Of eavesdropping on conversations in cabs...

So I overheard this rather interesting conversation today.

It so happened that I landed up in a cab with a stranger in the front  passenger seat. Cabs were hard to come by today, and we were both headed in the same direction- the cab guy was gracious enough to suggest that I hop on as well, (for he had taken on the other guy first,) and the dark, lanky passenger nodded his agreement.

As soon as the cab started the lanky boy in the front seat started fiddling with the newspaper on the dashboard.

Ye aaj ka hai?

Nahin, kal ka. Aaj ka nahin hai mere paas.

Arre, aaj ka paper dekhne ka hai.

Kyun, kya hua.

Burma mein logon ko kaat rele hain.

(Incredulous) Acchha?

Haan, bahut logon ko. Bacchon ko bhi nahin chhod rahe. Ek mahine ke bacche ka sar kaat dala. Usi ke liye log jama hai Azad Maidan pe.

Acchha? Kyun maar rahen hain.

Kya maloom, bahut kuchh to gadbad kiya rahega.

Ye Burma kidhar hai?

Nepal ke baju mein.

Acchha. matlab India mein hai?

Nahin. India mein nahin hai. India mein Assam mein maar rele hain. Kaat ke phhenk rele hai.

Acchha? TV pe dikha rahen hain ye sab.

Nahin, TV pe kahan. Sab daba dete hain aisi khabar ko. Kahin nahin milegi, na TV pe, na paper mein.

Cabdriver gets a phone call- his mom has called to apprise him of the trouble at Azad Maidan, and to ask him not to go there. He speaks to her, hangs up and relates the news to us.

At this point, my destination is near. Much as I would have liked to hear more of this conversation between the very interesting passenger and the simple, rather ignorant and easily believing cab driver, I had to ask the cab to slow down. The lanky guy shuffled around as I paid up, he got out of the cab and left without offering to share the fare.  As I entered the building, I realized he was there in the foyer, not ignoring me but not acknowledging either. We entered the lift together, and got off at the 10^th floor. On the way I stole a couple of glances at him- there is something oddly familiar about him. He waits for me to get out first. Chivalry, I thought, or has he just decided to let me lead the way since I obviously know where I’m headed.

I was late, and even though I was curious to at least ask his name, or check if he has come for the screening, (in which case I would have asked him to come with me,) I just rush through to the theatre. A minute after I find myself a seat, I see him walk past and sit a few rows ahead. The first film has ended and the second one begins.

And there he is, on the screen. Videokaaran.