The Ride

It was 7’o clock on a cold sunny morning. The sparrows started chirping outside Akash’s balcony. He peeped out from his blanket, smiled at the birds and looked at the big wall poster in his room. It was Michael Jackson’s three feet long poster. Anything comes after MJ to Akash.

He woke up from the bed shouting…. “I am Back, I am Back” and switched on his music system. MJ songs were being played loudly. He freshened himself, went to kitchen and brewed coffee. He checked for bread in the refrigerator and sighed. He went for a quick shower as he planned to have breakfast at a nearby food court. He put on his uniform, got ready for the work, switched off the music system, locked his room and went downstairs.

Akash lives in a single room in an apartment building. He runs a taxi for his livelihood.

Akash was born to middle class parents, who work at a primary health care centre, in the heritage city of Chennai. After his graduation, he tried for jobs but fate made bad luck his best companion!

One day, as he was looking for some job openings in a local newspaper, he came across an advertisement. “Ride In Four Wheels” – It was about driving a car, where he can rent the car for lease and later can own the car ,meanwhile paying some amount to the owner. He was drawn towards it and decided to opt for that job. He explained his parents the same, met the car owner, signed the documents and took the car keys. He thanked his friend Shaji for making him learn how to drive a car two years before after his graduation.

He took the keys and checked outside the office, it was a black colored Maruthi Esteem must be year 1994 model. He looked inside and outside the car. It looked fine. He smiled at himself, at his luck and started the car. He drove towards Kutchery road, Mylapore, to the Kapalishwara Temple as it was his first day of job. Upon reaching, he offered prayers and started the car.

“Airport, Airport” someone shouted while tapping on the back door of the car. Akash heard a female voice. He looked back and saw a girl in her mid 20’s in a bright red top and shiny dark blue jeans tapping the car door hurriedly. He said yes and asked her to get in. He looked at himself in the mirror, chuckled and winked. After all, the first passenger is a young woman. He laughed at his thought and greeted her “Good morning”. She didn’t reply but was looking onto the road as if searching for someone. “Will someone else will join you to the airport Ma’am”, asked Akash. “No, No ” she said worriedly. Akash frowned for a second and said, “Then shall we start to the airport Ma’am?”. She nodded yes. “As it is a peak time in the morning, the travel rate is 2x times more Ma’am”. She said OK.

He started the car. The car was going on the busy Santhome road. Akash switched on the music system. As usual, MJ songs are being played. “Heal the world” song was played and Akash was singing in sync with the singer. He could hear a female voice. He turned back and saw the girl in the back seat was also humming the song.

“Are you a MJ fan too?”, asked Akash.She said “Yesssss!” with a stress. He smiled at her. She smiled back. He felt good and stopped the car at the red signal. The song kept playing. “Ma’am, may I know your name , Err, nothing to worry, today is my first day on job as a car driver and you are my first passenger. So I thought, I would etch this day and your name in my diary”, said Akash.

“Wow, congratulations. Well, my name is Tara, Tara Divakaran, and you?”, saying this she put forward her right hand. He immediately left the steering wheel, wiped his hand and shook his hand with her. “Hello Ma’am, I am Akash, Akash Nataraj”. The traffic started moving. They kept listening to MJ songs. “Akash , can you please play the FM Radio?”, asked Tara. “Yes Ma’am, sure sure. There you go…”, he tuned in the radio and a song from Agninatchatram was played.

Akash praised Ilayaraja and started singing the song ‘Va va anbe anbe’. She was also humming. He turned back, looked at her and smiled. She smiled back saying, “You can call me Tara”. As the car was about to cross the famous Santhome Church, she shouted, “Akash, Stop the car”. The car screeched and was stopped. “What happened Tara, why did you shout?” “It’s the church Akash, come.. lets go inside”, she smiled. He was puzzled. A few seconds earlier she was frantic and now she is smiling. However, he locked the car and followed her.

