DANGER ZONE

the other night was scary. i was returning from school around 12 in the night, (from SCHOOL, believe me), when I had to take a cab from Jackson Heights. the train got delayed, and weird thingies happened in between, result of which landed me in Jackson Heights instead of Woodside. anyway, this Pakistani cabbie, he looked middle-aged, but apparently the story goes (which he narrated) that his father is calling home to get him married. so i'm not sure about his age. but he is very big. he is the archetypal "big guy". anyway, very soon he tells me "i'll take you to clubs. u drink?" "No. i dont. I'm very religious." he- "but wine has only 10% alcohol". me-" NO. it has more than that" (oops, i'm not suppose to know that. i don't drink, remember) anyway, so he insisted i go to clubs with him, and to movies. "Well my HUSBAND wont like that." "o it doesn't matter. dont tell him. give me your number. please." "did you hear me, my HUSBAND wont like that." (usually at the mention of a Husband, guys just run for their lives. i was so sure this would work with this guy too). But he continued, "dont tell him, give me your number. look i dont have any bad intentions. this is a very lonely country, i just want a friend. i am a good man. dont tell your husband, give me your number. call me when he is not there. i am a good man" How HIGHLY unconvincing line of argument! to earn any inkling of credibility he should have at least kept the two lines of thought vastly separated from each other, "call me when husband not there" and "i am a good man". anyway, i didn't say anything outright abusive, because i was still in his hands, i mean i still needed him to do this lil bit for me-- reach me home safe, in the same physiological, psychological, and sexual condition, with which i had entered his car. if i had abused him, i was afraid he might just spare me the politeness of an invitation and might take me right then on a looooong drive with him to one of his "clubs" and had me drink "10% alcohol wine". and that i did not want. so i was in my best behavior with him. politely refusing. (this i learned from my mom, my brother, my husband... which finally came to use that night) So when i reached outside of my home, the car door knob is stuck. he isn't unlocking it. still pressing me for my phone number. (btw, he found me quite dumb when i told him my husband wont like it. he's probably thinking that 'that should be the last of your concerns right now you pussy cat'). he wont even take the fare. gave me another philosophical "there are somethings more than money" ideology. i am still trapped in his car. the door wont budge. and just to remind you, its now after midnight outside the car. (and inside the car I am mentally prepared that its Judgment Day. All my hopes of a Nobel, and Writer, and Princeton, and A's, and laser hair removal, all dreams finished in a single cab ride, becoz of a single delayed train. Life is so short.)
i will leave the rest to your imagination folks! but just to reassure, I am writing this blog sitting on my bed in my home, my HUSBAND's home. so u can take a breath of relief;)