It had been a stressful day. The work assignments never seemed to end with deadlines looming over. The boss was as cranky as ever and life couldn't have been duller for the recently employed Shantanu. He had just about started adjusting to the life in Mumbai. The rush in the local trains, the rush at dalal street, the seemingly not-giving-a-damn Mumbai population...last month had been quite tedious. Mumbai had been quite what he had expected, but the Delhi boy was having more trouble than he had expected settling down in the metro.The company which he represented, had offered to let him stay at the company guest house at the Juhu area of the city, overlooking the beach. Even with all the city's perks, Shantanu did not feel at ease in the city. People somehow lacked the warmth. Not very approachable. Still, Shantanu endured.He was getting a good salary with free accommodation, something which was too sweet to miss. Even if it meant that he had to stay in this place, away from home and family.
Today had been particularly stressful. He had to stay late at the office and then due to a taxi strike had to catch a train at seven in the evening. Not a pleasant experience for a first timer. On the train he could not get off at his stop on time due to the rush and had to ride all the way to one station further to Andheri from where he had to take an auto-rickshaw to his guest house. "It's about time i bought a car", he thought. Shantanu returned to his guest house room all tired and bushed. He had lost his cellphone to pickpockets in the Mumbai local and was in a sour mood, though he was thankful that his wallet was safe. He needed respite from all these sad events of the day. He bought a Budweiser pint which he took with him to the beach, to have a quiet drink,
Life was difficult. The beach was dark and quiet.He sat down, looking at the dark waves lapping the beach shore. He wondered if it was safe to be sitting here at this time of the night. He had stories of nasty stuff happening at the beach. Some rumors stated a prostution racket running at certain areas of the beach and he had no intention of being caught up with any unexpected frenzy with the cops just in case they come asking. Taking the last sip of his beer, he picked up his bottle and started making his way towards his company guest house, when out of the corner of his eye he saw a woman standing by the shoreline with her feet in the water.
"Strange", he thought, "Who would want to feel the water at this time of the night?"
He studied the woman from a distance. She wasn't a person you would call outright beautiful, but she did have a gentle face. She wore a white Punjabi suit and seemed to be alone. She held her high heel sandals in her hands as she enjoyed the calm sea. At first Shantanu was a little cautious. Though she didn't look like a woman you should generally avoid, he was careful around this time of the night. But then he got a look at the girl's face. She appeared sad, Very sad. Maybe even suicidal. What would a girl like her (she looked like she was from a well to do family) be doing at the beach alone at this unearthly hour? He thought about it for a moment, then decided to ask her if she was in need for anything. You know, be a good citizen.
As he walked towards the woman, he tried to get a glimpse of the woman's feet. Now, he wasn't superstitious, but he did feel that the "Ghost's Have Turned Feet" theory deserved some credibility. After all, so many people can't be wrong about something like this. Satisfied with a quick glace that the woman indeed had normal feet, he asked her, "A little cold for a swim isn't it?". Cheesy line, yeah. He was sad that way. Couldn't offer a decent conversation starter to save his life. His statement apparently startled the woman, who looked at his with eyes full of fear.
"Whoa! Sorry if i startled you there" apologized Shantanu as he saw the look in her eyes. "Was just curious and concerned about a woman at the beach at this time of the night. You OK?" he asked.
"Yeah, i'm fine. Thank's for asking." she replied with a small smile, though she still looked wearily at him. "i'll be on my way then.."she trailed off and started walking towards the parking area.
"You have a car?" asked Shantanu regretting immediately. If she didn't THEN what was he gonna do? He didn't have one either. He could ask her to stay at the guest house, but that would sound fishy and just in case this depressed female did try to hang herself or something he would be the one in hot soup. He should have best stayed away. He finally understood the Mumbai way of avoiding people. Why take on trouble when it doesn't concern you?
