auto chit chat

Traveling by an auto is entertaining as well as informative. Autos are three legged species found only in India, i guess. Haven't heard references to it from other places, so far.
Anyways, I was looking forward to an uneventful journey of hardly 2kms in an auto. Getting an auto is harder these days, so i congratulated on catching one, and quickly perched inside. Two minutes into the drive we reached the drive way next to the stadium. The road was lined with cars on both sides."It is that singer program finals", said the driver. Now I didnt know if it was to me, or if i should acknowledge. So i kept quiet at this bit of news. "There are four finalists, of which 2 will be winners. They will get a flat; or is it a car?", he paused, and turned back. The auto still going full throttle forwards. When somebody looks back, and drives forth, its dangerous, and i wasn't yet ready to meet my Father. So i decided to take the matter to my hands. Be very responsive to his chatter, and provide right answers, so that he didnt have to look back. Here I had a problem. I didn't know the answer. Was wondering what to say, when he reached a conclusion. "It is a flat, either here or in Dubai. One show and they make millions. The gallery seats are almost empty. Wonder if public could attend." "These kind of shows are generally open to public",i volunteer, praying and hoping I reach my destination fast. "Of course, public only sees these shows, and thats how they mint money. But tickets are priced very high. Rs 1000, 500,100 and so on.". Before he could finish that wee reached our destination. I was so thankful, that i jumped off, paid the money, and turned to go, when he said, "it is being shown live on the TV channel". I was like yeah, and scampered off.
The return journey was in another auto. We reached the same stadium road, and the driver asked, "Whats going on?". I wasn't paying too much attention. So i replied, "what?". "I mean, so many cars here, wats happening in the stadium? Is there a sports game today?". It was my turn. I simply fed him with all info, the other driver had passed on... :-)

Environment rides with technology

I enter the bypass road, cutting across the busy intersection. Rain started coming in torrents suddenly, and I could hardly see the road 10 m away. Since the windshield was quite dusty, I decide to clean the glass with the wiper fluid, before switching on the wiper. I press the lever to spurt the cleaning liquid on to the front glass, when I see a teeny weeny lizard on the glass. Poor thing, was jumping around, as the wiper lashed to and fro. I felt, I would be responsible for its death, if my wiper was on for another minute. So I put off the wiper, and he jumped on the wiper, and clinged to it. With the rain falling in torrents, I could drive with great difficulty. I had my parking lights and my hazard signal on. The visibly was very low, but somehow I didn’t have the heart to put on the wiper. I drove thus to technopark, and pulled into the parking lot. Parked my car, and turned to walk towards the building, when I was reminded of the baby lizard. How will it find its way and food in this concrete mass? I walked back and took a twig, with a single leaf, and he jumped onto the leaf. I took 4-5 steps, and left him in the nearby bush. As it hopped off, I felt so much happy and relived :-)

Tall, black n handsome

It was when he pulled by her side that she noticed - a tall, dark and handsome fella. Even before she could have a second glance, he winked at her, and moved ahead. He was sure sleek and powerful, and proudly carried the name “Honda CRV”, and she had already resigned with a sigh to the fact that she would never see his handsome face again. After all, with his speed, it won’t be two minutes before he turns to a speck near the horizon. She tried visualizing it, a perfect shape against the backdrop of the setting sun.
She could see the distance increasing between him and her, but felt helpless. Could do nothing to reduce it. After all she was just an Alto. But lo…she was now catching up to him, and he turned slightly to the left, and winked his left eye. Seemed like, he was lowering speed, slowing down, and asking her to catch up, or was she accelerating in her eagerness to be with him? She checked her speed dials to be sure. NO. The guy was slowing down for sure, and a vroooming question loomed large between them.
He: Heyy, are u in the game?
She: Let’s go
And then she floored the pedal, and could almost feel the fuel running through veins, as she surged forward. He was still ahead, and accelerating; the distance between them increasing. She was doubtful if she could catch up, whether the chase was futile, whether she was being fooled; but he was encouraging, slowing, then and now, encouraging and prodding her on, but never giving her space to overtake.
She kind of felt, he was testing her limits, trying to bring the best out of her. That instilled greater faith and confidence in her, and with a sudden leap of faith, she surged forward, overtaking him in the process. She turned round, and blinked both eyes, before going further. And thought she saw a hint of radiance cross his lips. His feelings- she did not know, but she knew for sure, she had her first crush, for him - a Black Honda CRV with a silver lining. And as she raced on to the road ahead, towards the horizon, she hoped that she might cross paths with him again; someday.


Copyright © 2008 Lakshmi R.S. All rights reserved