The Journey

I was sure I couldn’t escape from them. Staying safe was the only option left. And for that I had to know more about them. I should ask them something. But what? Something that should seem natural at this situation yet would give me answers or lead to a deeper conversation. Or I should simply wait until they start talking. But they are not going to say something fishy when they know I am hearing. Finally I decided to keep quiet. Anyway making up conversations are not my domain. I looked around the car for something that would keep my mind off from these thoughts. But everything was dim, so I looked outside. There were children waiting for their school bus, people working hard at a construction site, old men gossiping over some news at a tea shop, the way the tea maker pour the tea from one glass to another, pouring from a glass that he holds much above his head to a glass held very low, almost near his knee. It looks like a waterfall of tea, maybe a teafall. These bits of a highly normal life were comforting. I wanted to wave to the children outside, but the window was coated black and I was sure they wouldn’t see me. The black window was well suited for the dim car but not for the merry life outside it. And now the only thing that soothed me was the normal life. I have always wanted an adventure to cross path with my life. I don’t know whether I could call this an adventure, but if it is, I don’t want it. I just want my normal life. I tried to open the window but saw that it was locked.

“May I open the window?” I asked addressing no one.

“No.” Jon replied.

“I won’t shout, I promise.”

He just laughed. I knew he was mocking me. But I wasn’t going to be mocked so I held my insisting face. Finally he replied.

“I know you won’t shout, you are a clever girl. And I don’t care even if you shout. I said no because its dusty and hot outside. Why do you even want to open the window? You are not getting queasy, are you?”

“No. Its ok. I just didn’t … no. nothing… I am fine. Can I know where I am going?”

“My home.”

I waited for some time thinking he would tell me where his home is. When I knew he wasn’t going to answer, I looked down. That is when I noticed my headphones around my neck. I was glad I still have it. I put it over my ears and before I put a song on, I heard the driver say, “Sir, are you sure taking her home along with us is safe? She can see the way to our home.”

He was addressing Jon through the back view mirror. I instantly knew that he was talking because he thought I couldn’t hear him. Well, this was chance for me to eavesdrop on them. Jon replied, “Oh please, Austin! We are taking her to my home, not my hideout. Its not that secret. Besides I feel that we have taken this a bit hard on her, her vacation was not supposed to go this way.”

Can Jon actually read my mind!! If he really feels guilt about this, then he must be not that bad after all. But I find the whole situation funny. I am a woman going to an unknown place with three unknown men and they don’t feel safe. Strange. I was going to voice it when I remembered that I am not hearing the conversation but my music.

“Hey girl, I know you are not hearing music. Don’t act.” Jon said. I saw the driver getting surprised. Thank god, at least he didn’t knew it. I was not completely wrong in my plan. But I was too embarrassed to think on those lines.

“I am not acting. I am aware that you knew I was listening.” I said to cover up my shame.“And my name is not girl.” I said to change the subject.

He smiled at me and from that smile it was clear that he understood my intensions. Yet he played along, “And what might that be?”

“Serena.” I whispered.

“Sorry. What?”

“Never mind.”

“No, I really didn’t hear it”

“Why should I tell you my name?”

“Then, what shall I call you?”

“Call me anything you like. I don’t care.”

“Alright Elena, …”

“Elena?”

“Yes. Elena. Do you mind?”

“No. But why Elena? I thought you would call me some hostile name.”

“Why should I call you some hostile name?”

“Because I was rude to you.”

“You call that rude? I would say you haven't seen the world.” He said with a small smile playing across his lips. And I think I saw dimples too. He was kind of cute. He continued.

“Well Elena, I wanted to tell you that you are not my prisoner.”

That was all that I could manage. It took me to the peak of anger with a second and I blurted out laughing.

“Seriously, Mr. Peter, you kidnapped me from my home in my pajamas, I must be looking awful, put me on your gunpoint, takes me to a unknown place quiet far away from my home, tells me I have to live with a bunch of strangers and I guess all men for 14 days, I don’t even have the freedom to open a window andgod knows what more. Andnow you say I am not a prisoner, I find this quiet funny Mr. Peter.” I said it at one breath.

He started laughing at this. “Now you find me funny too?” I said in full anger mode.

“I don’t find you funny. I am sorry if I gave you that impression. I just find you amusing.”

“Amusing?”

He subdued his laugh and with a smile replied,

“Yes. I thought you were a quiet girl and you turn out to be… Whoa.”

That quiet hit my pride. I was secretly proud that I was a quiet girl. I didn’t want anyone to think otherwise.

“I am only talkative at two situations.” I whispered

“Namely..”

“When I am comfortable with someone and when I am angry with someone.”

“I believe this scene belongs to the second part.”

“Yes. It does” I said remembering my anger.

“An amusing little pretty angry bird.” He said emphasizing each adjective.

“How can I make myself rude and not amusing?”

“I don’t think you can ever be rude with that beautiful face. And now, about your little speech. I believe there are so many wrongs in it. So let us list it out.

One, you don’t have to call me Mr. Peter, you can call me Jon. Lets go one the first name basis, please

Two, I don’t like to call it kidnap. I just took you.

Three, you don’t look awful. You look very much beautiful to me.

Four, even if it means my death, I wouldn’t fire a bullet on you. Forget about the gunpoint thing. You are too innocent to die. I know that.

Five, its not an unknown place if you wish it to be. Its my home and you can roam around there as long as you wish.

Six, its not much far away. We will reach there in few seconds.

Seven, you don’t have to live with a bunch of strangers if you don’t wish. You will only have to put up with me. And as long as I know, I have answered all your questions and will continue to do so. So you can ‘unstrange’ me any time.

Eight, its not 14 days, that’s maximum. It is actually as long as your father makes it.

Nine, I never knew opening a window mean so much to you. You could have just insisted and I would have allowed.

Ten, not only god, I also know what more. There is nothing more.

Eleven, you don’t find this quiet funny, you are actually angry at me.

Twelve, it is a repeated point, you can call me Jon.

Did I miss something? I counted thirteen wrongs… .. Ah! Yes!

Thirteen, I still say you are not my prisoner.”

“Whoa! That is quite a list. You can also be talkative.” I was surprised at the long answer and purposefully forgot my anger.

“Yes, I am quite talkative if I find the right listener.”

“You must also have a damn memory to remember that lot from something that I blurted out in anger, Mr. Peter.”

“Jon please, Elena.”

“Jon.” It was strange answering to that name. But still for something that I yet didn’t knew, I held my name a secret.

“And I don’t need a damn memory to remember what you said.”

“What do you mea…”

“We are home.” He said as we pulled into a gate of a bungalow.

“You call this home? I call this palace.”

“Yeah, its a bit big. I agree.”

“A bit?”

He just smiled to it. That was when I realized his home was in middle of woods. Though his plot was huge, it was surrounded with walls, with a well-built garden and lot of trees. We had to round about three fountains after the gate to reach the porch.

I was amused of the vastness of the house that I didn’t realize Jon getting out and opening my door.

“Welcome to my home. Sweet home”, he said with a bow.

I got out and bowed back as gracefully as I could. This would have looked like a Disney seen if I was not in my nightdress. I laughed at the irony. I saw him smile too.

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