Salim and Kayal #Watty's 2016 # YourStoryIndia #ProjectWomanUp

Birthday Party and Police Encounter

Kayal's POV

Doing an internship in a Newspaper is always a great experience. I was helping out senior journalists in collecting background information, arranging interviews, getting opinions from common people etc. Every now and then I wrote my own article. To get a byline(When an article is credited with the name of the author) in an English newspaper is like getting an award. Reshma has returned. So, tonight we three women are planning to camp in Reshma's place. Tomorrow it would be my place. Feroz and Prince will be returning day after tomorrow, on my birthday.

As soon as work got over, I left for my home in my Honda Activa. I love to drive my bike. It gives me an awesome sense of freedom. When I was driving my bike, I saw a guy overtaking my bike while talking in mobile phone. He was not wearing his helmet. He had kept his helmet on top of the petrol tank. In Chennai, it is compulsory for riders of two wheelers to wear Helmets and using mobile phone while driving is an offence. I was angry at that guy because he was also risking other people's lives. I want to give him a good piece of my mind.

Only when I was nearing him, I felt that I have seen this shirt somewhere. It was of a different type of Aqua green color. Yes, I have seen Salim wearing that shirt. I tried to overtake him. He was still on his phone. From my side mirror I confirmed that it was Salim. I had to take the next left turn. I stopped my vehicle a little ahead and almost stood in front of his bike so as to stop him. If at all if he had not applied brakes, or if I hadn't moved at the right time, he would have injured me. He got down from his bike glaring at me. I think he didn't identify me yet because I had covered my face with my dupatta to avoid dust allergy. He can't identify me with my dress because this dress is a new one and I am wearing it for the first time.

He came towards me, "What's your problem?"

"You were speaking over phone while driving, and that is definitely a problem for me. You might have killed me in an accident or you might have met with an accident because you are not wearing your helmet."

My voice was a little muffled because of my dupatta covering my mouth. He didn't reply me. He was looking at my bike, then my bag which I had kept in the front hook and then my footwear. He folded his hands in front of his chest, "How did you assume that I can't identify you if you are covering your face?"

I was embarrassed. "You caught me. I thought of yelling at you when I am in disguise would be easy."

He gave a hearty laugh. "Why do you want to yell at me? Is it because I was driving without a helmet and talking over phone while driving?"

I slightly removed my dupatta from my face. "Yes. Absolutely. Traffic rules are there for a reason. You can't break them for fun."

"I was not breaking them. There is no traffic cop in this area. The traffic is also pretty low. So driving without helmet and while using mobile phone is not dangerous in this particular area."

"Will you do some haraam(Prohibited like drinking or smoking) stuff because you can't see Allah(SWT)? It's like cheating in an exam and justifying it to your teacher saying, "I copied when you weren't looking at me. So, it's okay" You are putting your own life as well as other's life at risk Salim. And yes, driving without a helmet is like attempting suicide, so technically you are a Haraami(Person who does Haraam)."

He now brought his hand to his chest. "Agreed. Sorry. I will not drive without a helmet in future and I will definitely not speak in phone while driving."

"That's cool. Bye then. Take care."

He had a beautiful dimple in his face now. I wish I could poke it with my finger. Zeenath you lucky girl. He said, "You too take care. Bye."