Santhome was a old, very old historical church back to 16th century. It was a Divine feeling entering inside it. Tara went directly towards the praying place, prayed for a few minutes and met the church Father and a few other people in the church. Akash was looking around at the church architecture, when Tara came to him, held his hand and took to the father. She introduced Akash as her best friend and the father gave him the blessings. Akash felt a little suffocated, but remained silent. She came to him and said, “We can go to airport now”. “Ok Ma’am, I mean Tara” Akash said.

They went towards the car. A little boy, came running towards the car and gave a rose flower to Tara. She kissed him and waved good bye. Both of them got into the car. Akash started the car. She took a diary from her bag, scribbled something and put back. “Do you also write a diary Tara?” “Yes Akash, I write some important memories”. “Me too”, he smiled. She smiled. Both talked about their education, families and it was like a friendly conversation. Tara was scribbling all through their chat. His stomach was poking him for food.

“Tara, at what time is your flight? By when shall I drive you to the airport?”, he asked. “Anytime Akash, I have not booked any ticket. After reaching the airport, I will decide where to fly”, she stretched her hands as if flying like a bird.

Akash was a little surprised. He immediately stopped the car aside , and turned back to her with a irritating face”. Tara, Can you please explain me what do you mean for what you just said? I have to get back to the other taxi requests that are queued and finish my duty by 9 P.M. Today is my first day of the job, I request you please do not trouble me”. Tara laughed and got down from the car, went to him and with a dull face looked into his face. He felt a little sorry for his words and was about to say something, Tara suddenly shouted ‘Booooo’ onto his face, laughed out and got into the car.

“Hey driver, chalo — chalo ” she shouted. Akash also laughed, felt light and started the car.

After few minutes, he stopped at a nearby food court. Both of them went inside and ordered their breakfast. While they were waiting for the food, Akash started the conversation: “So Tara, where are you planning to go? I mean which country or place. And now I realize, you have no luggage carrying other than this bag. Err, never mind, I am taking freedom in asking such personal questions. I still remember I am just a driver of the hired car but you look too young to travel alone to big places. And haan, its your comfort to talk about this else no worries”. “Akash, I do not have any problem in replying to your questions. But, please wait till we have food. I am so hungry”. “OK, as you wish Ma’am” winked Akash. She smiled. After a sumptuous breakfast, the taxi started again.

“Akash, how much do you get if you drop me now directly to the airport?”. “May be Rs.1200 and tax”. “I will pay you more. I will pay you how much you want. Can you drive me all along Chennai and drop me at the airport at 8 P.M.” He was a little confused. He dint know what to answer. He dint talk for few minutes. “Its OK Akash , take me to the airport. I will get another taxi.” He turned back and said, “Tell me Tara, which is our next place to go?” and smiled. She clapped hard like a kid, asked him to drive to the nearby shopping center.

He drove towards the central shopping center, parked the car and went inside with her. She took him along to all the shops, bought clothes and some books. While coming out of the centre, she dropped all her shopping bags down.

“Hey man, can’t you see I am not able to hold all the bags. Go and get a suitcase for me”. Akash asked her which color she needed. She replied any color. He went into the complex again, bought a big size traveler suitcase. She dumped all the stuff in it and ordered him to get it to the car. He smiled, nodded his head and put the suitcase. She now sat in the front seat and he started the car.

“Now to where?" “Oh its 3 P.M, we have only 5 hours. Hmm… take me the beach”. “It’s sunny, you may feel discomfort Tara”. “No Akash, there is a place near the Patrolling Police room at the beach. It will be shady. We can sit there”. He nodded OK. All through the drive, Tara was silent. Akash increased the volume of the music. She started to groove a little but was silent. He felt void. He didn’t like the silence. He didn’t like her being silent. “Tara, you didn’t answer my questions”.

She was silent. He stopped the car. “What happened? Why did you stop the car”? “Why are you not talking? Are you OK? Are you feeling sleepy”? “Hahah, did you get scared. I was doing this”, and gave him a paper sheet. It was Akash standing near a car. She drew his picture. “So beautiful. It is so nice. Can I take this Tara, please”? “It is for you Akash”. She smiled. He smiled. They went to the beach. Both spent a very good time there. Akash checked his watch. They have to reach the airport by 8 P.M. He calculated and told her it’s time to leave. She smiled. He smiled. The car was on the way to airport.

