A Thin Line

001

Some parts of the dialogue (in italics) are in Hindi. They do not add much to the story. Translations available at the end of the chapter. Enjoy!

"Bye papa!" Randhir lifted his suitcase and swung it around his back. "I'm going back to college today."

His father rose from the couch, swaying. "Beta, so soon? You just arrived yesterday." He tried to take a sip from his bottle, but most of the clear liquid spilled onto his beard.

"Papa, I've been here for the last two months."

"And half the time you were in bloody Gud - Gurgaon." His dad collapsed on the faded grey sofa.

Randhir rushed to help his father up, but his father waved him away.

"You know I had an internship at Microsoft. Anyway, I will see you during term break."

"Beta let me drop you at least," his father said, trying to pull himself up.

"There's no need, I can manage. I'm leaving now."

The stench of day old sweat was becoming worse as his father finally rose. Where is that cab?

"Give me a hug," his father slurred.

Randhir braced himself and held his father tight, feeling the sting of unwashed clothes hitting his eyes. "Take a bath at least today."

He forced himself to close the door gently and got into his Uber.

-+-+-

Vidushi Kumar looked at the wall clock, frustrated. Her bus was supposed to have left an hour ago, but she was still sitting at the stop, watching vehicles of all sizes zoom around her, trying to ignore the eyes sizing her up.

A small van shuddered to a stop, smoke billowing out of its exhaust. Vidushi turned around to face the man who sold her the ticket. KPM Roorkee Delhi Shuttle was painted on the side. "What the hell is this? You told me it was a luxury AC bus."

The man smirked. "Discount rate pe discount van hi milega."

Vidushi sighed. She had saved two hundred on this trip, so she couldn't complain.

She went to the back of the van to load her luggage. As she put the bags in, she could feel many pairs of eyes on her legs, and there were many men staring at her hungrily as she turned around. She didn't want to cause a scene, so she silently walked into the van and sat next to an open window.

"Hey baby," a man said. Vidushi looked around in alarm but he had already sat down next to her.

"Listen, I don't want to talk to you."

"You must be feeling very hot no baby?" he said as he looked at her legs and her shorts.

Vidushi was furious. "You can't sit here, you creep!" she tried to make him go away.

"But baby, my friends and I really want to know you." He leered at her and with sudden dread, she realized that there were three more men surrounding them.

"Listen I'll - I'll call the police." She scanned the bus, hoping for some help. Everyone else was busy on their phones.

"Police won't reach in time," one of his friends said and moved closer. "Who is going to stop us?"

Vidushi froze, wondering what to do.

Please God, help me!

--+-+-+--

"No Papa, the driver didn't stop the car even once - we are going straight to college," Sanyukta said. "And tell Ma that I remembered to pack the sweets!" She couldn't hear her mother's voice clearly in the background, but Sanyukta could always guess.