SHORT STORIES

1. ONE FINE NIGHT

******This is a fictional story******

It was 12 in the midnight by the time I realised to go home after partying at my friend's place. The following day I had an important work at a bank and my parents won't spare me if i don't show up on time. So I  started to my house which is hardly a 30 mints drive.

Half way through the drive and there I see a group of policeman at a distance patroling on the road, stopping every other vehicle and checking them thoroughly. The assembly elections are round the corner and seizing for liquor and illegal money have become pretty common. But it's unusual to witness such raids at this hour in my small city. " Oh man, not at this moment " i got anxious, when one of the police were holding a breathalyser.
There's an alternate bumpy road to my home which is quite creepy at night and I can't risk to take it.
Cannot  imagine my dreams getting crushed if they book me under a drunk and drive case.
I took a u turn and travelled back few meters to stop at a pharmacy which was the only place open at that hour. There were very few people on the road and I was waiting for the police to leave. All of a sudden i notice a girl standing few feet from me, talking in a high pitch with an auto driver.
" Madam it's very rare to find transportation at this odd time and this is the least price you'll get. Give 200 , I'll drop safely at your doorstep" said the auto driver.
" Don't think, I'm new to this place and charge as much as you wish.I'll give 150" she negotiated.
" 200 fix " he demanded. "No thanks " she stood firm and the auto fellow left.
A girl in her 20's covering her face with scarf, wearing a bag pack talking fearlessly at midnight ! This kind of intrigued me. There's a railway station in the very next lane and i assumed that she might have got down the train a  while ago.
The next moment she saw me. By this time I was staring at her which looked awkward and shifted my gaze to the policeman at far distance, who were still patroling. It's 12.30 and i decided to go back to my friend's place and called to let him know that i'm coming back to his rented bachelor house which will be locked by his owner after 12.
That guy didn't lift my call and how can I go there if he doesn't unlock the gate for me. Why is this happening to me ! I was distressed and fidgeted around my bike.
"Are you waiting for someone?" I heard a girl's voice. She is the one who argued with the autorickshaw. "Ahh ...no" i said and was making calls continuously to my friend. My mobile got  switched off when I tried calling another friend. My bad luck was laughing at me..... The girl beside me was looking eagerly at the road for another auto. "Where do you want to go at this mid - night ?" I asked out of curiosity.
" To my home. The train was late by almost 2 hours and now there's hardly no transportation left. What about you ?" she asked.
" Same, waiting to go home " i sighed.
" Is there a problem with your bike ?" she asked. "No.... something unexpected happened" i didn't tell the truth.
" I'll pay you 150rs. Can you please drop me at indranagar 2nd lane ?" she asked after a small pause.
" I'm in search for someone who can take me to my home, how can I drop somebody else" i smirked and looked at the end of road to notice the horn of the police vehicle.
She looked at me with lot of doubts before saying " Did you drink ?"
How could she guess that ! I looked down nodding with a smile, to avoid  the embarrassment. She moved closer and looked at my bike.
" Ohk.... I have a solution. I'll drive past that police vehicle so that you won't get caught. After that you drop me at my home and then go to your home" she suggested.
" What ? This is not a scooty for your information " i laughed at her.
" I know it's a pulsar. Don't assume that only men can drive. I have driving licence " she smirked.
" I know that women can drive, but I can't put my life in some stranger's hand " i was reluctant.
" So am i. Even I'm equally worried to make such deal with a stranger...." and she continued, " or else lend me your bike for this night. Tomorrow morning you can collect it at my home !"

