She said ‘take me where you want’

This was indeed an awaited moment for Nilofer. Today she was preparing to go to University as a student of M.A. The thought of being a student of University was far too exciting. She had played out this moment in her mind so many times, now it was going to be a reality. Her mother silently watched with affectionate glee the preparations of her daughter.

All set and done, Nilofer bid goodbye to her mother and took the stairs to step out of the house on the road. Her heart was under the influence of an overdose of adrenaline. Clutching her mobile phone and with a sling bag dangling across her left shoulder, Nilofer stood scanning the road for a rikshaw to proceed to University. It was 9.35 a.m and she expected to reach the University before the first class which was scheduled for 10 a.m.

On the same morning, a short distance away from where Nilofer stood waiting for a conveyance, in the nearby side lane, a new beginning was being scripted. Jamal was getting ready to take out his new e-rikshaw to earn a living. Jamal’s countenance betrayed the look of an e-rikshaw driver. Just few months back, Jamal also had dreams of a government job after he finished his M.A. Tragedy struck when his father died of COVID. With no income forthcoming his mother had discussed the option of working as maid but Jamal found it too demeaning. Despite strong opposition from his mother, Jamal decided to leave his ongoing M.A course at the University and rented an e-rikshaw on a daily basis.

With tears in her eyes, Jamal’s mother patted her son on the cheek and kissed his forehead. Her tears swelled as her thoughts took her to the memory of her late husband. Ahmad loved his only son and wanted him to join a government job. God had other plans. Ahmad could not survive COVID. With his demise, Jamal was left alone to fend the vagaries of life. Today Jamal was starting a new life as a rikshaw driver.

Gingerly Jamal navigated the narrow lane and found his way to the main road. Dreary eyed, his mother stood at the gate following the rikshaw till the bend at the end of the lane. Jamal had no idea of the intricacies involved in soliciting passengers. Deep in thought of his change in destiny, Jamal heard a call ‘rikshaw’. At first, he didn’t understand the implication but suddenly realized it was a call that was directed at him. As Jamal’s rikshaw came to a halt, Nilofer climbed on the backseat and mumbled ‘University’. Jamal did not utter a word and started his rikshaw taking the road towards the University. His mind did register the word University. A few months back he himself was a student of this institution. Life indeed plays cruel pranks, today he was just a rikshaw driver ferrying a passenger to the University.

Nilofer found the atmosphere in the University much to her liking. Her day passed in a flash. She returned home ecstatic and looked forward to the next morning. Jamal found the going tough. As day progressed, he found the long waiting periods between passengers tough to handle. He returned home sullen but concealed his pain when he met his mother at the entrance. The thought of a similar travail the next morning felt heavy. His mind took him to his first passenger, the girl who had boarded his rikshaw to go to University. Despite her face being invisible under the mask, Jamal realized that her eyes exuded an aura of happiness.

Jamal could not sleep. He was still under duress to realize the harsh reality of life. Morning beckoned a new day. His mother prepared food and by 9.30 a.m. Jamal was ready to embark on another day of uncertain fortunes. He took the same road and was still in his blank thoughts till he spotted the girl standing on the side waving in an effort to catch his attention. Jamal recognized she was the same girl who had boarded his rikshaw yesterday to go to University. Jamal paused and the passenger took her seat. She mumbled ‘University’ and immersed herself on the mobile phone.

Today Jamal got a view of the girl while she took her place in the back seat. Her mask had lost its place and the face was clearly visible. She was beautiful. Jamal focused his thoughts on the traffic ahead winding his way on the crowded street. The turn of events in his life did not provide him the luxury to contemplate on the beauty of the passenger.

Nilofer had no idea that she had boarded the same rikshaw that she took yesterday. She was far too deep in her thoughts to pay heed to the rikshaw or its driver.

Jamal’s day was no different from the previous one. There was no joy while he traversed the streets with different passengers all immersed in their own thoughts and preoccupations. There were moments of waiting when he introspected. His thought drifted to the sight of the beautiful girl who had boarded his rikshaw to go to University.

The next morning Jamal, as usual started his rikshaw at 9.30 a.m. As he took the main street, he looked ahead for the sight of the waiting girl. He did locate her, she was standing in front of her house. A strange thought made Jamal happy, he pushed the accelerator to reach her. In a flash another rikshaw went past Jamal and reached the girl. Jamal saw the girl wave to the rikshaw and board it. Jamal reached the spot just 10 seconds later.

Three days had passed and Jamal had picked the tricks of the trade. He had found traffic spots where he could easily find passengers. Despite a good earning, Jamal found it difficult to shirk the disappointment of being a few seconds late before reaching the nameless girl who would go to the University.

