramu's future was going to be changed forever.

The day to go to college comes again. Now Azmi was planning how she can go with Ramu. Her father had just finished breakfast and was about to leave when she noticed Azmi. He noted something was bothering her. He asked her what it was.

"I want to go in the other new Mercedes car. It still has the new car smell."

He replied, "You can go in any car you want."

==============

Ramu asked her, "Are you going to only travel in this car?"

"Why? You don't like it?"

"It is not like that."

"Then what?"

"Okay, now tell me the story of your disguise."

"I will tell you. But don't judge my family, okay."

"Okay."

"I have this distant relative who comes very frequently to visit my father. When I was a kid, he used to bring me some chocolates. He will give me chocolate and hug me. As I got a little older, he started getting a little more annoying."

"How?"

"I might want to tell you the story. Still, don't forget I am a girl, and I have shyness and shame."

"Sorry."

"His hands went a little south of my back. I got uncomfortable as I got older. But one thing that worked to my advantage as he rarely saw my face. So, one day I sent my maid in my Burqa. She did not take the man seriously. She thought he was stupid and a pervert. He was so happy he gave her a lot of money."

"Even then, you should do something to stop him. Maybe next time, put a small pin or something and pierce him. Once caught, he will never do that again."

Till that point, she only felt the genius of her idea. But when Ramu gave a permanent solution, Azmi suddenly had a new respect for Ramu. 

Forward or Backward

Azmi started to have new feelings. That night she could not sleep, and she kept thinking about what could be the cause. She might not have seen any of these romance movies. But, she was a young woman, and her heart knew. The only problem, she was not ready to accept. 

She needed to know what was keeping her awake. Could it be the heavy meal she had very late or the second cup of tea, or the moonlight that was directly hitting her window? She could not pick which one fits. After fighting with the comforter for hours, she slept around 4 in the morning. An unexpected event happened after that.

"Ramu was sitting on the dining table. He had an innocent face as always. But what was out of the ordinary was Azmi serving him a Baklava with her own hands wearing her favourite green coloured Dara."

She woke up with a shock. She decided she was crossing lines. How can she dream of Ramu? How can she be not wearing a Burqa in front of him? She decided she needs to do something. She immediately came up with a plan.

That day when she was going to the college with Ramu, she started working on it. 

"How much money will make you go back to college?"

"Well, I don't know."

"How much are you making now. If you multiply it by twenty-four it will cover you for two years. By then, you should finish your masters and get a good job."

"You are right, maybe."

"Don't act all stupid. Tell me how much is it."

"Let us not talk about that. I don't want hope. I can sleep when I know there is no hope."

Azmi did her calculation. He makes less than three or four thousand in local currency, equivalent to ten lakhs in Indian rupees. She checked her saving and took out ten thousand. She had much more in her savings, and she had no use for them. She put the money in a small envelope and gave it to Ramu and got down. She did not say why, but she thought he would understand. Now, she just had to wait a few more days, and he would have left.

That afternoon coming back from college, Azmi checked for any change in the face of Ramu. There was nothing on his face. She did not understand and asked him, "Have you opened the cover?"

"No, madam."

"Why not?"

"It was yours. I do not have reason to open."

"I gave it to you for a reason."

"What is it?"

"It has money to cover you for finishing your masters. Take it, and leave."

Ramu's face started to have all colours of the rainbow. But very soon, it turned grey, reflecting his sorrow. 

"I cannot take this. "

"Why, not? You did not ask for it. I am giving you."

"I cannot take this money with me to India. Even if I do, no one will trust I got it fair."

"Stupid. Who cares? 

"I care. I can be poor, but I cannot bad name for some money. A job here as a driver, I am making decent money. Why should I do to ruin and trouble my family?"

"Take it and finish your masters."

 "I was here because Sundar trusted me. I cannot get him into trouble."

"No one will get into trouble. I am....". Azmi's voice stopped mid-sentence. She recognised she could not tell anyone that she gave the money. Then there will be hundreds of questions about why? 

"This is what I was talking about. There is no way I can leave with this money and come out good. Compared to that, I can survive driving a great car and have your good company."