Thankfully the woman did seem to have a car. If you could call that thing a car. It seemed like a car straight from the eighty's Bollywood movie. He couldn't place the car. A Contessa maybe? That was jurassic. Without even a glace back, the lady got into her car and drove out noisily leaving the poor man wondering what had happened. He walked back slowly to his guest house promising himself not to go anywhere near weird people again. Especially near a weird woman like that, and he decided to stop his midnight strolls on the beach. Scary place it was at night.
He was wrong on all accounts.
Today had been particularly stressful. He had to stay late at the office and then due to a taxi strike had to catch a train at seven in the evening. Not a pleasant experience for a first timer. On the train he could not get off at his stop on time due to the rush and had to ride all the way to one station further to Andheri from where he had to take an auto-rickshaw to his guest house. "It's about time i bought a car", he thought. Shantanu returned to his guest house room all tired and bushed. He had lost his cellphone to pickpockets in the Mumbai local and was in a sour mood, though he was thankful that his wallet was safe. He needed respite from all these sad events of the day. He bought a Budweiser pint which he took with him to the beach, to have a quiet drink,
Life was difficult. The beach was dark and quiet.He sat down, looking at the dark waves lapping the beach shore. He wondered if it was safe to be sitting here at this time of the night. He had stories of nasty stuff happening at the beach. Some rumors stated a prostution racket running at certain areas of the beach and he had no intention of being caught up with any unexpected frenzy with the cops just in case they come asking. Taking the last sip of his beer, he picked up his bottle and started making his way towards his company guest house, when out of the corner of his eye he saw a woman standing by the shoreline with her feet in the water.
"Strange", he thought, "Who would want to feel the water at this time of the night?"
He studied the woman from a distance. She wasn't a person you would call outright beautiful, but she did have a gentle face. She wore a white Punjabi suit and seemed to be alone. She held her high heel sandals in her hands as she enjoyed the calm sea. At first Shantanu was a little cautious. Though she didn't look like a woman you should generally avoid, he was careful around this time of the night. But then he got a look at the girl's face. She appeared sad, Very sad. Maybe even suicidal. What would a girl like her (she looked like she was from a well to do family) be doing at the beach alone at this unearthly hour? He thought about it for a moment, then decided to ask her if she was in need for anything. You know, be a good citizen.
As he walked towards the woman, he tried to get a glimpse of the woman's feet. Now, he wasn't superstitious, but he did feel that the "Ghost's Have Turned Feet" theory deserved some credibility. After all, so many people can't be wrong about something like this. Satisfied with a quick glace that the woman indeed had normal feet, he asked her, "A little cold for a swim isn't it?". Cheesy line, yeah. He was sad that way. Couldn't offer a decent conversation starter to save his life. His statement apparently startled the woman, who looked at his with eyes full of fear.
"Whoa! Sorry if i startled you there" apologized Shantanu as he saw the look in her eyes. "Was just curious and concerned about a woman at the beach at this time of the night. You OK?" he asked.
"Yeah, i'm fine. Thank's for asking." she replied with a small smile, though she still looked wearily at him. "i'll be on my way then.."she trailed off and started walking towards the parking area.
"You have a car?" asked Shantanu regretting immediately. If she didn't THEN what was he gonna do? He didn't have one either. He could ask her to stay at the guest house, but that would sound fishy and just in case this depressed female did try to hang herself or something he would be the one in hot soup. He should have best stayed away. He finally understood the Mumbai way of avoiding people. Why take on trouble when it doesn't concern you?
Thankfully the woman did seem to have a car. If you could call that thing a car. It seemed like a car straight from the eighty's Bollywood movie. He couldn't place the car. A Contessa maybe? That was jurassic. Without even a glace back, the lady got into her car and drove out noisily leaving the poor man wondering what had happened. He walked back slowly to his guest house promising himself not to go anywhere near weird people again. Especially near a weird woman like that, and he decided to stop his midnight strolls on the beach. Scary place it was at night.
He was wrong on all accounts.
shantanu :P
ReplyDelete:P
ReplyDelete