RagNa Story: Driver Beti... Kalpi

Around the Mumbai City

As Raghav, Sammy, Prem settled down in the car, such that Prem was seated next to driver seat while Raghav and Sammy placed themselves in back seat. Raghav took out his laptop and loosened his tie. Kalpana reached her driver seat.

"9.30 is meeting in Oberoi Convention Centre, right across Mumbai Central Station. I hate being late," Raghav announced and Kalpana rolled her eyes. Raghav added, "Mr. Kapoor can you please translate the same to this Desi Woman on driver seat." Prem nodded and looked at Kalpana who was now giving the look, "Don't you dare utter a word." Making Prem quiet. "Sir, Yeh Ghadi hai na, Dijaal par chalti hai, and Samanya logo ki Samanya Taxi hai, ab isse hawaai jaaj bana ke mein udaa toh nai sakti, haala ki aapka khud ka hawai Jahaaj tak deri se Pahuncha..." Raghav was pissed off with whatever he did understand from kalpana's taunt. "Well, fault tumhare India ke air traffic ka hai not mine, for not letting my plane land on time and it had just hover around in air for like 1 hour." Kalpana gritted her teeth, "For everything this dude needs to blame India, as if his USA, works only on time, I seriously pity it." Kalpana just added, "Toh ab aap road trapphic dekh le, I not break koi trapphic niyam," she said while plugging her seat belt and starting the car. (Now that you have experenced air traffic, enjoy road traffic, I won't be breaking any traffic rule ...)

Speed of car was appropriate. It wasn't too slow, like Raghav had actually imagined. They did reach destiny of his hotel within 30 minutes, where Prem guided them to their rooms and Raghav and Sammy got refreshed and ready for their meeting, why Kalpana had decided to have some road side tea from stall. All of them again settled in the car in same places within less than 15 minutes. It was 9.00 by now and they had to reach the centre as soon as possible. Kalpana was focused on driving, meanwhile her cell phone rang and Kalpana took the car in side. Raghav glared at her, "I hope tumhe pata hai, we have less time to waste, continue driving." Sammy added, "Kalpana humein late-- I mean deri ho rahi hai, tum driving jaari rakho." Kalpana looked at him through mirror, "Maaf Kijiye Sahab, OoO Aai ka phone hai, shayad kaam hoga, aur phone pe baatein karte karte drive karna khatarnak hai." (Sorry, but I need totalk to my mom's call, must be something urgent. It is dangerous to talk and drive.) Raghav looks at Sammy and asks "What is I?" Sammy explains, "Raghav, that's AAI, meaning mother." Raghav looked at him with confusion, "I thought Mother is called Maa, Maaji, or Mom in Hindi." Sammy chuckles seeing Raghav's condition, "Well Aai is Marathi term." Raghav was stunned, "Oh Lord, so I do not have only bear Hindi speaking driver but she will have her Maraati words too." Sammy laughed, "Yes, Hindi with broken English and Marathi Tadka." Raghav looked at Kalpana, "Ab can you cut the call, we have to leave," Kalpana ended the call saying, "Aushadi Ujyaat Kappat aahe." (Medicines are in right cupboard.)

Kalpana smiled, "Fikar not Sir, I not drive ghadi, I udaavo Ghadi." (I do not drive the car, I fly it." Raghav looked at her in utter irritation. Taxi reached the centre by sharp 9.25, crossing all traffic and with good speed. "Yeh, Lo aa gaye, taka tak Nau Pachish ko." (Look, we are here, perfectly at 9.25). Raghav couldn't help being impress by these small things, yet he cannot be 100% happy by the fact, she couldn't speak and communicate directly through and he had tolerate her typical desi accent, and which was major hurdle for him to accept any skills she possessed.

Raghav nods his head, and asks Sammy to inform concerned person about his arrival and to keep things ready, "Mr. Desai, this is Samarth Raizada, assistant of Singhaniya and Head of all American Branches. We have reached the centre, but are surprised to see no one around to guide us. Hope everything is ready for meeting." ... After few seconds from Sammy, "What!" Came the loud sound. "But shouldn't you have informed us or should have made some arrangements before. We have specially come here for this meeting and landed in this country two days before our actual work site. How could you be so irresponsible." Raghav stood there shocked. By this time, he had guessed some huge gaffe about meeting not being held or plan modified. He was already angry with Kalpana's behaviour and to add on if Mr. Desai has created any scene, he would be ready to just shoot the next person to come his way. Sammy cuts the call, "Raghav... the thing is..." he paused, while Raghav looked at him, "go on... now..."