Driver No. 1 (Part 1)

June 23, 2012 | Filed under: Stories | Posted by: paulami dutta

Veer was sick of changing his drivers. In the past one year he had a new driver every month. No one wanted to work with a khadus boss like him. This time he had advertised again. It was a Sunday morning when a girl in tank top and hot pants came to meet him. “I don’t remember giving you an appointment Miss….” “I have come for the driver’s job dude.” She smiled gave him her resume and relaxed on the couch beside him. Veer wondered if she had escaped from a mental asylum.

“You are you sure you know how to drive a car? I need to take your test” “Why? you won formula one? You contested in Indian Grand Prix?” “Your CV says you have worked as a bodyguard and iske pehle as a bouncer? Dancer too?” “Le de ke ek zindagi mili hai so enjoy and mujhe ek hi kaam zyada din pasand nehi hai.” “But what is the guarantee that you are a good driver….” “Dude how old are you?” “32 why?” “Itna tension mat lo you are 32 but look 40 I can drive a car and ye hai mera license ab job dena hai to do I have to go for a swim….” Veer kept looking at her CV “you are a post grad in Economics?” “Yes so?” “Why are you applying for this job?” “Because I want to….” “Your parents?” “My Dad is in the army my Mom is a doctor aur kuch? Oh I have no criminal records and I will work for you for just 8 months iske baad I am going to Phuket for some Bungee jumping camp.

Veer was like bland food one had during jaundice. He was also like the unwanted extra bit of mirch in food. He never thought he was boring and he loved working. The last film he had seen was Bose the Forgotten Hero because they were shown that in MBA class. He didn’t know that fashion changed because he was always in business attire. But he knew women loved him. Not that he cared but he knew they did drool. And he loved walking away in arrogance breaking all their hearts.

“You are only Barkha?” “Dude why do you need to know so much? Mujhse shadi karni hai?” “Whatttt?” “So I am in?” “Yes….” He was frustrated but he needed a driver, ‘Dude I have a few conditions I will not work before 8 and after 12 also I will not wear uniform…” Veer just watched her “am sure she is a mental case” “Are you okay Dude?” “Yeah whatever come at 8 tomorrow…” ‘Cool…”

Next morning Veer was in for another shock. She was in a tube top, jeans and boots. Veer kept looking at her “gorgeous” he unknowingly whispered. She didn’t bother to open the door for him but she settled on the driver’s seat. “I am your boss you didn’t open the door for me…” “Why Dude haath mein mehendi lagi hai?” Veer decided to keep quiet in order to conserve his sanity.

She was driving towards his office when he got a call from his secretary and was informed he needed to go to a site in the outskirts of Delhi. He noticed she was tapping on the steering and driving and humming too. She had her Ipod on and lost in her world. For the past 15 minutes she was behaving in such a way as though he didn’t exist. “I need to ask her to take an U turn.”

“Barkha” but where was Barkha listening to him she was tapping the steering sometimes making movements with her hands

Aali re, saali re

Barkha— Kaali re, jhagdali re, nakhrali re, bawali re, hatt

Barkha —Aye hatt Aali re, saali re

Barkha —Milki toh dilwali lekin muh khole toh gaali re, hatt Aye hatt

Barkha…..when he realized she was far from listening he hesitated and eventually touched her bare shoulder “Barkha…..” “Gosh Dude what’s wrong with you why are you shouting?” she said while parking the car. “I called you for the umpteenth time…” “Sorry Dude ye gana itna mast hai….” “We need to go to Gurgaon…” “Dude chill I will take you filhal lo ye gana suno tum bhi mast ho jaogey by god…” She pulled him close by holding his collar and put the plugs on his ears “Patloon mein junoon hai aye saala hatt

Garm zara yeh khoon hai aye saala hatt Yeh thodi si kameeni, thodi namkeeni Thodi si nasheeli, thodi zehreeli hai…..ye gana hai hey bhagwan maine kya kia tha jo Drivers k chakravuha mein phas gaya?” He changed the song and found Subah hone naa de Saath khone na de Ek doosre ko hum sone na de Main tera hero ( O o…..) Haan hero (O o…) Haan hero, main tera hero..God save me this time one last time God I will learn how to drive I promise…He said a silent prayer to God.

This was the regular routine. She would drop him to places and leave him embarrassed. People would ask him where he managed to get this hot driver. She was either on the Ipod or would chat with someone or the other on her Bluetooth. And he was shocked to see she would drive to his house in a car may be costlier than his car, park it and start her driver’s job. She was an enigma and however much he tried to stop he was falling for her.

Read what happens next in the Valentine Day Party – Driver NO. 1 (Part 2)

Read
Driver No. 1 (Part 2) – The V Day Party
Driver No. 1 (Part 3) – The First Kiss
Driver No. 1 (Part 4) – The planning with Daadi Ji!
Driver No. 1 (Part 5) – The Marriage Proposal
Driver No. 1 (Part 6) – The Wedding