Both were silent. Akash was feeling weird. He felt a little sad. But again that thought made him conscious. They reached the airport. “Which side do you want me drop you? Domestic or International”? “Please drop me at the international departures side”. He drove the car to the said place. She got down the car. Came to him. Hugged him. When he was about to react , she bid him good bye and went inside the departures gate. He was staring at her till she got disappeared inside the passengers crowd. He frowned with a sinking heart. He felt something missing. He came to the parking , was about to get into the car and saw Tara’s bag in the car’s back seat.

He immediately took out the bag and ran to the departure side. When he reached the gate, he tried searching her in the crowd. Alas, his search went in vain. He came back to the car with the bag in his hands. He went to his car fast, checked the bag. Then he saw the bills of the things she shopped at the shopping centre. He felt so very bad that she even forgot the suitcase. He then saw her diary. He wanted to check if there was any address or phone number inside. But stopped for a second and thought it is not a good manner to check someone’s personal diary. But again this is the only way he can get her details. He opened her diary. He check for address and any phone number. He could not get any details.

The first page of the diary fluttered. Unknowingly he started reading. ‘Hi, Today is my high school graduation day! Wow, I will be going into the college. What a memorable farewell’. ‘Wow, first day of the college. I am not sure if I will become a engineer but I want to become a teacher. I love kids. Wohoooo daddy gifted me a puppy.’ He went on reading.

He checked for the recent pages. ‘Oh, I cannot become a engineer nor a doctor. Even though I am 22, my body is older than me. Hmm, it’s sad but it’s true. I am going to die in few months’. Akash clasped the diary tight in his hand. He was in a state of shock. He kept checking the pages. ‘Today morning I had been to the doctor. He was talking to my dad. The disease got even more worse. My life time came from months to weeks to days. I started feeling sad. I always wanted to have a boyfriend, a nice guy who can take me to Paris – The city of love, kiss me standing right at the front of the Eiffel Tower… But all my plans withered as autumn leaves. Nevertheless, I love myself a lot. I will fly to Paris alone and have fun for the days left with me!’

There were no other pages written. The remaining diary was blank.

There was a sheet of paper. It was Akash’s picture with his car that she drew. He saw another paper that was folded. He opened it. He started reading it.

"Hello Akash,

By this time you must have read my diary and my story. I never wanted anyone getting worried about my disease. But today when I was at the doctor, I myself felt sad. I decided I have to get things done before I leave this world. From the time I got into your car, till you dropped me at the airport. I found you so truthful and down to earth. I am not that old enough to bless you but wish you all the good luck for your future … ha-ha which is shorter for me. Hey forgot to tell you , there is a cheque in the bag for you and all those things we bought in the shopping center please donate them to dying youngsters like me. Finally, I am sorry if troubled you. Now you know why I dint answer your questions. I know it’s your first day of job and I troubled you. Please forgive me.

Thank You So Much Akash! Bye.

– Tara"

Akash was all in tears. He was still. He could hear the sound of his own tears drops. He came back to his room. As it was late, the next day he went to the bank that held the cheque Tara gave. He enquired about the account holder. Akash met Tara’s father and told him about his meeting with her. He felt sorry for the man as no one knew her whereabouts. He returned him the cheque. Tara’s dad refused to take back. But Akash insisted in taking it back.

As Akash was driving back to his room, he thought about Tara. Just looking at his life at that moment, he decided something. He shared his story with his friends and said, “Guys, if you meet someone who is not smiling or serious or sad, cheer them up. If they tell their story, listen to them. Take a few minutes from your day to make someone smile. It may help. Who knows what good might happen after they go home or we never know what will happen to them the next day. But one thing is guaranteed, there is nothing bad going to happen if you smile. They will feel better. You feel better. And you feel that you have found the purpose of your day!”

Akash has been a successful person. After eight years, he bought 10 cars and started a travel agency. It was the inauguration of the travel agency office and he invited Tara’s father for the event.

Tara’s father saw the travel agency board. It read: “Akash Tara – Smile while you travel”. He smiled. She smiled from nowhere.