Revenge From The Driver

The lady at the girl's hostel introduced herself as the hostel warden. She removed her cellphone and called someone.

"Hello Nancy, there is another girl here today lost. She already has the address to her grandparent's home. Could you please come down and help?"

Ria looked at all the contents in her handbag. Both her money and iPhone were stolen. This was the first time something like this happened.

'I should have kept an eye on my stuff rather than looking outside.'

A few minutes later, she saw a short girl coming down the stairs. The stairs were right opposite to where the warden was sitting. This girl had black wavy hair and a plump face. She wore a simple white Kurti on black leggings.

"So what's the address?" she asked.

Ria quickly removed the paper from the bag and gave it to her.

"Indian?" the girl asked.

"Yes, born in America though," replied Ria.

"Aah, first time to Mumbai right? These things happen a lot here. I came from Hyderabad and got fooled by a driver too. Fortunately, my parents didn't have any financial issues and they immediately transferred money to my account."

"I don't have an account. My uncle does have one. He lives here with my grandparents."

"Good. You won't have any problem. I will use GPS to check your address." she said as she unlocked her phone.

"Thanks a lot."

"Are you here for MBBS?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

"It's only a week for the NEET exam. All the NRIs have already started coming."

"How many people write this exam? It sounds as though a lot of people do."

"All over India, people in every state write so I think thousands of people write it."

"What?"

"Yes, it's crazy. There are few very old people too who want to become doctors."

'No wonder why most of my cousins do get pressured to become doctors.'

"Oh, I got the location of your address. It's just a few minutes from here."

"Oh thank goodness."

"You are lucky. Aunty, can you call Nadeem driver uncle? It's nearby but with her suitcase, it will be difficult."

"Sure."

"Can this man be trusted?" asked Ria.

"Don't worry I will come along with you. Nadeem uncle isn't a local. He is a good old man. Unfortunately, his children left him and his wife alone because they found them as a burden. Although he is old, he works very hard and helps everyone."

"That is so sad to hear."

"Parents do so much for us and if we leave them in their worst times, what future we can have. Karma will hit us when we get old."

A few minutes an old man with a long beard walked inside. He wore a small white cap on a simple white long shirt that went up to knees. This was a traditional long shirt called kurta. Ria remembered her cousin Nithin wearing it once for a festival. The man wore it on a pair of trousers.

"Nadeem uncle, her cab driver stole all money and dropped her at the wrong location. We need to drop her at Shivay Vihar."

"No problem, It will take only five minutes to reach there."

Nancy and Ria grabbed the suitcase and pushed it inside a small white van. Once they both settled inside comfortably, Nadeem uncle began to drive.

"So what's your name?" the girl asked.

"Ria Singh. Yours?"

"Nancy Fernandez."

"Are you well prepared for the exam?"

"Yes, I hope I will crack it. I am a little scared."

Ria turned to look out of the window and realised that they were already going towards the main road. However, on the opposite side, she saw the same cab driver standing and talking to a man.

"Wait! Stop the car!"

"What happened?" asked Nadeem Uncle.

"It's that thief driver," replied Ria.

"Where?" asked Nancy.

Ria pointed her to a man on the opposite side of the road. He was now talking to someone on his cellphone.

"It's him? That idiot even stole my money!" said Nancy.

"Should we call the police?" asked Ria.

"No, I have a plan. We will go slowly keeping our heads down and puncture one of his tires."

"Why one? We will puncture all."

"Alright. Then we will hit him from behind."

"What if he escapes?"

"We will keep running behind until he gives up. On a road like this, if we keep calling him a thief, someone will definitely stop him."

"I think you both should call the police?" said Nadeem uncle.

"No, let's do this way. We can get our money back," said Nancy.

"She is right. There is no need to call the police," said Ria.

They both got slowly out of the van and crossed the road. They bend their knees as they got closer to his cab. Nancy punctured his car tires one by one with her safety pin. When the work was done, they moved a little away from the car and observed the man.

The driver was now coming back to his seat. He tried to start the car but couldn't. He got out and looked around the car. He was shocked to see all the tires punctured.

"Now let's go and trap him."

Together they walked and stood in front of him.

"Dude, where are you planning to go? First, give us our money," said Nancy.

The man tried to run but Ria kicked his right knee and he fell in front of them.

"Thief! Give our money back or else we will call the police."

The man however did not listen to them. He quickly got up and began running in the other direction. Nancy and Ria ran behind him.

"Thief! Somebody catch that thief!" said Nancy as she ran behind him.

As they ran Ria spotted a man selling coconut on a stall. She took one and aimed at the driver's head.

"Madam, you need to pay me for this." said the man who sold the coconuts.

"Don't worry please wait I will pay you."

Ria threw the coconut at the driver. The coconut successfully hit his head but unfortunately, he fell on the contents of another stall on the footpath. The contents of the stall fell on the footpath and the owner of the stall began shouting at the driver.

Nancy and Ria reached the stall and looked at the cab driver. He was rubbing the back of his head as he tried getting up. They stood in front of him smiling.

"I don't have so much left. Just got what this Madam had. She was my first ride today." said the driver

"You obviously have some from yesterday too," said Nancy.

Before he could speak any further, he closed his eyes and fell down from the stall.

"Okay Dude! That's enough," said Nancy.

She kicked his back but the man did not respond.

Ria bent down and turned him over.

"Oh no, he is unconscious now," said Ria, shocked.