Serendipities in Chennai .. Part 1

I was walking as fast as I could. I was not fast enough to be running away from goons, but it was definitely faster than normal. However, being in the crowded streets of T . Nagar, where everyone had their own rush to tend to, not many gave me a second glance. It was hard enough to keep a tab on the number of bags, ensure they are safe from the prying hands of pickpockets, and yes,  not being hit by any vehicle attempting to swim across this sea of people.

And amidst this sea, I was dodging the people, and walking fast enough to save time. No, I was not running away from goons. I was not rushing to a hospital.

I had just alighted at the T. Nagar bus station, and I was trying to make my way to North Usman Road where my cousin lived with his family. Autos in Chennai, at the time charged exorbitant amounts for small distances. For me, it was more economical and time saving to cover the distance by foot when I can. It was dusk already, and I wanted to get back to my apartment before it got too dark , after meeting my cousin.

That is when I spotted him . He was tall and fair but definitely would not have taken my breath away. The only reason I spotted him was he seemed to be equally in as much hurry as I was. He was also tossing and turning, dodging the people, just ot keep the movement forward. I kept on with my pace, and I found out that he was not too far behind. Then began the mental racing, where I tried to match him stride for stride , ahead of him , he fell behind. Sometimes I fell behind. This went on till  Ranganathan street. By then, the crowd had thinned down. I also realized I had lost him. Oh well, never mind. It was a jolly good race in my head.

I walked to Reliance fresh, which at the other end of the road, and I got in. I was slightly taken aback to find him there. “He must have also come for shopping “, my naïve mind thought. I bought some ready-to- eat items and proceeded to pay. That was also the time, when I had absolutely no skill at all in the culinary domain.  I was slightly relieved not to catch a sight of him at the counter. He must have gone , I thought with relief.

After paying, I got out of the store, and stepped onto the road. HE HAD NOT LEFT! He was hovering all the while. I was genuinely frightened now. Is he stalking me  ? Our eyes met for a moment.

“Hi”, I found myself saying. I might as well attack him head on. “What’s up with you. How come you are here ?”

He seemed to be taken aback by my bluntness, and showed me the Cola he had bought.

“You live around here ? “ , I asked him.

“No. “ He replied “Do you? “ He had uncanned his cola and took a sip from it.

“No , I have come to meet a cousin of mine. ”

“Do you mind if I walked with you ? “ he offered.

“I think I am OK walking by myself. “

He seemed not too dangerous, and there were people around.  

“I insist .”, he persisted, and we began walking .

As we walked, I quizzed him some more. I found out that he had been working in Infosys for the past two years. He was from Rajasthan, and before Infosys, Chennai was as foreign to him as Communism was in USA.

“And this is my cousin’s place”, I informed before I rang the doorbell. My cousin’s wife warmly greeted him, thinking he was a friend of mine. I just let her continue with the assumption. It is always nice to show off to your cousins, you have guy friends who are protective enough to drop me all the way to their home, and they need not necessarily be my boyfriend.

We sat around and I was chatting with my cousins. I tried engaging him too as he seemed out of place. After five minutes he got a call.

“My brother in law is waiting for me at the bus stop . I have to go ”he announced.

I showed him to the door. “Nice meeting you” ,

“Nice to meet you too”, he politely replied back.

I deliberately refrained from asking his name. He didn’t ask mine too. He’ll always remain as that nameless dude who I met by chance.

Under normal circumstances, that should be the last time I saw him. But Fate had other ideas. I ended up meeting him more than once after that under extremely abnormal situations.