A Dream Ride
( Dear Reader, this is a variation of an earlier story. Please read on…the story changes course in the extension part…)
We had gone to a relative's place for an invitation…my Bhabhi and I, around 20 kms from our house. ( Bhabhi means wife of a brother). This bhabhi is the wife of my cousin. Both of them are very close to us. I was around 42 years old then, my Bhabhi was 43 years. My cousin could not come to the invitation, as he had urgent work in his office. While returning, it was quite late around 9.30 pm. We were not getting any taxis. Those days there were no Ola Ubers. Only hired taxis by meter. There was some problem, so buses were also very few and therefore very crowded. We were waiting on the street for more than half an hour. I was feeling desperate, on the lonely streets so late at 10 pm with my sister-in-law. My bhabhi was also dressed up in an expensive sari and light jewellery. It was not so safe late at night in the city then.
Suddenly a taxi stopped in front of us. It was almost full. The driver wanted to know where we will be going. When we told him, he said that he is going in the same direction. He can take us and charged an above normal amount. I agreed to pay.
The taxi had 3 ladies and 2 girls of 10 -12 years of age. One of them was a little older, about 70 years or so, who was sitting on the front seat alone. The other two ladies were quite healthy and they were sitting on the back seat with the two girls. These two ladies were possibly around 35 and 45 years of age.
We came to know that in fact the ladies had only asked the taxi driver to offer us a lift seeing that a well dressed wife and husband were distressed in not getting any taxi. They had mistaken us to be husband and wife. In fact I was unmarried till then. To be honest, I did not have any plans for marriage at all.
The two ladies shifted a little and adjusted on the back seat and took the two girls on their laps. The problem was the back seat of the car could at best accommodate 3 persons sitting. So only one seating space was left. As it is the two ladies were healthy and they had two teenage girls on their laps.
One of the ladies suggested that I sit and take my wife on my lap, which was a very normal suggestion. The problem for me was that they were mistaking my sister-in-law to be my wife. The other major problem was that I was 5 feet 3 inches and around 62 kgs at that time. And my Bhabhi was 5 feet 2 inches and around 72 kgs in weight. There was no way I could carry my sister-in-law on my lap for the 20 kms long distance. The ladies understood our predicament. Then they suggested that since we were husband and wife, let my wife sit and take me on her lap.
I was about to say that we are not husband and wife, but my bhabhi pressed my hand. So I kept quiet. Possibly my sister-in-law thought that it was better to maintain that we were a couple so that we can avail the ride. My Bhabhi readily agreed to take me on her lap. But I was feeling shy and hesitant. So my bhabhi tried to reason with me that we really did not have any other alternative. I had to agree. So my sister-in-law sat down first and then I went and meekly sat on her lap. The two teenage girls were giggling. Their mothers were also stifling their laughter.
I was sitting awkwardly on my bhabhi’s knees. So the lady sitting next to us suggested that I will hurt her knees more if I sit like that. She asked me to shift back inwards towards my wife's body and lean on her, so that my weight will be distributed on my wife's body and full lap. That will not put pressure only on her knees. My bhabhi had her arms around my waist and on my thighs. Since she was heavier than me by 10 kgs, she literally lifted me a little, held me under my thighs and pulled me inwards. I rested my head on one of her shoulders. I stared out of the windows to avoid looking at the other ladies and the two young girls.
It was then that my bhabhi told the ladies that we were not husband and wife but sister-in-law and brother-in-law. The ladies had a hearty laugh. The three ladies started chatting with my bhabhi. My bhabhi was also talking freely with them holding me on her lap. She had her arms wrapped tightly around my stomach, so that I would not slip forward with the movement of the car and on her slippery silk saree.
I was feeling so awkward. I was the only man in the car, and I was being carried by my sister-in-law on her lap. The ladies were chatting, totally ignoring my presence. As if I was also like one of the two other kids sitting on their mothers' laps.
