Chapter 4

My dinner with Pavan was going well, not until something happened.

While I was drinking red wine, I mistakenly poured it on myself. I had to rush to the bathroom so I can get it off, but unlucky me, it left a stain on my dress and I have no freaking idea how to get out of this place without making myself embarrassed.

I tried texting Pavan, but he didn't reply to my messages, later on, I was surprised when Rajendra showed up at the next-door restroom. Kunot noo nito akong sinuri. Agad ko namang sinara ang women's restroom dahil ayokong makita niya ako sa lagay na 'to. Rajendra would be the last person I would want to see me in this kind of situation. Hindi nakakatuwa. Gusto ko nang umuwi ng Pinas.

Saglit lang ay may kumatok ng pinto ng restroom. "Hey, Kash? Are you there? What's going on?"

Hindi ako sumagot. Feeling ko kapag hindi ko siya pinansin ay aalis 'yon. May mga kasama siya sa labas at hindi niya pwedeng pagtuunan ako ng pansin. Bakit ba hindi makaramdam si Pavan na ang tagal-tagal ko na sa restroom ngayon? Hindi niya ba ako iche-check? Nakakaloka, ha.

"Are you okay, Kash? Can I help you with something?" muli nitong pagtawag sa akin. Mukhang hindi niya ako lulubayan. "Do you need someone? Should I call a staff?"

Ang dami niyang tanong. Nakakarindi.

Binuksan ko ang pintuan at ibinungad ko sa kanya ang wine stain sa dress ko. Tinitigan niya pa iyon nang mariin kung tama ba ang nakikita niya. I was about to say something when he immediately take his coat off. I was about to argue not to do it since I didn't ask for it, but he quickly hand it over to me.

"Put this on. I know that kind of feeling when you've had wine stains on your clothes. My coat should help cover it," he said, telling me what to do. "Do you have any spare clothes or covering it up would be enough for now?"

"I think this would be enough for now," sagot ko sa kanya. "Thank you, Raj. This was such an embarrassment."

"No, it's okay. Don't be embarrassed," he said, assuring me, but I still couldn't help it. "I think I should be the one saying sorry to you because of what happened earlier. It shouldn't happen in the first place. It was a mistake from our recruitment team and I didn't realize that when I saw you there. But hey, we have openings now. Would you still like to pursue your application with us? I can get it through for you. . ."

Nagningning ang mata ko sa sinabi ni Rajendra sa akin. Kahit na may slight inis pa rin ako sa kanya, hindi ko na pwedeng tanggihan kung ano man ang ino-offer niya sa akin. That's it! That's the career path I was looking for kaya hindi ko na dapat pang pakawalan.

"Kash!" Sabay kaming napalingon ni Rajendra sa taong tumawag ng pangalan ko. Nakita naming papalapit si Pavan sa direksyon ko. "I just read your text message. I'm sorry I didn't read it sooner. Do you need help? What can I do for you?"

"We resolved it, Pavan," Rajendra told him. "She had wine stains on her dress so I lend her my coat for now. . ." he explained. "Are you sure you'll be okay now, Kash?"

Tumango ako. "Yes, I think so. Thank you so much for your help. . ."

"No worries! And about that, if you're still interested, give me a call. You've got my number already so you know what to do."

Muli tango na lang din ang isinagot ko sa kanya bago siya tuluyang umalis sa harapan namin at bumalik sa mga kasamahan nito. Pavan attended me and asked me what happened. Ikinuwento ko naman sa kanya ang nangyari at pansin ko naman na hindi niya nagustuhan na suot-suot ko ang coat ni Pavan ngayon. 

"Are you okay now?" he asked. "Do you want to go to the retail store? I know a place that is still open right now. We should look for a new dress for you."

Mabilis akong umiling para tanggihan ang suhestiyon niya. "No, Pav. I'm okay. Raj's coat can help covering it up."

"Oh, okay. . . Shall we go back to our table now? I'd love to discuss something with you."

"Sure, let's go. . ."

Pinauna niya akong maglakad pabalik sa table namin. Ramdam ko ang kamay niya sa waist ko. He was just being nice. I know that. Pero feeling ko baka iba isipin ng ibang tao at magmukhang mag-jowa kaming dalawa when in the first place, imposibleng mangyari 'yon.

Pagbalik namin ng table ay inusisa pa ni Pavan ang naging pag-uusap namin ni Rajendra kanina. Bakit kailangan ko pa siyang tawagan at anong purpose no'n. Inamin ko naman sa kanya kung para saan iyon. Hindi na siya nagsubo pang magtanong. Sa tingin ko'y kuntento na siya sa nalaman niya, pero bakit kailangan niya pa akong intrigahin tungkol do'n? That man was trying to help, but it came off to Pavan when I was talking about to him.

Ang red flag mo talaga, Pavan.

"Don't be surprised about what I will say and I hope you will listen to me," he said. I'm unsure when this conversation will go, but I feel bad. "I can offer you a job at my company."

"Huh?" I wondered. "Are you serious, Pavan? Why would you offer me a job though? Do you pity me?"

He quickly shook his head. "No, no! After what we've talked about and hearing everything you said, I want to give you the life you deserve here in Mumbai. If they don't hire you just because you aren't fit for their company, you will always get a place in my company. I wouldn't force you to join and I would let you think about it first because I don't want you to do it if you were forced to do so."

"Okay, I will think about it. Thank you for the offer though. . . I really appreciate that."

"Of course. I'm always one call away from now on," he said, smiling.

Later on, Pavan asked for the bill, and he made sure I wouldn't have to pay anything for our dinner. He was so kind that he asked me to give me a ride back home. May sinuggest pa siya na dumaan kami sa isang bar for an after-dinner date. Gugustuhin ko pa sanang sumama, pero tumanggi na ako at hindi naman naging masama iyon para sa kanya.