Monday was a fresh day. Jamal made an effort to start earlier than usual. He left home at 9.20 a.m. and took the main street. The girl was not in sight. He reached her house and parked his rikshaw in the shade. At 9.30 a.m. she emerged with a sling bag and a phone. Jamal looked towards her. She nodded and boarded the rikshaw. As if on rote she mumbled ‘University’ and settled on the back seat. Today Nilofer had a chance to see the driver closely. Her mind tried to remember where she had seen this face. A few moments later she realized that she was on the same rikshaw which she had taken to go to University a couple of times. The rikshaw driver looked out of place. Nilofer sensed that there was some weird attribute in the driver which was difficult to explain. Her thoughts drifted and she decided to check her whatsapp.

Jamal sensed a feeling of joy while he drove the rikshaw to the University. An unknown instinct made him connect with this passenger. The girl seemed highly oblivious to his thoughts. She was immersed in her own world.

At last, there was some joy in Jamal’s daily routine. He would everyday start in the morning and park his rikshaw in front of Nilofer’s house keeping an eye for the time she stepped out. Nilofer also got used to this new turn of events. She would invariably glance towards the rikshaw and without saying anything take the back seat. She again noticed an uncanny look on the driver’s face which betrayed the look of a man doing this menial job.

Weeks and months had passed and it was now a routine for Jamal to ferry his passenger to University in the morning. Nilofer found comfort to be able to get the conveyance without waiting. She found the driver a well-mannered boy with gentle behavior.

Life was indeed flowing smoothly for Nilofer since the time she had got admission in the University. An open academic atmosphere and new friends were all that she could ask for. Everything was fine till something happened which took Nilofer by surprise. One evening some visitors came to her house. By their look the visitors displayed an aura of opulence. The ladies were in heavy makeup and the gents were elegantly dressed. Nilofer’s parents instructed her to move to another room. Nilofer realized that the visit had something to do with her marriage proposal.

Nilofer’s parents were happy with the new turn of events. They realized that the marriage proposal from such an affluent family was nothing less than a blessing. The prospective boy was projected as the heir to the large business that the family owned. Following the deep-rooted tradition of the family, Nilofer’s parents didn’t find it important to consult their daughter before taking a decision. The marriage proposal was accepted.

Nilofer’s mother broke the news of the impending marriage to her daughter. The sudden turn of events was too big to handle for the girl who had only this year crossed her teen. The joy of completing her studies and then being able to find an independent job vanished in a moment. Nilofer’s eyes filled with tears and she cried. Her mother had no idea of the meaning of Nilofer’s tears, paradoxically she thought the tears in Nilofer’s eyes were an expression of happiness. Life indeed can be deceptive!

The date of the marriage was also fixed without consulting Nilofer. Her mother advised her to stop going to the University and stay at home till the date of marriage. Nilofer did try to convince her otherwise but her mother became adamant. In a ‘matter-of-fact’ statement she told Nilofer that the prospective groom’s family was too wealthy and she didn’t need any degrees for a job. That the affluence would keep her happy lifelong.

Nilofer had taken a few books from the University library. She requested her mother to allow her to go to University to deposit the books. She was given permission to go to university but on the condition that she would come back as soon as the work was completed.

Jamal was in a jovial mood. Last night he had a dream which made him happy. He had dreamt that he was driving the rikshaw and the passenger was the beautiful girl going to the University. Somehow the mere thought of the nameless girl evoked a happy feeling.

At 9.20 a.m. Jamal reached the spot where he halted everyday to pick the girl. That day he had to wait a bit longer before she appeared. Today she was carrying a lap load of books. Jamal caught a sight of her face. She was not the same as he found her every day. The girl said nothing but Jamal didn’t wait for her command. He drove the rikshaw towards the University. Before they reached the University, the girl muttered that she would return in half an hour and that, if possible, he must wait for her at the gate. Jamal waited for her at the gate.

Nilofer returned in 20 min. Jamal realized that she was not carrying the books. Without uttering a word, Nilofer sat on the back seat. Jamal asked where they should proceed. The girl didn’t reply. Jamal saw tears flowing down the girl’s cheek. Her eyes were red and swollen. Jamal found this situation strange, he too felt a bout of sadness. For no obvious reason he had developed empathy with his nameless passenger.

Jamal repeated the question seeking the destination of the girl while she sat on the back seat. Nilofer had too many thoughts currently on her mind. The last thing she wanted was to return back to the confines of her home. With tears swelling in her eyes, she said to the rikshaw driver ‘take me where you want’. Jamal was looking straight at her. He didn’t understand the meaning of what the girl said but understood the tone of sadness. He started the rikshaw and took the road towards the girl’s house.

