8963562111

He dialed the number while his fingers trembled.

It's ringing, on the other end.

He cut, before someone picked up.

What are you doing Abhijeet? Whom are you revenging on? What for? Who's watching even? Who's gonna stop you?

His conscience cried.

And then, died, again.

His temple was bursting in pain.
He needed rest, he needed peace. Be it, in a stranger's arms.

He dialed again.

With the third ring, the call went answered.

Abhijeet felt his throat dead dry.
He couldn't speak for sometime.

The one on the other end seemed to be waiting too, as if giving him time to stabilize.

Then...forcing himself through initial hurdles, he spoke.

" Hello....... "

Abhijeet now slowly walked towards the exit gate of the local train he was travelling by. He could see the station arriving.

He would have to get off soon, and he won't return home tonight. Not...at any cost.

He needed rest, he needed peace, be it  in a stranger's arms, be it for a single night.... 

----

Abhijeet strolled out of the station premises, like he did, everyday.

Things around looked so usual, except for the fact, that he had an appointment tonight, an unusual appointment.

The house......the house he was supposed to reach... was nearby the station, as were the directions given on phone.

Distinct directions.

He started walking.

A little away from the station, there were lanes one after the other.

The third lane, was supposed to be the one.

At the end of the lane, there was a bylane. Abhijeet took the path, slowly.

The bylane ended in a yellow house.
Even in the darkness of 8 PM, the yellow color seemed clearly distinguishable.

The bylane did have dim street lights. Few dogs curled up here and there. The entire lane and the bylane was otherwise completely empty. Though the houses were lit, scatteringly.

The yellow house, however, was  engulfed in darkness.

Abhijeet scratched his stubble.
Should he return?
Why was he here in the first place?

Abhijeet backed a few steps. And turned to go.

Just then, the phone began ringing.

8963562111 calling.

Startled, and terribly nervous, Abhijeet picked up the call.

The deep, lusty voice, talked once again,

" I see you returning. A coward? Or your turbulence just died?
Follow the staircase, next to the front door. Press the bell you see, 1st floor, right hand side. "

Abhijeet, spellbound, followed.

The door opened.

Abhijeet stood, hesitatingly.

The one standing before, wasn't  visible much. The room behind was dimly lit, not ample to light up the face of the... woman......

" What's the hesitation?
You were okay with the rate we talked on phone, weren't you? "

Abhijeet couldn't move. He wished to run down the stairs now. At any cost. How did he land up in a place like this? Even after everything.....

" Beginner? " , the woman asked, this time hissing a bit more.

Abhijeet shut his eyes tight.

" I....actually...was too stressed to... I...have never......I.....

I think.... I should... leave... "

Abhijeet turned to go, but a hand immediately grabbed his.

" Everything has a first time. I am sure I can take care of your anxiety, darling!
Come in. "

The woman now opened both the halves of the door.
Welcoming Abhijeet.

Unwillingly, yet unprotesting, Abhijeet stepped inside the room.. lit by a single red lamp.

The room had a double bed. And certain other things too, faintly visible.

Abhijeet was asked to sit on the bed.

It was strangely cold inside, without any devices as such.

He could now see the woman a bit clearly, yet not all clear to describe how she looked exactly. He could only get, she had a chiseled figure. Draped in a saree. That's all.

The woman poured a glass of water for him.

Abhijeet took it and finished at a go.

" See, I get your requirements so well... " , she said. Her voice was unusual, yet, very attractive..

She next settled on the bed, quite a distance away from him.

Abhijeet felt extremely uncomfortable. He sat silently. The darkness was choking him more.

" Which train? " , she asked.

"What? " , an already awkward Abhijeet didn't get the question.

" Which train were you on? "

" Errm..... A Local.....  " , Abhijeet breathed in deeply.

" Do you really need to say that? People find my number on the walls of local trains, only.

I roam around places, just being a number, without a ticket. " , Abhijeet knew she was smirking.

Abhijeet sat silently, grabbing the sheets on the bed.
He knew, her seemingly sharp eyes were fixed on him.

" What brought you here... for the first time? What urged you to dial a number scribbled on the walls of a local train, you have only detested till date? " , she hissed again.

Abhijeet pressed his temple. He was unable to make out, what he was feeling right now. Not turbulent, not at peace even.

" I.... Don't know.... I.... I just did..

My life suddenly turned upside down this very morning.

I am left meaningless, choked, tangled.... 

Throughout my journey back home, I felt like standing on the verge of death..

I... My head jumbled up, and all my eyes suddenly caught was...a number, scribbled on the compartment walls..

I know, my paths shouldn't have ever led to this place, but by some turn of fate...they did. " , Abhijeet couldn't breathe suddenly.

"Aha.... Gentlemen.... Untouched....." , her voice dripped sarcasm.
That digged his heart.

" Did you eat something? " , she said suddenly, letting out a sigh.

Abhijeet nodded in negation after some hesitations. He wished to get up at the very moment. But something didn't let him.

" There's some biriyani in the fridge. Will you mind having? "

" I'm not hungry. Will you mind switching on a bigger light source? This darkness is killing me. "

" I hate lights.

You too better get used to it. " , she hissed again.

Abhijeet now looked straight at her, for the first time. Probably she too was staring into his eyes.

" What's your name? " , he coughed.

" We don't have names. Call me anything you wish. "

" And if I don't have a wish? "

" Call me nothing. "

Abhijeet looked down, at the floor now.

" What turned your world upside down, may I know? " , she asked.

Abhijeet felt weird.
Did she really want to know more of his life? Why even?
Shouldn't she be only interested in...business? 

Abhijeet blurted,
" I ain't here to share my life story with you. "

" I see.
But Mr first timer, can you handle anything else so early? "

Abhijeet knew she was more that correct. He wasn't really ready for anything else, not now, in fact, mostly never....

But...

" Sit, you are weak. Both mentally and physically.

I'll get you some food.

Just as they say, food is the way...to your heart... " , she got up, and went inside, probably, the kitchen.

Leaving Abhijeet in a confusing darkness.

Was he even in the right place? 

Could such women, have hearts too? 

To be continued....