After about 2-3 kms my Bhabhi started adjusting my body on her thighs. The lady sitting in the middle asked my wife whether her legs were hurting from carrying me for so long.
My bhabhi said, "No it's ok."
I felt that it was definitely hurting; my sister-in-law actually suffered from leg pains sometimes.
Then that lady said to my bhabhi, “If you don't mind, I can take your devar (brother-in-law) on my lap for some time. You take my daughter on your lap, she is much lighter."
My bhabhi reluctantly agreed. That means her legs were really hurting. That middle lady asked her daughter to stand up and bend forward over the seat. Then she put one hand behind my back and the other under both my knees and literally scooped me into her lap. The little girl shifted on my bhabhi's lap. The lady or my sister-in-law didn't even bother to tell me or take my permission. The middle lady pulled me inside her body and adjusted me to sit on one of her thighs. It was then that I understood that her thighs were much bigger than my bhabhi's. She put her fat arms around my stomach and held me tightly on her big wide lap. I was having problems with placing my hands. There was no other place, so my hands rested on her fat arms only. I saw that her wrists were practically double of mine, they were so thick and rounded.
She bent her head forward, looked at my face, smiled at me and asked, "Are you comfortable Sir?"
What could I say, I just nodded a yes.
Then she asked, "Sir, what is your weight ?"
I said, "I am 62 kgs."
The lady started laughing, "Oh that's why I'm not feeling your weight. I'm 83 kgs. That is 21 kgs heavier than you. Aap itna light ho, ki mey apko godi mey utha ke ek ghanta ghooma bhi sakta hoon. You are so light that I can even pick you up in my arms and carry you around for one hour. What is your age Bhaiya (brother) ?”
I said, “I am 42 years old.”
The lady smiled, “Then you need not feel shy Bhaiya. I am 37. I am 5 years younger than you. Imagine that you are sitting on your little sister's lap. Let's not trouble your bhabhi anymore now. I'll carry you now on my lap for the rest of the journey. If you want you can rest your head on my shoulder, close your eyes and take a short nap sitting on your sister's lap.”
I was so ashamed and embarrassed that a woman five years younger than me was carrying me, a full grown adult man of 42 years, on her lap on such a long taxi ride. To avoid looking at the ladies and at the two giggling girls, I actually closed my eyes and rested my head on the lady's shoulder and pretended to sleep. I could hear the three ladies and my bhabhi chatting continuously for the rest of the journey.
My bhabhi became friends with those ladies and exchanged phone numbers. They even came to our house later. I felt so embarrassed that I purposely returned late from my office that day when they visited, so that I wouldn't have to face them. They invited us to their house. My bhabhi went with her daughters. I did not go, making excuses for urgent work. I could not face those ladies and the two giggling teenagers.
A few days later, when I was in my office, I got a call on my mobile. An unknown number, but a known voice, a lady's.
The lady said, “Hello, is that Mr Sumit speaking? “
I said, “Yes, who's this ?”
The lady - “Bhaiya, I am Sakshi, remember me ?.”
I said, “I remember the name, but cannot immediately recognise who it could be.”
There was laughter from the other side of the phone. “Remember that taxi ride a couple of weeks back Bhaiya. You sat on my lap for almost an hour and fell asleep with your head on my shoulders for the entire ride.”
I remembered then. What could I reply to this introduction of the lady of herself ? I said, “Yes yes Bhabhi. Now I remember. I had troubled you a lot that day. Tell me what can I do for you ?”
The lady chuckled, “Don't call me Bhabhi, you can call me Sakshi. Remember I am 5 years younger than you ? And besides it was no trouble at all having you on my lap during the journey. You are so small and light, I didn't even feel that I was carrying a full grown man on my lap. In fact, when you were sleeping with your head on my shoulder, I was thinking that you are my baby on my lap.”