They reached the house, dejected Azmi took her cover and headed to her room. That night the sleeplessness was back. It did not take her long to start thinking about Ramu. She learnt from her Indian helper there were many non-legal ways to send the money. Why can't Ramu do the same? She recollected what Ramu said about how he did not want that life. Now the dreams got graphical. 

The future comes with problems.

It was the weekend, and Ramu was hoping Azmi will not come to take him out. He liked her company for sure, but he does not want to put her at risk. But Azmi had different plans. She was out there in her maid costume. Seeing her, Ramu started looking for Sundar. If he saw her, he would ask her to take a different car. But he was nowhere to be found. With no other options left, he took her out in the car. 

"Should I take you to the Baklava shop, Mam?" asked Ramu.

"No, not the same place again. Take me somewhere else. Maybe the food court in the mall.", replied Azmi

"Okay", said Ramu.

"Why are you so serious?" 

"I am worried for your safety."

"Don't act like an old man."

It hurt Ramu someway, "I am the old man? Really? Who was having a Baklava and tea, like a middle-aged crisis?"

"You are mean. You know I never get to do that."

"Today, you want to go to a mall. Wow, what a big adventure. Have you not been to a mall yesterday with your mother?"

Azmi said, "This is why they say don't talk to men. You don't understand anything". What she meant was I want your company, I don't care where I go.

"Sorry, when you said I acted like an old man. I got out of line."

"Tell me then, where should I go?"

"You want to see the real world. I will take you to a place. But you have to be open to new things. "

"I will give it a chance. Show the way."

Ramu takes her to the most chaotic market in all of the country. It was the place all migrants meet for their weekends. He took her to a roadside stand and brought some jalebi. They gave it in a paper, and it was dripping wet. She did not know how to eat that. Ramu helped it holding in his hand, and she took a bite. She could see her eyes glowing after she ate it but still did not get a chance to see her face. 

They then went to a small place which was a make-shift movie hall. They spent 15 minutes watching some regional Indian movie. She was awed by the premise. In the movie, the girl was working. It is not that big. What happened next was not believable to Azmi. She asks the man to go out on a date with her and then kisses him that night. She was a little shy after the kiss. What was unusual was no one in that room, men and women seem to feel it a big thing. 

Ramu then introduces her to many of his friends, both men and women. Some of them their relatives and some from his city. All of them had only good things to say about Ramu. They spoke to her many things, she was listening and awed by the worldly experience they all had. Especially the woman. She did not want to go back. But Ramu knows going away for a long time will create problems, so he started and took her back.

Driving back he asked, "What do you think?"

"I want to be one of you."

"You don't mean that. None of them like what they are doing. They are here just to make money. Just for moral build-up, they humour themselves, once in a week like this. Finding happiness in small things. If given a chance they just fly back home in the next second."

"At least, they have options."

Ramu did not understand the depth of her last line. 

Bad boy or good boy

Many weeks later the car started to head to college, Azmi was unusually calm. Ramu wanted to ask what it was. But, felt he needed to give her space. So, he kept quiet. But what he did not know was, Azmi wanted Ramu to ask her what was wrong. The week went by and it was the weekend and the maid costume was ready.

The car started and finally, after all these days, Ramu spoke, "Where are we going now?"

"Now, you got your tongue back?" asked Azmi.

"What do you mean?"

"All week I was quiet and you did not ask me anything?"

"I thought .."

"You are selfish, you thought, let her cry what is that for me?"

"Sorry, please tell me what happened."

"Stop the car."

"Why?"

"Stop it."

Ramu stopped the car on the roadside. Azmi starts crying. 

After a few minutes of crying, she says, "I want you to do something for me."

"Tell me, mam."

"You introduced me to the fake passport making person, last time, do you remember?"

"Yes."

"Take me to him and make a passport for me."

"What? What is happening? I cannot get involved in this."

"I know you will say this. That is why I told you, you are selfish."

"Please tell me what happened. We can discuss and decide the course of action."

"They are planning my marriage, and do you know to who? The son of that stupid uncle who gets touchy with me."

"Oh, that is all. I thought bigger problem. You can go to your father and say, no."

