Finding Love

2

If Ananya was asked to make a list of all those people she'd like to thrash black and blue, the guy standing in front of her would top it.

It was Avinash Nanda. Her enemy from school.

His shock subsided and he started sneering. "Oh. It's you. Couldn't have expected any better driving from you." He glanced at her contemptuously.

Ananya let out a sigh of incredulity. "You hit my car! Okay? For no apparent reason." She shouted. "I dunno why people like you, with no minimum road sense, are granted licenses."

Avinash gave a short laugh, induced with full sarcasm. It irritated Ananya to no length. The nerve of him!

"Look, who's speaking! The woman who gives the right indicator and turns to the left."

Her mouth fell open at the accusation.

Wait. Was that true? She tended to do such things. But she could still deny. There was nobody here to contradict her expect him.

"Take. That. Back." she said, punctuating each word with a meaner glare.

But of course he wasn't taking it back. Riling up her and laughing at her expense has always been his favourite pass time. "No wonder they say women can't drive." he said, with a sympathetic shake of his head.

Did he just say that? Such an arse!

"And no wonder men like you are still making stereotypical statements about women."

Avinash rolled his eyes at that. "Look Murthy, unlike you, I've got a job. If you please move your truck to the side, I can go."

He insulted her. He insulted her car! This was heights. This man was going nowhere until she was done with him.

"You aren't going anywhere till you have paid for my car. Get it?" She was getting late too. But she can wriggle out of being yelled at. She was her boss's favourite. Efficiency at work helped her get these perks. And this Avinash getting  late for whatever he's got to do, will be the cherry on the top. He wasn't leaving till he paid for the damage.

Avinash heaved in frustration. This girl was getting on his nerves. He shook his head, vehemently.

"Pay and you can leave."

"Why should I pay for something that was clearly your mistake?" demanded, Avinash, clearly annoyed.

"Because you were speeding over limit and there is still no proof I gave the wrong indicator."

She was positive she gave the right indicator. Right indicator as in the correct indicator. Not the right side indicator. Sometimes she tended to confuse. But not this time. She did give the right signal. Correct signal.

"You are testing my patience." Avinash said.

"The deal is clear. Pay and leave." Ananya said, folding her hands, leaning on her car.

Silence. None of them reacted. None of them moved.

A shrill cry from Avinash's phone punctuated the silence.

His eyebrows creased, evidently in worry. Ananya noticed. He really seemed to get late for something important.

Avinash cut the call.

Ananya thought it over. It was such a sad thing that she was such a nice human being. Guys like Avinash didn't deserve her niceness. But she being the benevolent she, would let go. This one time.

"Okay. I will let you go now." She conceded. "Give me your number. We can negotiate the amount later."

Ananya expected Avinash to be relieved, grateful. Maybe even thank her.