Aey Ajnabi..

What a day..left me thrilled..shocked..speechless..all such synonyms of being pleasently surprised. This might sound more of filmy stuff to few..

Rainy night..with light drizzle..clock ticking at 10.30 pm. I was stuck in a meeting and somehow missed my last cab of the day and was running towards the main gate from where the cabs usually leave. Inspite of running hard i lost the cab, and by this time it started raining heavily. I quickly ran for shelter and went below a tata photon shade which was temporarily put by eager salesman in the afternoon. Chennai gets deserted very soon in night specially during rains. I was waiting outside to see if i can get an auto. Suddenly i saw three girls running from same office campus with sharing just one umbrella. Cant blame them, who would have expected such rains after sunny day. They spotted the shade and ran towards it. It was dark and only distant office lights were reflecting on our faces. They were also looking for an auto which seemed an impossible option then. To make matters worse, my mobile battery ran out..which prevented me to call anyone.

One of the girls then popped out her mobile and called someone..was speaking in tamil..must have called someone to pick them up. Taller one among them turned to me and asked if there was an auto stand near by. i could make out she was north indian by her accent. I tried being jolly and told her if there would have one..i would be home by now..but that didn't go too well with her..she was too tensed for some reason. I replied, yes there is one..but there is no auto there. Her friend was trying her best to cheer her up commenting about how safe chennai is usually for girls. Another north indian shocked by chennai during first visit...i smiled.

My office is on the 10th floor in a huge campus which hosts number of IT and elex companies. Probably these were from one of those offices. I spoke to her in hindi and said "Dont worry Chennai sach main safe hai.." she seemed relieved..not sure listening hindi or the comment about chennai being safe.

It was 11 now and there was no sign of auto. We started chatting..she told she is staying in office guest house which is very far..she tried leaving out to search for an auto..she told me..abhi nahi milega to kabhi nahi milega..i stopped her and asked her to wait here and i stepped out..she stopped and asked me to take her umbrella.i smiled.and went out to search for auto..after 15 mins i somehow managed to find one auto..got him and somehow convinced him in triple rate to drop these girls at their homes. Suddenly i saw a car approached at their direction and stopped..i was still away from them...all kinds of thoughts crossed my mind then...as i slowly approached them..i saw those girls move towards the car..the northindian one seemed to wait in the shade. I reached with the auto near the shade and was told by her that one of her colleagues got her father to come and pick them up.

She thanked me for going out in search of auto..i saw her face for the first time in full light of the car, i must say she was very beautiful..i was completely drenched by then forgetting i had umbrella..she smiled and waved at me and what i could hear was Bye..

I stood there speechless as car zoomed past me..my thoughts were interrupted by harsh voice of auto wala blabbering in tamil..i slowly sat in the auto and left. Later i realised i still have her pink umbrella.

Reached home and could only think of one song..