Chai Bisket’s Story Series – Double Ka Meetha (Part – 5)

Recap: Episode-1, Episode-2, Episode-3, Episode - 4

1000 to 1100 Hours: “Gachibowli jaana madam?” the cab driver, Yusuf, said as he maneuvered the Ford Figo through the crippling traffic with graceful elegance. It was a working day, and the roads weren’t making any bones of it... And wait a sec, if this cabbie was speaking Hindi now, why did he ask me for directions in Telugu? I needed to get hold of these weird shenanigans in real quick time. Unmindful of it, I texted my cousin Vikky that I was dropping by. “Haan! DLF building pass me?” she said in an awkward effort on her part to communicate in Hindi. I smiled spontaneously when I heard that, which she did happen to notice. “My Hindi is not good, OK?” she said leaning forward from her seat. “Hindi is widely believed to be our national language, right? Having said that you could actually use English anywhere nowadays” I said turning back to see her, still not getting rid of my stupid grin. “Then what! Hence, the English medium schools. And by the way, I can speak in my native language, unlike some people here " she said folding her hands and there was a definite smug on her face. “Oh my God! Geetika! Ouch! ", I said laughing at her sarcastic comment. “Yeah you better be hurt!” she said laughing as well. She had a pair of really cute looking bunny teeth, which I observed affirming the weirdness in me. Also the laugh, drew my gaze to her drooping triangle shaped silvery earrings, but there was something else which made her intriguing as well. A tattoo to the side of her neck, something that resembled an ancient pagan design or sorts. Why was it looking so stunning somehow, I could never know. And we passed some beautiful buildings outside. “Ye kaunsa area hai, Yusuf bhai?” The magnificence of the area seemed to interest me in an increasing fashion. “Ye, Jubilee Hills hi hota... Uske aage boleto Filmnagar aata, Saab!” He turned into a street, following a free left. “This is one way of going to Gachibowli. It's a bit longer but the traffic can surely be avoided at this hour ", Geetika said. As the air from the marginally opened window beside her, it began to breeze in through her hair and she coolly tried to keep it off her face. “I’ll have to learn these roads quickly then I suppose. Have to really read Google maps more often now. Which reminds me that I need to get a new SIM card today! ", I said, straightaway noting it down as a reminder in my phone. “What’s the best network here?” I asked Geetika, who was staring out of her window for some reason. It seemed that she didn't hear my question and was lost in some deep thought. I found it better, not to disturb her and asked the same question to Yusuf, in Hindi this time around. “Sabhich ache hi hote, Sir. Abhi shehera main signal hota samjho. Abhi offers ke hisab se lena padta, Sir” It surprised me how he never took his eyes off the road, even through a conversation. “Which one do you use?” Geetika spoke, phasing out from her contemplation. “I use Vodafone. Have always been using that actually” I looked at her for just a moment, as she fell back in place with the cheery signs of her usual self. “Mine’s Airtel. It's good as well. Actually both of them have an Okay signal within the city, and also the prepaid offers are better than the rest. So maybe you should stick with Vodafone ", she remarked matter-of-factly. “Yeah maybe. I'm actually very brand loyal. Once I decide on a brand, very rarely do I change that ” “You are not alone. 75 percent of the 1.5 billion people in India are brand loyal to the hilt. Not many local brands for consumer goods. Much less in electronics and stuff like that” “It is strange actually. We are the most brand loyal people ever. To me Sony is something that I can relate to. Even if you give me a 50k Samsung mobile with all the futuristic features in it, I'd still prefer a Sony mobile. Same goes with Vodafone. Or for that matter Canon.” “My preference in that order would be, Apple, Airtel and I'm not that much of a camera person, but then if I had to choose I'd go with Canon too " she said thinking quickly. “Ok, that's logical. How about this. Nike shoes, Philips Audio player, and, say, a Dell laptop?” I said letting my imagination come up with crazy groupings. “Hmmm, interesting. Ok, Adidas I guess, because I like its logo design for some reason, Sony Audio and maybe still Apple MacBook, for well, I am brand specific even across the categories I guess...” she said yawning a bit “Interesting. Cinepolis movies…” “No no, my turn. I've got something...” she hopped abruptly cutting me off, and plucking my sleeve. I nodded and she continued... “Ok so...Spiderman in Superheroes, Shanghai in places, and.. Pepsi in well, soft drinks!” she said with a twinkle in her eye, and with a definite grin. “They are not actually consumer brands Geetika. I mean not in the conventional sense right?” “Hah! They are. There is merchandise available based on Spiderman, which is bought for ridiculous amounts, then there are movies and cuisines about Shanghai and Pepsi is actually a brand!” “Well then. Batman hands down brand or not. And Vatican City, in places because I've been told that it is ‘awesome’, though I'm not sure if I should be using that adjective to describe it. And yeah, maybe I'd go with Mountain Dew in the soft drinks!" “Gotham needs you, eh? I love Mountain Dew, man! Do they still have that? I mean I can't get my hands on it