The Responsible One

The Responsible One

 Ladies and Gentlemen, as we start our descent, please make sure your seatbelts are securely fastened, tray tables set in the upright position, carry-on luggage stowed in the overhead bins or underneath the seats.

He looked at the aerial view of the city as the air hostesses went around the cabin checking up on the passengers. It had been a long flight from New York and all he wanted to do was get to his apartment, take a shower and hit the bed. He wanted to be at his best before meeting the family.

Cabin crew prepare for landing.

The best part of the flight- takeoffs and landings- the speed, thrill, butterflies in the stomach, passing through the clouds and the views. It was all over in minutes but every second made him fall in love with aviation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Indira Gandhi International Airport. The local time is 1:30 AM and the temperature is 30 degrees. For your safety, please remain seated till the Captain switches off the seat-belt sign.

He zoned out the rest of the announcement as his cellphone buzzed with messages. Some were from the network operators, some from work but the ones that made him frown were from his cousin- Shakti.

I’ll be there to pick you up from the airport. S

At the arrivals, he found Shakti patiently waiting for him. Dressed in jeans and black tee that highlighted his frame his brother stood out in the sparse crowd at the airport. Shakti hugged his brother and quickly placed the luggage in the back trunk.

“I’ll drive and you will talk,” he told Shakti but before he could walk to the driver’s seat Shakti hugged him tightly. His hug reminded him of the hide and seek game they once played as kids. On not seeing him, Shakti had broken down as one of the elders had scared the poor guy his dadabhai had left him. Shakti had hugged his brother tight and refused to let him go. He patted his back, “Your dadabhai Pratap is home. Everything will be alright.”

Jiwa frowned as she read the email from the legal department. The email needed her boss’s immediate attention but they were in Delhi for a site inspection and her boss was busy with a conference call in the Delhi satellite office.

The train going to Huda City Centre will arrive on platform number 1

She quickly opened google maps to calculate the distance to the office via metro and car. As the distance was closer by a car she quickly opted for an Uber. Jiwa looked at her watch and hurried out of the station. She opened the Uber app and read her ride details- sedan, white corolla and the location was a few steps from the station. She looked around and found a white corolla waiting near the station. She walked over and opened the door,

“Chaliye bhaisahab.”

Patta stared at the girl who was busy typing a message on her phone. He had dropped off his sister at the metro station as she wanted to go to Noida for some work and as her car had gone for maintenance, she had opted for the metro. As he was about to leave, the girl sat down in his car and told him to drive.

“Sorry to bother you but my GPS died, can you please tell me the location you have to go” he asked as the girl finally looked up from her screen.

“Southern Park, Saket” she spoke up and went back to her phone. Moment later, her cell rang and she quickly answered

“Yes, I’m on my way. I took an Uber and I should be there in 10-15minutes max. Keep her in the office. She has to see this mail from the legal team.”

Patta parked the car right in front of the building, “Ma’am we are here”. Jiwa looked up and smiled graciously, “thank you so much,” she opened the door and slid out of the car.

“Bhaisahab”, she peeked through the passenger seat, “the payment already went through and I will give you a 5-star rating.”

Patta stared at her walking away and shook his head. He recalled his sister’s words, “someday you will be mistaken for an Uber or OLA, bhai. Your car is the standard vehicle those guys use and look you also have a GPS fixed,” Heer laughed as he drove her around the city.

“Heer would have a fun time,” he thought as he drove out of the parking. “I wonder what her reaction would be when she finds out that I was not her Uber ride.”

Jiwa lowered her head as she was given a scolding of a lifetime for being careless. Ajabde sat quietly as Saubhagyawati drilled sense into the girl.

“Bhago you are being too harsh,” Ajabde told her friend who rounded angrily on her.

“Harsh is better than seeing her dead body, Ajab”, Saubhagyawati retorted, “just yesterday’s newspaper carried news of a woman being assaulted. It is not safe beside it is her first trip to Delhi. She does not know anything.”

“Shama kijiye,” Jiwa spoke softly, “I’ll be careful from now onwards. I just wanted to get to Ma’am in time that I didn’t pay attention to the number plate.”

Saubhagyawati sighed, “Jiwa it is okay, I reacted badly it is just that I was worried. But from now on, you can use one of the car’s from Bandhan. At the moment, we are not busy so we have a spare vehicle. I’ll send them a text and they will have everything ready.”

Ajabde smiled, “Maasa is so right about you. You are the responsible one.”

Sajjabai sat quietly as tea was served in the living room. Her husband had called her downstairs to speak with her about something important. Her foolish heart had hoped it was about Shakti’s alliance but it turned out about another real estate investment.

“I’ll be in my room,” she stood up to leave but before she could take a step a voice stopped her.

“Majhli Maasa your fav is here and you are leaving,”

Sajjabai looked towards the voice with a huge smile, “Pratap” she ran towards the young man and embraced him tight.

“My responsible child is here. Give some sense to these two fools for me,” she made a face as she looked at her husband and son.