Rickshaw Guy

The auto driver nodded to my call

Amidst the downpour and road dirt.

I manifested my broke uni student face,

Faced him and asked ‘Sir Tata Institute?’

Sir said ‘200 rupees’. I said

‘200 rupees?’ He said ‘200 rupees,

but 100 if I only have to drop you outside’.

I said ‘Sir make it 80’, he said

‘Madam, you ridiculous harlot’

and off he drove. I couldn’t find

any other auto; I thought to myself,

‘I let go of the one thing I desperately

needed and I will never find it again’,

but then came another descendant of

Hermes. He slicked his hair back

and said ‘100 rupees’. I said ‘80’

he said ‘100’, I said ‘90’, he said

‘100’. I agreed, tear-streaked, and hopped in.

I smiled - I will find love again

and it’ll be gentle and forgiving.