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.