Aakash shirked his head and focused on the road.
"You should think about what I just said Aakash. I can see hunger in your eyes. But you must learn to channel your energy. You deserve to get what you desire". Raashi said.
Aakash took a few deep breaths, "I get you Raashi.. I..".
And there was silence. Aakash stopped his vehicle at the next traffic light. Aakash felt guilty inside. What was this girl doing to him.
Two little kids came on Rashi's side and started asking for alms. Raashi immediately looked into her purse, but she didn't have any change. She looked at Aakash. Aakash took out a 100 Rs. note from his wallet and gave to her.
"Are you sure?", Raashi said taking the note. Aakash nodded. He didn't want to say
"You are pretty kind-hearted Aakash", Raashi smiled as she opened the window pane and handed over the note to the elder one.
She inquired about their names and ruffled their hair and let them go. The two kids ran away.
"Well thank you". Raashi said closing the window pane. Aakash smiled.
"There are so few givers in this world Aakash. Everyone wants to get something. Everyone is lusting about something or the other. Money, power, fame, sex, prestige. I liked that in you. I wish I had infinite powers, I would take away the pain of everyone in this world. Their loneliness.... "
She seemed so excited while talking. As if this was the first time she was allowed to talk. But Aakash wasn't much interested in her talks. He was looking how her eyebrows would move, how her nose would flare up and how she would pout in between the sentences. Her Adam's apple was suprisingly quite visible. It would move up and down as she spoke. All this mixed with her kind, loving nature overwhelmed him. He just wanted to bring her closer to himself, and kiss her. Just fill her face in his hands and... He moved his hands a little towards her...
The traffic signal got green and the vehicles behind started honking. Aakash started his duster again. He hoped Raashi didn't notice his advances.
Raashi switched on the music player, but there were only old 60s and 70s songs. She fibbled with the tracks for a few minutes and then she turned it off abruptly.
"God... Aakash. What are you? Like 60 year old man? What do you listen to? How does your girlfriend even bear you?".
"I don't have a girlfriend."
"What!!", Raashi shouted as if Aakash had just confessed his homosexuality.
"What happened". Aakash said, a little embarrassed.
"I am sure you aren't married yet. How come you don't have a girlfriend living in a metro like Mumbai. Do you have any.. uhhmm... problem?"
"What do you mean problem", Aakash shot back.
"No I mean... ", Raashi smiled mischiveously.
"I had a girlfriend 3 years back. We broke up for some reason. Didn't find another girl after that. Wasn't interested. End of story", Aakash said in a single breath.
"Ohhh.. I am sorry. You still talk to your ex?".
"No I don't. I haven't talked to her since. She must be married now. I am done with her.".
"May I know what happened", Raashi was careful with her words. She didn't want to flare up old wounds unnecessarily. But she couldn't contain her curiosity either.
Aakash didn't say anything.
"It's OK, if you don't want to talk about it".
There was silence for sometime.
"She liked me but didn't want to go against her parent's wishes. It's the same old story. I don't know why they hook up in the first place then. I don't want to talk about it Raashi.".
"That's OK. I understand. I understand". Raashi said trying to calm him down.
The road was clear ahead, Aakash raised the speed of the car. Raashi looked the other side of the window. No one was talking now.
"Aakash are you virgin?".
Aakash hit the break hard. Car came to a halt in 3 seconds.
Raashi started laughing hysterically again. "Hahaha, oh, I am so sorry, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Hahaha...".
Aakash was expressionless. He was more than shocked this time. What was wrong with this girl?
"But you didn't answer my question!", she was just unable to stop giggling.
"Do you want me to kick you out of the car?".
"Oh, no no. Poor baby. OK, I will shut up now. Promise". She put a finger on her lips. Silence ensued again. But she would keeping looking at Aakash every now and then.
"No, I am not". Aakash said slowly after sometime.
"Oh, really! So...".
"And, no I don't want to discuss my sex life with you.", He cut her before she could finish her sentence.
"Haha, alright. Keep your sex life with yourself. I won't tell mine either.", she patted his back.
There was silence. Two strangers sitting next to each other inside a moving car, talking about their sex life. The evening was getting weirder for Aakash.
"For the record, I don't believe your answer", Rashi said. Aakash didn't answer.
"Hey my stop came! Just drop me at the next red light".
Aakash followed the orders.
"Alright, Aakash. Thank you, thank you so much. You are such a sweetheart. I hope we crash again someday". Raashi opened the gates of the car.
"Raashi".
"Yaa...".
"Can we... Can we meet sometime this weekend for a cup of coffee?".
Raashi smiled mixed with her typical mischief.
"Yeah sure, we can meet.".
"Great!". A sense of excitement was visible in Aakash's face.
"And then of course we can meet the next weekend for another cuppa coffee. And, then probably for dinner, a few movies, a few outings every now and then, whenever we can make time. I mean this is how it typically starts right?" .
Aakash couldn't follow what she was saying. He remained silent.
Raashi continued..."And soon enough we would be hooked. You would be sharing our pictures together on social networks, you would discuss me in your friend circle. And after a few months, if everything goes fine, you might even introduce me to your parents. It's all fine Aakash, it feels so exciting. Yay!"
She raised her fists in the air mocking excitement.
"But there's just one little problem..." She stopped.
"What?", Aakash said in a hushed tone.
She smiled and closed the gate of the car. She took her lips closer to Aakash's ears and whispered... "I am a prostitute".
Aakash kept staring at the windshield. He couldn't register what he heard.
"People of your stature and background don't marry Call Girls. Do they Aakash?", Raashi smiled.
Aakash didn't say a word. He didn't move his head.
"I sat in your car to make money for the day. I saw how you were looking at me. But you didn't make a move. Clients recognize people like us from our Red umbrella or handkerchief. But you didn't. You haven't visited a prostitute before Aakash. Now, have you?".
She leaned at Aakash again, and slowly kissed him on the cheeks. Then she slowly took out the handkerchief from her purse and cleaned the lipstick smudge from his face.
"You are a nice guy Aakash. I hope one day God gives you what you are looking for. But I can't provide you that. "
Aakash looked at Raashi, but didn't utter anything.
She patted him on the cheeks. "You chose the wrong girl again Aakash. I am so sorry".
Raashi got out of the car immediately. Outside, she opened her Red umbrella, probably and started walking away.
It was still raining heavily. Aakash looked ahead through his car's windshield. A yellow figure with red on top, walking away slowly. Fading. And fading. And fading...
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