I had to laugh too, “Yes, you are so strong, not to feel my weight with me sitting on your lap for such a long time, Bhabhi, sorry Sakshi. So tell me, how can I help you ?”
Sakshi came to the point, “Actually I heard from your sister-in-law that your company also specialises in Interior designs. I wanted some innovations in my flat. So I thought if you could help me out.”
I said, “Sure Sakshi bhabhi. I'll definitely send one of my executives to you. Please give me your address details and when you want him to visit…”
Sakshi stopped me midway, “Arrey nahi Bhaiya, no executives. I want you to come personally and advise me. You give me your time, when it will be suitable for you. But only YOU must come. And you should come with a minimum of 3 hours in hand.”
I was surprised, “Ok, if you insist, I can go. But 3 hours will not be needed. I'll make the survey and send you my proposal later. I think it will not even take one hour.”
Sakshi was persistent, “Arrey Bhaiya, you are treating me like any other customer. Please do not take this as an official visit, but as if I'm your friend. I need your special personal attention to my project. Tell me when you can give me 3 hours of your time.”
I said, “Actually, I have some time today. It's 2 pm now, give me your address, I'll come.”
Sakshi said, “Great ! You wait in your office Bhaiya, I'm near your office only. I'm coming within 10 minutes. I'll pick you up and bring you home.”
I said, “Ok fine, give me a call when you reach. I'll come down.”
She gave me a call when she reached. She told me the location where she was waiting for me.
I came down and walked over to the spot where she just mentioned. But I did not see any car parked there, nor any lady waiting. As I came near the spot, I saw a lady in a yellow sari standing beside a scooter removing her helmet. Then I recognised the face. That day, it was late night and it was dark inside the taxi. I remember the face very well though, since my face was right next to hers as I sat on her lap. Also I had pretended to sleep lying with my head on her shoulder and my face turned towards her neck. But today in broad daylight I could see that she was quite fair complexioned. I knew she was big in size; I sat on her thick and wide lap, so I ought to know. And she herself told us that she was 83 kgs as compared to my 62 kgs. But today standing next to her on the road, I could see that she was quite tall too. The top of my head was coming up to her lips only. I immediately glanced towards her shoes, thinking that she must be wearing big heels. But no, she was wearing absolute flats. Possibly my shoes had half an inch more heels than hers. I was 5’3; she definitely would be 6 inches taller than me. She extended her hand and gave me a strong handshake. My hand just vanished inside her big palm. Just imagine how odd I must have been looking standing in front of a tall 5 feet 9 inches & 83 kgs woman with my small 5 feet 3 inches and 62 kgs figure. She placed both her hands on my shoulders and said, “Ohh I am so glad to see you again Sumit Bhaiya, you look so cute. Now come, let's go.” Sakshi handed over a helmet to me. She sat on her scooter expecting me to sit pillion behind her.
I didn't know what to say. I was at a loss for words. Firstly I didn't expect her to come riding a scooter. She looked like a typical housewife the other day in the taxi. And secondly, although I knew that she was 83 kgs, while sitting on her lap I didn't imagine that she would be so much taller than me.
But what is this ? The back seat did not have any rod to hold on to. Seeing my hesitation, Sakshi said, “Don't worry Bhaiya. You just hold me around my waist.”
It was so embarrassing for me to hold a lady I hardly knew around her waist sitting behind her in a pillion in the busy street. But what could I do ? She had started the scooter. So I had to hold on to something to keep my balance. So, I had to wrap my arms around her waist. It was big but solid. Since she was wearing a saree, her stomach and back were bare. So my hand was touching her cold skin. It was so soft and smooth, it sent shivers of excitement down my veins. Her hair was loose under her helmet. It fell all over my face. Her hair and body had an enchanting fragrance, possibly from the perfume she was wearing mixed with her sweat. The roads were empty, she was driving fast. Was it on purpose? I had to hold on to her tightly to keep my balance. My face was coming right behind her head, so I had to place my face over her left shoulder, to keep our helmets from clashing. Every time she applied the brakes my chest would press on to her big solid back. It made me all the more ecstatic.
