“Fuck this Delhi traffic”, I muttered under my breath as the cab tumbled on another 20 meters, and the light turned red again. The cars moved collectively, languorously and slowly like a great giant beast, spewing out soot and smoke out of their exhausts. With my earphones on to block out the kind cab driver trying to make small talk, a man crooned about his lost love to the rhythm of his guitar into my ears. One song turned into two, and then three. Now another artist talked about how he got hoes, and jewels and how his weed is the dankest. The beat slapped, though. One more song later, I was whisked away from the hustle bustle of the Delhi roads onto the well maincured portico of the hotel. ‘Will be there in 10’, I sent a quick text as the car came to a halt. A burly mustached man opened the door for me with a wide grin, as I impatiently stepped out, nodding to the driver’s request for a good rating. ‘I’m late.’ I think to myself as I stand at the reception, shuffling my feet, as the smiling lady checks me in. “The other guest has already checked in, sir”, she informs me curtly. “I know, thank you”, I say with as much sincerity I could muster as a bell boy half snatched my bag away from me as he led me to my room. “First time in Delhi, sir?”, he asks as he half walked infront of me, half with me as he led me to the elevator. “I am from Delhi, have stayed here for more than 15 years”, his polite smile turned into a confused one, and he didn’t really know what else to say. We stepped into the elevator and the door shut “How long have you been working here, Anchit?”, I asked him looking at his name tag trying to make small talk. He seemed like a nice guy. ” 2 years, sir”, he replied as the elevator dinged and the door opened to my floor. “Which way is my room?”, I asked him taking my bag from him in the elevator, his eyes betraying the confusion he felt. “To the left, sir?”, he replied back quizzically, and I handed him 50 rupee note as I stepped out of the elevator. “Thank you, sir” he said with a smile, and he pressed a button and soon he was whizzing down the ground floor. I walked to my room, stopped in front of it, and took a deep breath. I’d been waiting for this meeting for too long now, with impatience. Read more »