[Reader-list] Night is day and black is white.

[Tripta]

That's the way it is which is both intriguing and intimidating. 

The night or even the day. The realms we haven't explored, the streets we 
haven't walked enough, the people we haven't seen and the lack of experience 
of interaction...not knowing their strengths and insecurities make you fear 
them, loathe them and love them.

Not many times but quite a few nevertheless, travelling in an auto late at 
night, I have wondered even he must be scared. What if a passenger attempts 
to rob him, kill him or anything? That this man I am scared of maybe as 
scared of everything around and strangely i feel guilty. Not for long though. 

A friend of mine sent me a mail after reading mine. It's another city. It's 
night. It;s a male. It's the same insecurities and similar exhilarations and 
it all fits in well. so with his permission i send the excerpts from the 
mail.

> Hopping from one alien city to other he steps out of the airport
> immediately lights up a cigarette, he doesn't like the taste of cigarette,
> doesn't smokes either at least that's what he tells his "friends", more
> then that hates the thirsty and porcupine throat that it leaves after doing
> its job. But still he has to light the cig.
>
> hey, I did it to tell them that I am a localite, someone who is comfortable
> smoking as soon as he steps out.
>
> he ignores hello sir 
. first visit sir 
 taxi sir .taxi sir and room hotel
> sir and marches with slow fast, big-small careful step towards the prepaid
> taxi stand dishes out the fare. Rs 195.
>
> What are you afraid of? Being cheated?
>
> Its not that late in the night I think its 8:40 or something. So, he agrees
> with this guy who in a very authoritative tone asks "prepaid hoye-gache".
> haan he says chalo he says and takes him to a cab in the parking lot. he
> puts his luggage and himself in the cab and lights another one.
>
> Hey, this one is to initiate a conversation.
>
> Can I smoke in your car? He asks.
>
> But you already had it lit before you asked.
>
> Shut up.
>
> Just before exiting the airport another dude hops in the car and pushes the
> meter down. Maybe to tell me that he is an assistant to put meter up/down
> not part of a conspiracy against me.
>
> Whenever I travel in and out of Delhi I cant escape this fear of
> Getting killed?
> No.
> Yes.
> Ok. Yes, getting robbed and killed. Actually, it has nothing to do
> with "alien" factor of the city last time
> I came back to Delhi after a month I felt the same thing. It was 1 o clock
> in the night and .....
>
> So, it has to do something with the hour is it?
> Maybe.
>
> He lights up another one we will grant the cause as tension. and says "this
> road goes to barakpur right"? 
>Seeking familiarity. 
>
> No, the other side of the road  he replies finishing the thread. The dude
> meanwhile is unbuttoning his shirt and
> is enjoying the breeze in an I the owner of the car manner.
>
> while he, our protagonist,  is busy defining situations and tackle methods 
in  his head.
>
> Shut the fuck up I have no fucking clue where i am right now where this guy
> is taking me  don't have any contact except a phone number and address and 
>cant call out  of my phone. A mobile.
>
> what am I supposed to do?
>
> Ok now this road looks pretty deserted he will stop here now pull out a
> rapier and rob him off
> all his money which is not much and probably get frustrated because of that
> and slit his throat.
>
> He will probably scream shout and ask for help, does a 80 kg 6 feet 21 year
> old monster looks nice
> screaming for help?
>
> looks nice? what kind of argument is that? hey, its life and death i am
> talking about here, maybe mine
> maybe yours.
>
> just a thought.
>
> he will put up a fight. our hero yes, he will. what if someone finds this
> out. shame it will be no.
> nice city they have already started out puja preparations and why the fuck
> are you thinking about
> getting killed instead of enjoying it. if they have planned to take you out
> rob and kill they bloody
> well will do it. its nothing worth thinking about.
>
> dada right from the hospital? he asks
> haan
>
> he walks the adventure is over
>
> what are you sad about? Being cheated?
>
> I didn't want to get killed.
>
> sure.