Nilofer alighted from the rikshaw and ran towards her gate. Jamal stood watching while the girl walked in urgent strides towards the gate. The girl reached her gate, she paused, before entering the house she looked back towards the rickshaw driver. Her tear-filled gaze met Jamal’s sight. Jamal had no idea that this was the last he would ever see of that nameless girl.

The next day morning, with apprehensive and weird thoughts, Jamal waited patiently at the gate for the girl to appear. She did not come out. Jamal felt unhappy but moved on for other destinations.

Several days had passed but Jamal did not get the passenger who used to go to the University. Life again took a new turn and Jamal adjusted in the new normal. Two weeks had passed and Jamal was no longer waiting at the gate of the girl. In vacant moments he would think of the girl and try to fathom the events of that fateful day when he brought her back from the University. The moment when the girl had looked back at him before entering the gate and met his gaze remained frozen in Jamal’s thoughts.

One day while Jamal returned home, he saw the house of the girl illuminated in colorful lights. There was a festive look. Reality dawned on Jamal. What he understood from the illuminating lights did not make him happy. A sense of melancholy engulfed his thoughts.

The wedding was no less than a dream event for Nilofer. She was treated like a princess in her new home. The new found love, the exotic honeymoon and the constant adulation had pampered Nilofer to the extent that she forgot the pains of leaving her study mid-way.

It was a few months past marriage Nilofer realized that sometimes her husband would come home late and be in inebriated state. As time passed these events gained frequency. Nilofer tried to counsel her husband but he would shut her up. On an occasion Nilofer had come across the mobile phone of her husband and to her shock found messages from several girlfriends which were not in good taste.

Nilofer realized that her husband was not enjoying her company any longer. She was reduced to a bystander in the big household basking in the affluence but short on emotional respect. She tried to talk about the situation with her parents but they offered no help, silently everyone wanted her to ignore certain happenings and take life as it is.

Life went from bad to worse for Nilofer. Her husband would openly court other girls. His likes and dislikes were totally against the traditional upbringing of Nilofer. It was a few months short of a year that one day Nilofer walked out of her in-laws place and returned to her parents. Her parents coaxed and cajoled her but her trauma was deep and she resisted all efforts of reconciliation. A couple of months later Nilofer received the divorce papers from her former husband. Nilofer realized that life can also be cruel. With a divorce as her defining attribute she was now expected to spend her life with only a few pleasant memories which remained with her from her brief University sojourn.

Nilofer’s father retired from his government job in a few months and the family moved to a new home in the ancestral village far from the city. The change of residence was also dictated by the constant prying of relatives and neighbors seeking details of Nilofer’s divorce.

Life brought new fortunes for Jamal. His intelligence and acumen played a part in diversifying his rikshaw trade. Within a year Jamal bought several rikshaw and a few cars to be used as taxi. Now Jamal no longer ferried a rikshaw. He commanded a fleet of rikshaw and cars employing drivers to operate. Good times were here at last in Jamal household.

Jamal’s mother felt happy to see her son doing so well. For a few weeks she had been contemplating of finding a life mate for Jamal. She had already sounded a few relatives and friends to suggest prospective proposals. Last week she had visited their ancestral village and came to know about a girl who was perfectly in sync with her traditional thoughts.

It was raining outside; the cool breeze was coming from the open window. Despite the ambient weather, Jamal found it difficult to sleep. On the other bed, his mother too was engulfed in thoughts. Only a mother can understand some situations. She understood that in that motionless pose, Jamal was still awake. She softly called ‘Jamal’. Jamal answered ‘yes’. She told Jamal that she felt it was time he got married. Without waiting for a reply, she informed that she had seen a girl in their village who would be a perfect mate. At last Jamal found sleep in the wee hours. The sudden turn of events was unexpected. After many months, today he again had the same dream of ferrying a beautiful girl to the University.

Marriage was fixed. The barat was a small gathering of close relatives and friends. The red and green tent beckoned the barat in the village setting. The maulana was brisk in conducting the nikah. Jamal was now a married man.

The car marked to bring back the groom and the bride from the village to the city was decked in flowers. Jamal took his seat and was joined by the bride, in heavy embroidered clothes and bright henna. Jamal had witnessed the tearful farewell while his bride left her parents’ house. Jamal looked at his wife seated next to him. The veil had slipped and he could see a part of her face and the eyes. There were tears in her eyes. Jamal found a resemblance in those tear-filled eyes. His sight fixed into the gaze of his bride. Jamal remembered the girl with tears in her eyes. Nilofer also remembered the rickshaw driver to whom she had once said ‘take me where you want’. Jamal today got the chance to fulfil those words.