ONE NIGHT IN THE METRO

CALM

This is my First story. Please be easy on me. 

One decision... one decision is all that it takes to change the course of my life. I am Subhalashmi Iyer, a Tamil-Brahmin, born and bought up, in Kolkata and now, working in an air-hostess industry in a big airline company with good pay.

I am 28 years old, working my dream job, living my life just the way I like it. I had just passed high-school when I got this job. The starting pay was ridiculous and I was not ready to let it go.

I always wanted to be a model and this job provided me with the security to be one.

Well! never really became one, but in the effort to do so, cut off all the relationship I had. I have not spoken to any one of them for the past 10 years.

I wake up every day with the ambition to rule the world, but in reality have not got much to show for.

I miss Appa sometimes... I am a daddy's girl ... there was a time when my day would start and end with him. And now, I have to please myself with the few crank calls from a PCO just to hear his voice.

But it was all worth it. I have a great shoe collection to show for it and my bank account is also not bad. It is impressive even! Far more than what a govt. clerk could earn and save after he had sent his three kids in English medium schools.

So, this is life and I am immensely satisfied with it. Who needs him! I don't!

I mean he asked me to leave. Made me choose between my career and him!

I made the right decision! I outright own a 4-bedroom flat in a posh area in Mumbai, while he is still paying off the student loans of his other kids.

He never calls. I check, every day, in the morning as I wake up and at night before I go to sleep. I do not miss a single day.

I send him my number every time I change it. But not even a single miss call. No birthday wishes, nothing! It seems I never even existed for him. Fair enough!

I don't care as well. Why should I? I have all that any middle class working person would dream to own and then some. I have a thriving career and lots of shoes. I am set.

But as I leave the airport premises I feel dreary. All I want is to go back and tell him about my day. How I was right! The passenger did not back down but respectfully resolved the problem without giving an inch.

I want to tell him how our head cabin crew of the international flight praised me for my competence and how Leena, the bitch stole my thunder by showcasing her new Gucci bag before the cabin crew.

Oops! Cannot say bitch or Appa would have my hide. He hates the use of slang. Nowadays, I cannot seem to form a sentence without it.

I hired in a local taxi to go home. My friends always snigger about it but I cannot seem to call an app cab. Appa would, of course, disapprove of this practice, calling it a waste of my hard earned money but he is not here, is he?

I like a local taxi. I have so many fond memories of it. Appa would take us all out in one during the Durga Pooja. We would go pandal-hopping in our new dresses that he would always buy for the festive occasion.

I miss those days. But I am not a sentimental fool. I would never go back! There is nothing there. It is, by all means, a dying city and I cannot live like that.

I am not alone. I have friends living with me. They pay me, rent every month. But it is only fair that they do so. I do not offer them any relief on the rent but they do not care, they are all high earning members of the society.

I am good, Appa. I have everything. I do not need you anymore.

With these last thoughts, I get in the cab that flies off to my destined location.

Would be posting every Thursday. Hope you like it.

Let the countdown begin ...