While riding the scooter we couldn't talk much with both of us wearing full helmets. We reached quite fast, her flat was not very far from my office. It was in a big apartment building, on the 1st floor itself. She took me inside her flat. One more surprise awaited me. I thought that she was staying with her full family. That is, all the other ladies I met the other day, their husbands and the kids. But nobody was there in this flat. Before I could ask, Sakshi asked me to sit in the drawing room and she went inside. The room was very nicely decorated. Expensive sofa sets, a big TV, beautiful paintings on the wall. It gave an impression of the home of a rich family.
Sakshi came in with a tray of snacks and sweets and chilled fruit juice. She laid them on the centre table in front of me. I was sitting on one of the single seater sofas. Sakshi came and sat on the big three seater sofa next to me.
I said, “Well Sakshi Bhabhi, seeing this room of yours it seems that you have done up the interiors quite well. So why do you need to change ?”
Sakshi looked at my face for some time. Her smiling face slowly became serious; then turned sad. She got up from the sofa and walked towards the closed window and kept staring outside. I did not understand anything. Then I saw that she was wiping her eyes with her Sari. She was crying. But why ?
I asked, “What happened Bhabhi, why are you crying?” She did not reply.
I asked again, “Did I say anything which hurt you, Sakshi Bhabhi?” She still did not reply.
I went up to her. She was standing with her back to me. Standing behind her, she looked so big and tall compared to me. I put one hand on her back. She slowly turned to face me. Her eyes were moist.
“Sakshi, tell me what's wrong ?” I asked.
She said, sobbing, “Please save me, Sumit. You can only save me.” She called me by my name for the first time; no bhaiya.
I was confused, “Save you ? From what, from whom ?”
She was almost in tears again, “I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything. That is why I have brought you here. But first, can I please hold you in my arms ?”
I was surprised by the request, but didn't know how to refuse. She seemed to be in some sorrow. I said, “It's ok, if that helps…”.
What Sakshi did next was most unexpected. She bent down, placed one hand behind the bend of my knees and her other hand behind my back and effortlessly scooped me up in her arms from the ground, cradling me on her breasts like a child. I suddenly went from standing in front of her to lying horizontally near her breasts in her big strong arms. At this sudden loss of control of myself, I panicked. I wrapped my arms around her neck lest I fall down. She gave me a wry smile and said, “Don't worry Sumit, I'll not drop you from my hands, you are so small and light.”
She jerked me up a little to adjust her hold on me. My hands were around her neck, my face was now right below hers. She looked down at me with a sweet but sad smile. “This is such a satisfying feeling, holding you in my arms. Since I met you around two weeks back in the taxi, you have given me a new lease of life. Otherwise by now I would have been gone.”
Sakshi was standing by the window, holding me cradled in her arms and unknowingly, was slowly rocking me in her arms from side to side, like a mother rocks her baby.
I asked, “Gone ? Where were you going ?”
Sakshi was looking down at me lying cradled in her arms. She made a gesture with her eyes and face, looking up and said, “Gone meaning …gone mad, gone crazy! Ekdum pagal ho jata !”
I exclaimed, “What nonsense! Don't be dramatic, tell me what has happened ?”
Sakshi slowly walked to the single seater sofa and sat down. She placed me on her lap sideways, cradling me in her arms. My legs went over one handle of the sofa, my back was towards the other handle, but resting on her big body. She pressed my head on her shoulders, her hands behind my back. With the other hand she pulled my legs up, so that I was actually lying on her big lap, looking up at her face sideways.
Sakshi gave me a sweet smile and said, “Are you comfortable Sumit ? Or am I holding you too tight ?”
I said, “No, I am fine. Now tell me what's your problem and how can I help?”
Sakshi began her narration…
