Ripples in the rain - Hail

He remained silent. Then looked at his mobile. It was a land line number. 

"Malini...who? " he asked as though he didn't know.

"Malini, remember you gave a lift to me..u dont remember?" she asked pleadingly.

"Ah yes yes...of course..tell me...tell me.Nice to hear from you"

"Pheww..i thought you didnt remember me..i didnt know who to contact.There is no signal in my mobile and that's why i am calling from my landline...errrrmm..am I disturbing you"

"No..not at all...I just didnt expect your call, thats all. I think i sent a message to your number, dont remember exactly...This call is totally out of the blue.."

" Oh i am sorry.. I did get your message but wasnt able to reply. Things have been hectic this past week. I never really got around to thank you too for the lift that day.. i am sorry"

"You are the sorriest person i have ever met"

"What..." she asked in a flustered tone "What do you mean"

"Just kidding....repeating what you said the other day"

"huh...oh ..ok.."

"Something wrong? you dont sound too good. Any problem?"

"Huh..no nothing like that..nothing serious..where are you now."

"Me? I am at home now...Just entered."

"Oh k ..fine ..leave it."

"No tell me..where are you..at office? not gone home yet?"

"No i am at home only...needed a help..a big help..but..."

"What...tell me.." Ratna asked, eager to play the knight in shining armor.

"No..nothing..it doesnt make sense or logic even asking you for this help..leave it...sorry"

"No no ...tell me..dont go about being sorry once again...what did you want.."

"hmmm..errr...can you come and pick me up...if its not possible, i can understand..it doesnt make sense asking you this...but...but i dont know what to do.."

"I am on the way...I will be there in 10 minutes.."

"Do you remember the place?"

The small crooked road that curved and bent for a good half mile before touching her individual house...the road barely lit by the streetlights that interrupt the darkness far too less on that quiet side road...the unnecessary speed-breakers that did nothing but threw a jerk in that one minute of silent journey...the lazy street dogs that lay on the road, wary of their kingdom and jerked their heads up to see who is the intruder on their land and quickly moving to the side of the road as the car had gone through.

Yes, he remembered.

"Yeah , i think i do..if I am lost i will call you up"

"ok..plz...plz hurry"

He remembered getting into his car and lighting up a smoke. The next thing that jolted him out of his daze was the bark of the street dogs. He had reached the street and the place where he had dropped her that night. He took out his mobile to call her, but even before he could dial, the call came in.

He attended.

"Can you park the car and come in?"