The Curbside Encounter

It all began on an ordinary afternoon, the kind where the world feels suspended between routines. I stood on the curb, impatiently waiting for a taxi, when one finally rolled up. I leaned toward the window, about to ask, “Will you go?” when a voice—crisp, lively, and completely unexpected—cut in.“Will you go?”I turned. She was there—a girl I didn’t know yet but who would soon occupy a space I didn’t realize needed filling. Her destination, as it turned out, was on the way to my home.“Would you like to pool the taxi with me?” I asked, trying to sound casual.She looked at me, briefly perplexed, before her expression transformed into a wide, infectious smile. “Sure, I’d be happy to share.”I didn’t think much of it at the time. I opened the back door and slid in as a habit, and she followed—again, not unusual since most people, especially women, avoid the front seat in taxis. I respected the unspoken logic.As we settled in, I queued up some music, letting my playlist fill the silence. She turned to me after a moment, still smiling. “What should we do about the fare?” she asked, her voice light and cheerful. “By the way, I’m Urja.”“Nice to meet you, Urja. I’m Nilabh,” I replied. “About the fare—I can just take your number and send you a picture of the final amount. You can transfer it later through UPI.”“That works,” she said, and without missing a beat, she opened WhatsApp and showed me a QR code. I quickly scanned it, saved her number, and sent her a hi to confirm.The ride stretched on, traffic crawling as it always did during rush hour. “Three hours, at least,” she sighed with an odd kind of joy. “But I don’t mind long rides. There’s something peaceful about them.”Her optimism was surprising. We started talking—small talk at first, the kind of idle chatter people make to pass time. Yet something about her felt refreshingly unfiltered.Somewhere along the journey, she shifted slightly closer to me. I thought nothing of it—people adjust themselves all the time in taxis. But then came the unexpected.She reached for my hand.At first, I thought she might’ve grabbed it absentmindedly. I wasn’t one to overthink things, but this felt... quirky. Still holding my hand, she looked straight ahead, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.I cleared my throat, trying to stay lighthearted. “Urja, you’re holding my hand.”She turned her head, her expression amused. “Do you hate it?”“I don’t,” I admitted. “But it’s not... something you should do to anyone. Boys—well, we’re simple creatures. We tend to misunderstand things. It could get messy for you.”Her response was straight out of a movie script. “I don’t do this with just anyone, Nilabh.”Before I could say anything, she leaned forward. “Driver, stop at the next corner.”The taxi came to a halt, and she got out, pausing just long enough to look back at me. “I feel like we’ll meet again soon. Send me the fare, Nilabh. I’ll pay you. Thanks for helping out.”I watched her disappear down the street, her steps quick and assured. “Thanks,” I mumbled, mostly to myself.That night, after I sent her the fare details, she transferred her share almost immediately. Efficiency, I thought, chuckling softly before tossing my phone aside. I had a paper due the next day, and her memory quickly faded into the background.