"What? Do you think, I am leaving in the movie you showed me? It can never happen here."

"For that, you want to run away from this country?"

"There is no other option. If you don't help me, I will commit suicide tonight."

That was all the motivation Ramu needed. His brain stepped into action.

But, he was not sure what he was going to do. He had a friend who can make fake passports. But, how can he introduce the girl to him? It was not easy. There were going to be thousands of questions, and Ramu had zero answers. First, he told her to head home and said he was going to do something.

On the next trip to college, Azmi got into the car and noticed something. There were some papers, he asked her to sign and fill few things. He also asked her to get a picture taken and send it to his phone. She read the application and noticed the name, Janaki. 

"Why change the name?"

"That will be easy in the airport. Janaki, a housemaid heading back to India. Does not give any suspicion. "

"What if they look at my face and start doubting."

"We will use some photoshop to make you look like an Indian. Also when we are travelling don't wear any makeup. Use these Indian cosmetics, I will send videos on how to use them."

"Wow, bad boy. You have thought this through."

The last trip

Azmi had only her cabin luggage. Ramu asked not to have too many bags with her. Till a few days ago, Ramu was an innocent boy. The movement she asked him to do the impossible, he turned to a different man. The "bad boy" all the girls loved a lot. It was not that she needed the motivation. She already fell head over heels for him. But, she was happy to see this side of him. 

He said, carry less and let us go to the airport last minute. That way, we can directly head to the immigration and flight very quickly.

She walked into the airport nervously, clutching her handbag tight. A few steps and someone stopped her. Her heart came into her mouth. It was a man checking the tickets and passport before letting her in. After a few more steps, someone stopped her again. This time it was for scanning her bag. Her Burqa, was still tightly covering her face. She felt a good use of Burqa, for the first time. 

Those were the smaller steps she now headed to the ticket counter. They were checking her passport that was the ultimate test. Can the fake passport work? The lady at the counter was checking on the passport, more than usual. The nerves started to get to her. A few seconds later, the lady turned to her, and Azmi was expecting the worst. She handed the passport and told her the gate for the flight. 

Immigration was the tougher one said, everyone. She headed into the booth made for checking. It was not out of ordinary, as women were not supposed to take their Burqa off in public. Azmi knew this. She travelled to many countries before. But never carrying a fake passport or not having his Emir father next to her. The woman had a glance and let her go. What, was that that easy? She remembered what Ramu said, at night, the immigration team will be tired. So, only he booked a 2:30 AM flight. From there, she wanted to run to the flight and close the door behind her. But, she cannot let any attention to her, so she walked slowly.

Once in flight, the first promise she made to herself, I am free, I will tell Ramu I love him and want to marry him. 

Oh, wait, what if he says no.

Freedom

All the people on the flight back home were sleeping. Ramu signalled to Azmi to follow him. Azmi thought Ramu was going to say to her what she wanted to tell him. He was asking her to follow her to the bathroom. Ooh, this is an unexpected turn, felt Azmi. 

"Last time I locked myself. Please be here in case I do it again," said Ramu.

She said, "Okay". But was a little disappointed. 

Ramu had no problem coming out of the bathroom. He said, let us go. A few steps, she stopped him and held his hand. Ramu was shocked but did not let go of her hand. After reaching her seat she was struggling to sit holding Ramu's hand. But, Ramu was not letting go. She looked into his eyes and he understood and let it go. Once she sat down in her seat, she left her hand close to his hand. Ramu did not act, right away. A few minutes later, he turned to her and was about to say something. 

She stopped him, "I want this moment. I love you, don't ask me when it started. I do not know. I want you to marry me." That is all the freedom she wanted. She did not care if she died after saying those words.

P.S: "Why you wanted to be a good boy when I offered you money but turned a bad boy later." In the first case, I have to suffer for my decision. In your case, it was you who will be suffering if I remained silent. "Don't act all good boy, you fell for me, right?" asked Azmi. "Never reveal all your secrets", said Ramu kissing his wife. They were saved, because of strong lady CM who hid them from everyone, including her influential father.

P.S.P.S: Based on a real story.