Sabay na kaming pumunta sa parking lot at tila naalis na naman sa isipan ko 'yong wine stains sa dress ko. Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto saka ako tumuloy papasok sa loob ng sasakyan. Mayamaya lamang ay nagulat ako nang biglang sumara nang malakas ang pinto sa tabi ko at sunod ko na lang ding nakita ay may umagaw ng atensyon ni Pavan.

Takang-taka ako sa nangyayari at kinakabahan dahil ang sunod kong nasilayan ay binubugbog na si Pavan. Gusto ko siyang tulungan at itaboy iyong mga taong nambubugbog sa kanya, pero napili ko na lang manatili sa loob ng sasakyan.

Inaasahan ko na ligtas ako sa loob ng sasakyan, pero saglit lamang ay may nagbukas ng pinto sa tabi ko at hinigit nito ang kamay ko palabas ng sasakyan. Walang sabi-sabi kung hindi ay pumaso ang dalawang kalalakihan sa loob ng sasakyan at kanilang ipinaandar iyon palayo. Naiwan akong walang ideya sa nangyayari at puno ng takot ang dibdib.

Nang maproseso ko kung anong nangyayari ay hinanap ko si Pavan na siyang nakaluhod sa lupa. Agad naman akong tumungo upang tulungan siya, pero nakita kong may dugong lumalabas mula sa ilong niya. Lubos ang pag-aalala ko dahil hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko.

Humingi naman ako ng tulong. Kung ano-anong tumatakbo sa isipan ko. Sinubukan kong tawagan si Priti, pero hindi niya sinasagot ang tawag. Kulang na lang ay sumabog ako sa takot at kaba.

Mayamaya lamang ay may ilang tao ang lumapit sa amin para tulungan kami at isa na ro'n si Rajendra. Mabilis nilang tinulungan si Pavan at tumawag ng pulis para i-report ang pangyayari. Ang sabi nila ay may CCTV naman daw ang resto kaya makakatulong 'yon para ma-identify ang mga suspect, pero ang sabi ni Pavan ay okay na raw. Hindi na raw kailangan mag-comply. Hayaan na lang at palipasin na lang.

Ang mahalaga raw ay walang masamang nangyari sa kanya. But then incident was still reported to the authorities. Takang-taka naman ang karamihan dahil umalis na lang din si Pavan nang walang pasabi. Naiwan naman akong natanga dahil hindi ko rin alam kung anong gagawin ko. He left me alone after what just happened.

Pavan? Kaloka ka, bakit mo naman ako iniwan dito?

"How are you feeling, Kash?" tanong ni Raj sa akin.

Naalala ko pa rin ang pangyayari kanina at nakakapanghina iyon dahil biglaan ang lahat. Wala akong ideya kung anong ugat nang naging insidente, pero mabuti na lang din ay hindi nila ako sinaktan. Maling desisyon nga ata ang sumama kay Pavan.

"I'm okay. . ." sagot ko kahit na medyo nangangatal ang boses ko.

"I will take you home," pagpresenta nito. "You've been through enough today, let's get you home so you can have some rest."

I didn't utter a word, but he guided me where his car parked is. Hindi na rin niya nakuhang magpaalam sa mga kasamahan nito dahil mas inuna niyang bigyan ako ng atensyon. Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto at saka siya tumuloy sa driver's seat. May sinabi siya sa akin, pero hindi ko na nagawa pang intindihin kung ano iyon.

Napagtanto ko lang na hindi kami umaandar dahil tinatanong nito kung saan niya ako iuuwi. Sinabi ko ang bahay nila ni Priti at alam niya naman ang direksyon papunta ro'n kaya hindi na niya ako tinanong pa.

Tahimik lang ako sa biyahe. Napahawak ako sa kamay ko kung saan ako hinigit ng lalaking iyon. Hindi ko sila namukhaan dahil sa sobrang takot at bilis ng mga pangyayari. 

"I don't want to say much, but I think you need to stay away from Pavan," he said. Salubong ang kilay kong nilingon siya. "I don't want to picture him as a bad person as I don't know the man so well, but I've heard he was part of some groups that run in the scamming farm. I'm not sure how he built his businesses in just a matter of time. I really don't know. That was just advice from me, Kash. I hope you won't see it as a bad thing."

Hindi pa rin ako kumibo sa kanya.

"Pavan is such a kind person. I'm not even sure if what I'm telling you was right. I just heard it from someone who knew him as well. Just be careful, Kash. And you can always call me when you need help."

Tango lamang ang naging tugon ko sa kanya at muli kong inihilig ang ulo ko sa bintana. 

Maybe coming to Mumbai was such as bad idea for me. Baka wala rito ang inaasam kong future. Baka sa pagkakataong ito ay sundin ko naman ang gusto ko sa buhay ko kahit na alam kong hindi magugustuhan ng magulang.

Chutiya. I'm already twenty-four years old so I think it's time for me to live the way I wanted to be.

Hindi rin nagtagal nang makarating kami sa lugar nila Priti. Doon ko lang din na-realize na naghihintay si Priti sa amin. Pagkababa ko pa lamang ng sasakyan ay agad niya akong niyakap at tinanong kung anong kalagayan ko. She was thankful for Rajendra for bringing me home. I couldn't even say a word because the next thing I knew, Rajendra drove his car away.

"You need to rest, Kash. . ." she said, rubbing her hand on my arm.

We found our way to their unit and we went straight to our room. I'm still out of words with already have one thing in mind, and I think I've decided enough on my way here.

"Priti, I think I'm going back to the Philippines. . ."

***