"Hello, this is your pilot speaking. San Francisco time this Sunday is 11.30 am. The current temperature is 22 degree Celsius. We hope you have had a pleasant flight and that you will keep our airline in mind for your future travel needs. Flight attendants, please prepare for landing."
After hearing the pilot's message, Angad who had been working on his laptop, sighed. He soon shut off his laptop and tied his seatbelt as the air hostesses were walking down the aisle. He craned his neck in a futile attempt to look out of the window from his aisle seat, but all he could see was the sky. His stomach told him that the plane was descending. The landing gear hit the tarmac and the plane rolled down the runway.
The pilot's voice came over the intercom again- "Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to San Francisco."
"Hey krips, where are you off to?" questioned Aaliya. Kripa's phone had rung and she was asked to report to San Francisco headquarters immediately. Course she couldn't tell Aaliya that. "Oh! Nothing Aaliya, it's just that the bank needs me. There must be some paperwork which needs to be attended to", Kripa replied. She had told Aaliya that she was working in a bank to cover up for her sudden vanishing acts.
"Really? You even work on Sundays don't you?" Asked Aaliya sarcastically.
"I'm really sorry, Aaliya. But I have to go"
"And what about tonight's party which you promised to attend?" asked Aaliya demandingly. Kripa winced inwardly. To make up her disappearances, she had promised Aaliya that she would attend that night's party.
"Aali darling, I'm really sorry. I can't make it. Yeah, but I promise to attend the parties next weekend."
"Make promises which you can keep. This is the fifth time such an incident is happening. And I don't understand why you even work at a bank."
It was only an hour later could she get away from Aali and fellow fraternity mates. God knew she was running late. The boss was highly punctual and hated late comers and it was she who often had to face the brunt of his anger even without a reason. It was as if he just couldn't digest her success at such a young age.
She was also pissed off as she was rushing on a hungry stomach. She had not had breakfast and she had a feeling that she was going to miss lunch too. Glancing at her watch she noted that the time was 12.30 pm. She was in for a big trouble. It would take nearly an hour to reach headquarters. She had been asked to be there at 1.
It was only after a half hour of landing that Angad receive his baggage. The long journey made him irritated.
He came out of the airport and caught a taxi. Even on Sunday, there was a heavy traffic. He told the driver to take him to 'Central Francisco bank'. But on the way, there was a roadblock. An accident had occurred and there were cars honking all around. This was it. He couldn't take it anymore.
He paid the driver the fare and stepped out on the highway. After walking nearly half a mile, He noticed a taxi going by. He hailed for it to stop over. He was hot, sweaty, starving, in a business suit and extremely irritated.
This was enough to ignite his temper. The taxi stopped. But before he could sit, a girl of around 20 or so pushed him back and stepped inside. She was about 5ft 6 or7 inches with a pretty face and had long brown silky hair, falling just above her waist. They fell like a cascade of waterfall on her erect and graceful figure. But Angad being Angad ignored these details and was livid. He was in no mood to be a gentleman now and compromise. Taking a deep breath, he yelled, "Hey miss. Who do you think you are? Huh? It would be highly appreciable if you catch another taxi. And yes don't you have manners? I hailed the cab first. Really what's wrong with you? Haven't seen a more ill-mannered girl in my life. Who'd you think you are? Haan?"
The girl also appeared to be in a pissed off mood for no sooner had Angad finished his speech, she started, "Hey mister, look. I know this taxi was hailed by you. But I'm running late for work. If I'm not on time I might even be kicked off from my job. And yes who are you to judge me. Plenty of taxi's pass by. You can always get another one. And one more thing, nothing is wrong with me, but I personally am of the opinion that you are crazy and need to be sent to a mental asylum. Is this the way you speak to a lady. Don't you have respect or should I say even courtesy to allow me to leave. Oh God! Why am even bothering. I can't afford to loose any more time.
Excuse me. And driver take me to The CENTRAL FRANCISCO BANK."
Angad stood there speechless. He was shocked beyond words. This was the first lady in his entire life who had answered him back even though she was at fault. Before he could reply to her outburst, the taxi left. Generally his powerful and magnetic personality was enough to intimidate women. But today he had been in for a shock. He disliked the girl at the first instance.