THE RAINY NIGHT

It started raining heavily. I increased my speed, but rain wasn't stopping either. At last I stopped near a bus stand & quickly got inside. I was about to open my helmet when I looked around to make sure it was safe. I saw a girl sitting, her head down, she was engrossed reading a book. I looked more properly , her face hidden behind the hairs that fell over her face, it was AkSarrah, the not-so-fan girl I met two days ago.

I went near her & said, "Hi".

She looked up & then suddenly got up ,closing her book & said, " Look Mister, I don't know you, please don't come any near, my cousin is in the police. I'll call him just now"

"Woah, hey wait.wait", I stopped her & took off my helmet. " It's me Jacob.. Jacob Elzar."

She started smiling on recognizing me. "Oh, it's you. Actually I didn't quite catch with that helmet."

"Yeah yeah I get it", I sat down. " Now I hope you can sit down & no need to trouble your cousin I guess."

She bit her tongue & then sat beside me.

"Sorry"

"It's okay", I said as I started to wipe my handkerchief on my forehead.

"So, you are here like this roaming about openly", she asked me.

"Well, it's only you & me here. Actually I usually come out at nights alone driving through the city in my bike whenever I am free. You know me time. And I cover up myself pretty well, you see you couldn't recognize me. So, I have my special ways of freedom."

She nodded.

"So what about you, I mean you don't look like you are native of this place, yet alone here at night around 9. Suspicious."

"Well, I was in the library, I decided to visit the near market before I reach home but", she sighed, " This rain ".

" It did spoil my plan too", I looked outside, no cars, no men, the roads were silent & wet.

I looked back at her & said, "So introduced yourself AkSarrah."

She smiled at first, I knew it was because of my wrong pronunciation of her name.

"Correct me then instead of smiling."

"Okay, it's Ak-shara."

I repeated after her & finally after three failed attempts, I finally got it right.

"Yeah, you see. Finally the proper one. Well I am from India."

"India, wow. I will visit that place someday, I heard it's a very beautiful country, with a lot of culture, heritage & warmth."

"Yes it is. I am from India & presently I am studying MBBS."

"A doctor. I see", I said.

" Well, not completely. There's still a year to go & then internships, then MD, specialization, huhh... it's a long process. But the end.. ", she paused, " Yeah, the end result is indeed great. Like finally a doctor. That's what I've always dreamt of becoming."

I smiled, "So you're here for holidays?"

"Umm... Yeah you can say so. Actually one of my cousin lives here, whom I was about to call now", she smiled & looked at me.

She looks beautiful when she smiles.

She continued, " So I am here at their place for another two weeks & then, haa.. I will say Australia a bye."

"Oh ok, you are leaving soon then. Well so how many places have you visited in Australia?"

"Not much. I go here & there with Megan but she has her college too. Oh Megan stays in their neighborhood, we became good friends soon I met her. So she takes me here & there often. My cousin you know mostly returns in the evening so he's kind of tired by then, but he said that he would take a leave so that he can show me around."

"So you haven't really visited any such place yet"

"Nope. But I sneak out sometimes. Like I did last time you met me."

"You sneaked out?"

She smiled & tugging her hair behind she said, "Yeah, I said Megan wanted to take me to meet her friends & then Megan dropped me there & I was alone spending time. Megan is my kind of safe person & partner in crime."

"Hmm.. So who all are there in your family. I know you've a sister. So you gave her the gift."

"Oh wait", saying this she opened her bag & started searching through her bag. She then took out her phone & said, " Actually my sister's birthday is tomorrow like on 25th, so like since it's still raining & we're still stuck here so what if I call her & you just say her hi. Please."

"Yeah yeah, it would be great to greet a fan. Uhh.. Do one thing you call & give me the phone."

"Yes that's a better plan, let me ring her."

She was so happy & excited & somewhere that gave me happiness.