Hell - II

For a short while after that I was able to forget that I had made any kind of pact. After I left I walked all the way home, all the while feeling the weight of my messenger bag grow heavier by the second. Maybe it was my imagination or maybe it was for real but I remember getting tired with each step and feeling that I had let myself in for something that was wrong.

It would be a very long time indeed before I would think about things in the perspective of right and wrong, until then I would simply look at them with a detachment that would cease to amaze me after the first few times.

The night was bitterly cold. I kept walking through the streets that would take me far away from the coffee shop back to the small room that held the semblance of comfort and normality. Gradually an awareness of a faint ring brought me out of the reverie that I’d sunk into. My cell phone was ringing. I pulled it out of my bag where it usually stays, Rudra’s name was flashing on the display. I wanted to ignore it but then I finally decided to answer it.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

“I’m not sure they’re not worth even that much,” I said, “and why this sudden interest in my thoughts?”

“Well, they seem to be occupying your mind to the extent that you haven’t noticed that I’ve been following you for the past 5 minutes.”

I whipped around and almost smashed into him. He was actually following me on his bike.

“Hello to you too,” I said, “Why are you out at this time of the night and that too here?”

“Well mom I decided that I’d go for a spin and see if any one needed a ride home.”

“Well what do you know? Here I was hoping that some Good Samaritan would come along and put me out of my misery.”

“Hop on partner.”

Rudra revved up his bike and shot off the moment I settled myself behind him.

“If you don’t mind I’d like to get home in one piece,” I yelled, “and not have a stray dog lick my remains off the road.”

“Don’t worry,” He yelled back, “I’m driving within the speed limit.”

A little while later he pulled to a stop in front of my room. Since he didn’t make a move to drive off I stood there because I needed something to distract me from my melancholy mood.

“I’ll offer again, a penny for your thoughts.”

“I was just wondering how long it takes for a cheque to be encashed.”

“3 working days. Why?”

“Nothing much. I need to get a cheque encashed.”

“Well you go to the bank and then you fill up a slip…..,” he continued in the same vein with a straight face untill i began to laugh. After that we talked for a few more minutes before his cell rang and he had to go.

On that short note of happiness I turned around and walked inside.