It's funny how life works—making us dance around in circles and playing us like puppets on strings. Only the smartest ones amongst us manage to break free of the traps and lead their lives the way they want to. I used to think I was one of the smart few. One of those extraordinary people who took fate and destiny into their own hands and shaped a life according to their will. I let myself live under the illusion that I was the master of my fate and nothing, no one could alter the path I wanted my life to take.

But of course, I hadn't taken into account that sometimes, life just had its own amazing way to lead us back to where we started.

So here I was, stepping out of the Kolkata Airport, flinching as the hot and humid air hit me. Pulling out my sunglasses, I put them on and studied the atmosphere around me.

It was any other day for these people. The busy airport still continued its duty, and the officials strode with confidence as they occasionally barked into their handheld-transceivers. All around me, there were people rushing about to move forward. I had been one of those people five years ago when I left without a word to my family. But my impromptu decision had pulled me back to my former home. The moment I got word that my campaign was being dropped, I ran with my tail between my legs.

Shaking my thoughts away, I grabbed the handle of my trolley and approached the yellow pre-paid taxi booth. A large man with an enormous gut sat hunched on a narrow stool that looked strained under the weight. His shirt was tight on him and the buttons looked just about ready to pop.

I rattled off my destination once I got to the front of the queue whilst he grumbled, typing in something on the computer before him. A whirring sound emerged from the tiny printing machine and he handed me the bill, looking up at me expectantly. I handed him the cash before taking the ticket.

I approached the road that was clogged up with vehicles—taxis and personal—cars whilst muttering the taxi number under my breath. A while later, my taxi rolled in and stopped a few feet ahead of me. Picking up my bags, I headed towards the standard yellow and black coloured car when I spotted a man heading towards it.

Both of us reached the taxi at the same time, moving to open the door. I stopped short and finally took a good look at him.

It was one of those moments from the stupid soap operas my mother used to watch where two strangers clash and everything slows down as their eyes meet.

Well, in my case, time didn't stand still. Nor did our surroundings fade. But I did stare at him, eyes wide as I took in his features. He was handsome. Really handsome. And that was saying something because I had worked with a lot of models.

Like me, he sported a pair of shades that obscured his eyes from view. But if his sharp features were any indication, his eyes were probably as breathtaking as the rest of him. His face was perfectly proportionate with a sharp jaw and high cheekbones. A few strands of his black hair strayed over his forehead, making him look all the more handsome.

He was broad-shouldered and his dress-shirt fit perfectly over his obviously honed body.

I blinked, trying to refocus, and said, "This is my taxi."

The man shook his head and pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. "It's mine," he replied. "Look."

I scanned the ticket and frowned. It had the same taxi number as mine. Signalling the driver, I asked him to come out. The middle-aged man dressed in the custom brown uniform got out of the car and looked at the two of us in confusion.

"I think there's been a misunderstanding. We both got the same taxi number. Can you clear it up with your boss?" I asked politely in Bengali.

The driver snorted, chewing on his paan*, and replied, "You sort it out with boss. It's not my problem."

Furious, I glared at him before turning back to face the stranger. He had simply watched the exchange impassively, but his lips twitched into a smile at my glare.

"So?" I trailed off.

Running a hand over his hair, he blew out his cheeks then checked his watch before meeting my gaze again. "I have an urgent meeting. Why don't you ask him to allot another cab for you?" he suggested, adjusting the bag on his shoulder. He'd made his suggestion good-naturedly, but it still annoyed me.

I frowned. "Well, why don't you ask him?"

I knew I was acting irrational, but the heat had managed to successfully make me cranky. I wanted to lash out at someone and he was the closest target.

"I told you. I've got an urgent meeting," he replied, annoyed.

"Well, even I've got somewhere to be. Urgently," I retorted.

I really needed to shut up.

He clenched his jaw and studied me. "Well, from the way you were just standing there and staring into space for so long, it sure didn't look like you had somewhere to be."

Gasping slightly, I snapped, "The fact that you had the time to stare at me as I stared into space says a lot about how urgent your meeting is."

Sighing, he rubbed his face. "Fine,"
he said. "Where are you going?"

Narrowing my eyes, I tried to figure out where he was going with this. Finally, I replied, "Park Street."

He nodded. "I'm going there too. We can just go together," he suggested.

Humming, I considered it for a moment. I barely even knew this guy. Getting in a taxi with him probably wasn't the best idea. He could be a stalker for all I knew. But my brain had definitely taken a trip, because I nodded in consent.

Smiling, he held out his hand. "I'm Akash Mathur."

I took his hand—slightly hesitant, before I introduced myself. "Sara Goenka."

After the initial introduction, we signalled the driver to open the luggage carrier. Without asking me, Akash picked up my large suitcase and placed it inside before putting his. I muttered a thanks before entering the car.

Moments later, we were cruising through the streets and the driver steered us expertly through the thick traffic. A while after we exited the airport, the typical Kolkata scenery appeared. Sighing, I stared outside the window. Despite the heat and the crowds, people hurried about on the roads. It was a chaotic mess with vendors calling out in catchy little phrases—their voices taking on a loud tone. Here, no vendor stood still. Instead they attracted the passing crowds with their bold voices singing rhymes about whatever it is they were selling.

I had always despised the loud environment of Kolkata and regarded it as cheap. I hated strolling down the local markets and I especially hated those loud calls for customers.

Yet, I felt that glimmer of recognition accompanied by the feeling of homesickness. How I was suddenly attracted to things I had always hated was beyond me. Instead, I chose to look away.

But there was one thing I did miss—the old blue rickety buses that still clambered down the broad highways. Of course, the city had developed a lot from before, but I still spotted those age-old buses moving slower than the modern version emitting the sound of metals clashing over one another. I smiled as I spotted the glinting abandoned tram trails embedded on the tarred roads. I shook my head, hoping to snap out of the trance that the city had put me in.

"Where are you coming from?" I asked Akash, turning towards him.

Akash, who had been fiddling with his phone, looked up and replied, "Dubai. My brother lives there. What about you?"

"New York."

"You've got family there?"

"No... I live there actually."

"Oh!" His eyebrows were raised. "I've been to NYC. Loved every moment of it."

"Yeah... it's just amazing. Alive and wild." Suddenly, I felt horrible as I wanted to go back. I hadn't been thinking when I booked the tickets to come back to India. No one knew about my plans. I could have stayed back because it had been one campaign and the world had certainly not ended.

I was broken from my thoughts when Akash said, "I'm sorry about earlier. We got off on a wrong start."

I waved him off. "I should be sorry. I was being irrationally rude."

He smiled. "It's okay."

I gave him a nod and opened my mouth to speak when the taxi lurched forward, sending me flying towards the front—only, I got knocked back the passenger seat. I rubbed my forehead as the car suddenly stopped.

The driver turned the key twice, but to no avail. It only emitted a loud whirring noise before shutting down completely.

"What the hell," I grumbled.

Beside me, Akash opened the windows and peered out as the driver got off the car and opened the hood. Seconds later, he appeared at our window and said apologetically, "You'll have to take another taxi."

Great. Just freaking great.

~~~
A/N:

Okay, for those of you who don't know what paan is, here's a definition.

*Paan- Paan is a preparation combining betel leaf with areca nut widely consumed throughout Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and South Asia. It is chewed for its stimulant and psychoactive effects. After chewing it is either spat out or swallowed. Paan has many variations.

Nowadays people even eat paan flavoured ice-cream. It's got a different flavour to it, but tastes amazing and earthy ;)