Oh man, this girl is pestering me now. " What if you steal my bike ?" I asked. " Keep this gold ring with you. Give me tomorrow when I handover your bike " she said removing the ring from her finger.
When did girls in my city become this brave and courageous ! I wondered.
" I don't think the policemen would leave anytime before 4 am. Think of it again, both of us will be benefited. I have an important work, give your bike and help me atleast " she pleaded.
It's 1am already and also obvious that there's nobody to help me at this moment. Even though she is a stranger, she looked harmless. Also her home is near my place and maybe I can take this risk ! Being a girl she is ready to put her safety in the line and why am I scared.
Finally I made the deal and placed keys in her hand. She gave me her bag back to carry. When we were about to start, she got a call from her mother and told that she would reach home in less than 20 minutes. She turned the engine on. "You sure ? Is everything ok with the bike ?" I asked when the bike tilted with a jerk.
" Yeah...I'm ok, if you're scared at any point, let me know " she said.
The vehicle moved after she released the clutch and the scepticism I had in the beginning started to fade by looking at the way she was handling the bike.
The police stopped us as soon as we approached them. I tried to hide behind her. They asked for driving licence and she showed it in her mobile. I showed them the RC and pollution control documents of my bike. Next they asked about the helmet which I forgot to carry today.
"Sir, my brother was not feeling well and he was in a hurry to pick me up from the railway station, so he didn't get the helmet. Please excuse us sir" she requested.
She made me her brother ! " Bro, you got hurt in your elbow while playing volleyball right. Didn't you ?! " she made up a story. " Yeah....it's hurting since yesterday" i showed my acting skills pressing the elbow.
"Ok but how can you forget helmet ? What's in that bag ? " he came up with another question.
"Nothing sir ! Unwashed clothes " she replied. I opened the bagpack and cleared the policemen's doubt. They asked for the train ticket, Id card .. what not ! When we were about to leave one of the policemen asked to get tested for alcohol consumption. My heart was pounding so fast and i closed my eyes.
"Is it a new mouthpiece ? How can i use the same one which is being used for everybody ? " she questioned.
The police looked at each other and none of them had an idea that a new mouthpiece should be provided for every person being tested with a breathalyser. "we don't have a new one " they said and she argued.
What if they become suspicious and check both of us ? I tried to convince her to take the test. Amid the conversation one of the policemen asked them to leave us giving exemption from taking the test.
I took a sigh of relief and we resumed our journey. When the police were no longer visible, I asked her to stop, so that i could drive.
"Why ? Am i not driving well ?" She asked. " Nothing like that, it's my turn to help you" i said.
"What if there comes another police raid on our way ?" she questioned.
Thank God, i found someone like her who turned out to be a big help, or else don't know where i would have ended up.....i didn't object her and she continued to drive.
" You didn't tell me your name " i asked her. " Is it that important ?" she replied. " Yeah " i said. "What's your name ?" she asked. "Manikanta" i said.
"Veee...." she said something moving her head towards me. "What ?" I asked, this time moving closer to her ear. "Veena" she said her name.
She is of average height with good physique and long arms. I got a chance to see her face when the police stopped, but was busy hiding behind her. Now her face is covered once again and I was searching in the side view mirrors to get a small glimpse of her, which is of no use.
"Take right and..." before I could guide her, she took a turn to the right and entered the lane leading to my home.
" You seem quite familiar with the route " i said. She smiled.
"Are you not scared to take help from a stranger like me at midnight ?" I asked.
" Hmm.....You didn't seem to be dangerous" she said. "That's why you made me your brother ?" i asked.
" Ofcourse! We would have ended up in station if i haven't made you my brother " she replied.
Very thoughtful. "Is your house in the next lane ? Come on I'll drop you" i said as we entered the indranagar lane.
"Wait " she said and didn't stop. To my surprise she stopped exactly infront of my house. " Tell me your address" i enquired.
" Reached" she said. I was left confused with her statement. "What ? Where is it ?" I asked and got down when she switched off the engine.
" Good night and thank you ,Mr.
manikanta. Go inside your house " she said and parked my bike . She took her bagpack from me and i froze there for a second. " Who are you Ms. Veena ? How do you know my house ? Where do you live ?" I asked.
She gave the keys back to me and started to walk away with a smile. I saw her and within no time she disappeared in the dark.
"Hey ! Who are you?" I ran towards her rubbing my eyes thoroughly and couldn't find her. The effect of alcohol went off and i came back to my senses.
I went inside my house with my bike and pressed the calling bell. My mom opened the door , " how many times did I warn you to come home early ! Always disturbing our sleep" she screamed as usual and i went to my room. Is it a hallucination ? Am i dreaming ? Who is this mysterious girl? Where did she go ? Is she a messanger of God sent to my rescue ?! Or did they add something to the whisky bottle i drank ?!