That beautiful rainy night, all seemed surreal.
Rhythmic patter emanating from the rains kissing the earth, hiss of the wiper brushing the windscreen, the craving in Kishore's voice from "Neele Neele Ambar Par" looping on the music-system, making me euphoric.
There was not a soul in sight on the highway. I stepped out of the car to savour the moment. In seconds, I was drenched. I lay on the road feeling the full force of the rain-drops hitting me.
Did I really want to get back into the car and drive home?
I shouted myself hoarse for no reason at all, sang aloud. Drained of all vocal energy, I became silent. The rain too thought likewise.
Windy and blissful, it was. Despite all languages that man invented, he's still been unable to word, in any language, the soul-stirring beauty of a night just after a shower. This is just for the senses to gorge on.
The only thing lacking at that moment was female company. Always a loner, while all my friends had their women, I had none. At that moment, there was a deep craving in my heart for that special someone.
After what seemed like an hour, I stopped my revelry and got on with my journey. My village was still 4 hours away. 3 more hours on this highway and another hour on the ubiquitous mud-paths that characterize journeys to villages.
I drove ahead and saw a small tea-shack by the roadside. A Godsend. An attractive young lady was sitting there, sipping tea. Her clothes and demeanour made it evident that she was from the city.
Our eyes met. Visibly worried, her eyes were expectant. "Sir may be able to help you. Why don't you ask him?", the shop-keeper pierced the silent reverie.
Jumping at it, I asked her, "Any problem? May I help you?".
"I am hoping you can, but it depends on which way you're heading", she said. What a husky voice! She needed no effort to be sensuous. Lucky was the man with whom she would exchange sweet-naughty nothings.
"Any direction, if it helps you.", I smiled.
"My car broke down. You're the only one who has come here in the past one hour." Had to be me! Luck!
"I can drop you home. Come back in the morning with a mechanic to get the car repaired."
"We have a farmhouse nearby. Take a deviation to the left after a couple of kilometres and drive into the woods for an hour", she said. Excellent! A drive through the woods with a pretty lady!
"No problem.", I said.
"Please look after my car till the morning.", she requested the shop-keeper. He nodded.
Walking with upright womanly grace, she was just out of Ravivarma's paintings, neither slim nor on the heavy side. The kind that appealed to me.
We were driving down a slope. Brushing away the locks falling on her eyes, her bangles made lilting sounds amidst the silence. She was exuding a fragrance like that of jasmine - one of the most seductive smells known to man. It filled the car.
Luscious lips and big black eyes.....Boom! Shit! I missed a speed-breaker admiring her.
"I'm sorry", I said.
"It is better if you look ahead while driving", said she, sporting a mischievous smile.
"No prior experience of driving with a beautiful woman", I mustered.
"It is not even 10 minutes since we met, and the flirting starts", she said, clearly enjoying the attention she was getting.
"My eyes have never been this disobedient", I said.
"This is a treacherous stretch. Ogle later."
Encouragement for me to turn my wit on!
A flirtatious conversation ensued over the next half hour.
Then there were "those" moments. Moments of uncomfortable silence when neither of us spoke, just enjoying eye-contact. Physically stimulating, she was turning me on with her intellect too. Was I falling in love? Was I simply attracted to her?
Breaking my chain of thoughts was her husky voice - "Can I have some water please?". I stopped the car immediately. Water was in the back-seat.
After drinking, she got out of the car, inhaled the moist muddy-smelling air deeply, looked straight into my eyes and said. "Such romantic weather, a beautiful girl with you. I know what's running in your mind". Summoning all my courage, I went closer and said, "Whatever is running, I hope it isn't in vain". All she did in reply was, hold my hand ever so softly and whisper, "It isn't".
Impulsively, I planted a kiss, which she returned with full gusto. Then, in the back-seat of the car, the most exhilarating experience ensued. I couldn't believe this was happening. Thankfully, my car was a big one with generous space in the back-seat!
We made passionate love....and I've lost count of the number of times!
We lay in each other's arms for a long time after draining our energy out; exchanging soft, lovely words. She slipped into a nap, which made the moment all the more surreal.
When a loved one sleeps, looking at them makes you fall in love, all over again. While sleep was dimming my senses too, I remember thinking that proposing marriage to her was on cards the next morning.
When I woke up, I found myself in the same state that I slept - not a single cloth on my body. She wasn't beside me!
Here I was, thinking of marrying her. And this girl leaves me languishing in my birthday suit, in broad daylight. What could she be doing alone in the middle of the woods!
After getting clothed in a hurry, I searched around for about an hour. No trace of her.
Did she manage to call someone and take her to her car while I was sleeping? Going to the tea shack where I met her could help.
I drove back along the same road that we came and joined the highway. I couldn't see her car!
So she came and drove away??
Locating the tea shack, I enquired with the shop-keeper, "Did Madam come here and take her car?".
"Sir. please explain", he said.
I narrated my meeting with her at his shack.
"Sir. Neither was any Madam here, nor her car. My shop was closed yesterday night!"
