The Random Stranger

                       The Random Stranger 

It was a Saturday night. It was a subway day. A subway day is a day when I go to subway buy a tasty ‘Paneer Tika’ with 600ML Pepsi. Fix routine and same fix sub every single time. Kind of orthodox in a way that I couldn’t like to change myself. Especially do not like to try new thing having an internal fear that what if that new thing would not be as good as my thing. So, I have my fix tea spot, samosavala, Chinese foodvala. Even the fix table at same Punjabi Hotel with the fixed menu of ‘Kaju Kari’, ‘Tandoori roti’, ‘Lassi’ and most weird Masala Papad at the End.     

After eating my sub at around 11 o’clock I thought let’s go for some fresh air. So, I went to Dadar Chowpati which is near to my apartment. Having closest to my home I have never been there so much.Maybe twice because I prefer Marine Drive over this but it was too late for Marine Drive.

The night at Dadar Chowpati is one of the best things I have ever seen in my lifetime.

I sat on the beach.

The cold freeze wind touched your soul and the sound of an ocean can drove you deeper and deeper! Even that could not be the perfect description of the situation. A few minutes later one guy passed through me. Having a cigarette in his hand, and smoking!!

He looked at me and sat little away from me. So, it was a peaceful atmosphere. I was completely lost in my thoughts. I hadn’t realized I have been sitting here since 1 and half hour. So, I stood up. That guy was still there... and he looked at me again. This time trying to start a conversation.

“Hi! I am XVZ” he said while stretching his hand for a handshake.

“Hi, I am Lay!”

“You look curious, are you new in the city?” he asked.

“Yes, I am”

“So, where do you live?”

“Just near to this shore!” hesitating to give someone my address.

“Okay!” he understood that awkwardness.

In my mind, I thought I am too rude.

So, I asked, “Do you play FIFA?”

Weird right? No, it isn’t. It is an official bro code for any Engineer. If he says yes then there is 90% chance that, that guy is an Engineer. If he answers this question affirmatively and he is an Engineer then you probably would find out a good friend in the city.

‘Divided by the Job placements united by FIFA and Sutta.’   

 “I used to but this Job and all kind of stuff, I couldn’t!!” He replied.

“Not an engineer, right?” I am asked.

“No, not at all. I am working at XVZ company as import-export 

manager.” He replied

“What do you do?” He asked

“Content writer!”

“Almost obvious from your name and attire!” He smiled.

I laughed. Then we talked about on so many things like Mumbai, favorite places, music, art, and cinema for a long time. I checked my watch it was 1 o’clock almost no one was on the beach. But it was Saturday night so I can stay as much as I can!! We exchanged our numbers.

“Don’t you think it’s a beautiful place!” I exclaimed.

“Do you know about this place? Do you know it is a cruising place?”

It was a 4000-watt shock for me! Now I was scared as a hell!

“What, what!” I was stammering now.

“Yes, it is a cruising place, see you can find so much sexual at there!” He pointed a finger at one dark area.

“Don’t you know about this place; don’t you live here?”  He asked watching my confused face.

“No, no I mean I do not live here but my home is very near to Siddhi Vinayak Temple.  So, it’s almost few minute walking distance from here” I replied while clearing my face which was sweating.

“Don’t worry. They don’t touch you until you permit them!” He laughed at me.

I was relieved but I asked him about this more.

“Basically, you can find Lesbian, Gays and bisexual people doing sex and prostitution kind of stuff!”

“But is it safe?” I asked.

“Nope, the cops roam around this place a lot but the place is a limit the place where we are sitting is safe you know but when you go into the dark side and if police caught you then probably it can create a chaos! And by the way, it is a tourist place like people can come here and enjoy the beautiful sea link! As I told you if you wouldn’t permit then nobody would touch you.”

It was strange for me I haven’t been there like this place. I was scared as hell.

“Don’t worry you are straight, police will not do anything”

Though my mind was scared I noticed the way he said this line immediately, my mind asks himself why don’t he use you are straight rather than we are straight!

From the next moment, I was observing his behavior. I looked at his clothes, it was normal. Flipflops normal, his gesture was not which I used to see the people in the trains. Maybe he is drunk. That’s why!! But I wasn’t assured.

So, I was in the mood to run away before any trouble will happen!

“It’s too late maybe I should leave now!” I said.

He said okay.

We stood up and walk away from the beach. Now, I was judging him completely. I observed something strange in him. So, couldn’t stop me.

“Are you straight?” starring at the road.

“No, I am Bisexual” He replied without any hesitation.

My heart almost stopped beating.

He looked at me normal way he used to look.

“Is it a problem?” he asked as I moved in a hurry.

I didn’t reply. I just nod.

Something happened then, 

Don’t be Asshole. All people are not same! He behaved genuinely. He didn’t touch you, man! Why do you Judge him for what he is? You listen Karan Johar on the Radio, watching Ellen DeGeneres when you depressed. Every person is different!

So, I looked back, he was already behind me, I pause.

“It has been a pleasure to meet you. You are a nice person” This time I stretched my hand for Handshake.

He didn’t expect that at all. He smiled and said, “Thank you to not Judge me!”

“I have a bike should I drop you somewhere?” He asked.

“No, I will walk by myself.”

He kicked his bike and went away by waving goodbye.

It was a new experience for me. I did not know how to react. Should 

I smile or be scared or something. I went back to my apartment.

“where did you go?” my storyteller cum watchman asked me.

“Dadar Chowapati” I replied.

“Sabji, don’t go there. That is not a safe area!” He said in his Nepali accent.

“Oh, why?”  I know but I want to know from him.

“साबजी वोह सब भडवे लोगो की जगह है !!” That was his exact reply.

And continued “No good man goes there in the night. I know you are good guy but cope does not know this and sir these people dragged you into the dark and do all the stuff”

I narrated all the thing to him.

“साबजी नंबर ब्लॉक कर दो, I know everybody is not a bad guy. I was also in that business but sir out of 3 two people are bad because of that all of them has to suffer. Maybe the guy you met was a good guy but he could be a bad guy too! This city is much darker in the night. You are a good boy, that’s why I am suggesting you!” he advised.

I finished my tea. I went into the lift. I was confused. The thing the watchman told me was not partially wrong and he saw much more than me. But I cannot judge him on the basis of that maybe he also doesn’t think that way. People in the city are alone from inside maybe he needs some friend too just like me!

I put my phone aside and took my novel to divert my mind.

At 3:30 in the night one text came from the random number.

“Hi! I am XVZ. You are a good guy. Should I say something?” I checked his text.

And I Blocked him.