these days” she exclaimed closing her window, as the gusting wind was making it difficult for her to be heard clearly, yet playing wonderfully with her hair. “I guess they do. I did see some cans of Mountain Dew at the airport. Or was it just Redbull, I don't know. I was young and drowsy then. So, my list now?" “Haha! Yeah. Sorry sorry. Your list” she said and shook her head sideways. “Yeah, so., Christopher Nolan in filmmakers, Robert Ludlum in Novels and Kate Winslet in actors and I think we are way past consumer brands here to 'anything goes' category, I guess!” “What’s the last name you took?” “Kate Winslet. She's an actress. Hollywood actress. Titanic?” “Oh. Never heard of her. Anyway, So I'm supposed to take an actor's name right? " “ Wait a second, You haven’t watched Titanic?” “ Nope! Never found it interesting! Why?” she replied “ I...I mean, dude, Practically everyone on this planet has seen Titanic!” “ Buddy, I didn't like it for some reason....” “DLF building se left lena kya madam?” (Do I have to turn left from DLF building?) Yusuf asked out of nowhere, as he slowed down the cab a few yards before a T crossing. “Oh, nahin. Left lena! Ek turning aayega, vahan tak stop karna. Vahan se auto ” (No, just take a left and stop at the turning, I’ll take an auto from there!). “So you'll be back at the apartment by 8 right?” She said looking directly at me, her deep brown eyes, seeming more beautiful with every passing moment. “If I extend the 8 hour package that is. If I don't, then before 7, I guess” I said keeping my hands in my pocket, out of habit. “Yeah. The package. So, have a nice day of sightseeing. Malls, gardens and museums and everything that interests you!” she said with a faint smile. “I will, hopefully. You have a great day too. I'll be seeing you before you leave for the airport right? " “Maybe. I do have to get my stuff, you know. So yeah, most probably” she said as the cab got to a stop precisely at the left turn. I couldn’t understand why she’d want to get off here and not at the coffee shop. Again none of my business. “I could give you a lift back home, if you want. Shouldn't be a problem really!” I offered as both of us got down as our companion opened a biscuit packet and literally in true Rajnikanth style flung a biscuit into his mouth. “No no. That won’t be necessary. I'll take a bus home, from wherever I end my hangout session with my friend who I hope hasn’t yet arrived!” “Cool. Well then, thanks for the company. I'll probably go now!” I said. “Yup….Bye then!” she said as I got into the cab again. She waved her hand, turned and walked forwards further into the road. Yusuf, once he was done with eating the biscuits, started the cab, and drove away. “Time kitna lagega bhaiya, Kondapur jane me?” I asked Yusuf as we passed buildings on our right and arrived at the T Junction. “Yahan se 10 kilometre hota, toh 10 minute samjho?” he said adjusting the temperature on the air conditioner. It was more than enough, to take a quick nap in between. I instantly pushed back my seat a bit, reclined it further, and closed my eyes. "Can't you search for a job here? Don't tell me that you won't get any here?" "Amma! I need to get a chance. Please. I can't stay here any longer. I'm not clearing my Exams and all I can think of, when I see this house or anything inside it, is that I've let you down." "Go to Mumbai then? Why Hyderabad, I mean apart from Pranati, we don't have anyone there?" "We don't. That's the point. I can't face anyone here, Amma. I can't go on explaining the reasons of my failure to everyone who is still kind enough to talk to me." "It's because of that girl no? What's her name?" "No, Amma. It's got nothing to do with her. I'll go and find myself a job. And who knows the change of climate might actually work. Frankly, I'm feeling a bit stuck here. Let me go no? Amma please!" I opened my eyes, to see that we had stopped at a traffic signal. I had indeed found myself a job, but I seriously doubted whether it would be enough of a reason to stay here. I might just earn enough to stay adrift, but it would never catapult me to new heights. However I did have a hobby, which if clicked would work wonders. But then the catch point was, 'if it clicked’. I was lost in these thoughts when my mobile rang. It was my pinni (aunt), Pranati "Hello! Bunny! Hello, can you hear me? Hello! ", the voice of my aunt started searching for signal and in equal measures, me. “Pinni! Yeah I can hear you!” I answered closing my other ear, so as to hear her clearly “Bunny! Where are you? And why exactly aren't you picking up the phone?” “Ah...Somewhere near Gachibowli I think, Pick up the phone? I received your call just now! ", I said trying to remember if I had got any calls before this. I could place none. “Oho! I've been calling you since morning. The number ending with 789..... " “I’m so sorry Pinni. I left that number a few weeks back” “Great, have you reached yet, Vikky gave me this number and told me you were coming ? Call me when you pass a half constructed building, ask for Vijay Towers after that!!” “Yes Ma’am. I’ll do that” I leaned back in my seat, after a quick look at the back. It suddenly felt lonely to realize that the peppy, bright-eyed beautiful girl who was my partner in the journey was now on her journey to possibly never return. I wondered if we could cross each other’s path again! “Geetika!” my lamenting thoughts let out a silent sigh and an involuntary smile crept up on my face.