CHATTEL
Author's note: This is another story in the 'older woman ' series.
It was cold. The mercury of the thermometer on the old bistro's wall was hovering around 10 degree centigrade, in mood to fall further down. And it was already dark. Not a good time for a woman to be on the street. But I was hungry and chilled to the bone. My feet in my cads were going numb. I wanted something hot and filling. This was not the time when one will expect someone to come asking for coffee or tea and buy an extra cup for me out of sympathy. Another fifteen minutes and I will move to the shelter, food or no food. Sleeping on an empty stomach was nothing new to me.
Leila, the owner of the bistro had always been kind to me. Now she beckoned me with her finger. I went to her and stopped just outside the doorstep.
"See that man in blue jacket; he always leaves his salad untouched. You can have it."
I nodded.
Cold salad? In this cold weather? I shivered, but anything is better than nothing. And beggars can't be choosers. I will have to wait till he finishes his meal.
A homeless woman, in her forties, I have always considered myself smart and resourceful. I had always found ways to scrounge a meal somehow and have always managed to stay out of the reach of predators. Also, I had coped well with extreme weathers. Stubbornness had crept into my nature facing the hardships for so many years.
This winter, I was sure I was going to die. I didn't have anything warm to wear and they said that this winter was going to be worse than the year before.
What will it be? Pneumonia? Frost bite? Or some weird virus?
I couldn't decide and was afraid to dwell upon the subject. Then suddenly one day, a kind woman, of nearly my built, God bless her! Came and gave me the long coat I was wearing now. It fitted me well and to me it looked brand new. More important: it had kept me alive. It not only kept me warm but also hid my shabby threadbare clothes well.
The man in the blue jacket was finishing his Shorba(a kind of soup). I would have to hurry: collect the dishes and bring them back and win the salad for myself.
In and out quickly.
I got myself ready for the act. I had done it many times before.
"Hi! Missie, care for some hot coffee?"A man in his early thirty asked me, bringing his mouth close to mine. I was startled. He had suddenly materialized out of nowhere. The word 'Missie' raised my antennae. But a hot coffee seemed to be a better option than the cod salad. I had to make up my mind fast. The man in the jacket was on to the last morsel of his Naan.
"And a Choco-pie." The man behind me added. That did it. I turned to look at him. I had seen him before.
"Two coffees and a Choco-pie." The man called out to Leila before I could say anything.
I didn't like his domineering attitude. But Leila nodded smiled at him and gave him a flirty wave of hand.
The man with in blue jacket had gotten up from his table and the waitress was already moving towards his table with an empty tray to clear the dishes. Leila also saw what was happening.
A coffee and a Choco-pie were definitely a better option and now the only one available.
"Thank you." I mumbled meekly. He was tall dark and well built. His dark eyes had warmth. And his voice was soft and kind contrasting his cock-sure attitude. The thing worth notice was that he and Leila knew each other.
He moved past me to then counter and made the payment. They exchanged some pleasantries which I couldn't hear. The steaming cups of coffee and the Choco-pie appeared on the counter. He took the small disposable tray and came out.
"Come." He told me walking towards the parking. I followed him like a dog after a bone, bitch to be more accurate in my case, if you want to be gender specific. When you have lived for years as a homeless creature with no worries except for the next meal, things like shame, self-respect etc. etc. stop meaning much to you. Though I was proud that I had still the dignity left of not selling myself. I lived on the street but..but.... I was not a street walker.
The man took out the remote key from his pocket. And the lights of a nearby car blinked twice.
"It is cold outside." He said by way of explanation.
He opened the door and gestured me to come around the car. Nobody had acted like that before.
By the time I sat down in passenger seat he had placed the coffees on the dash board and was peeling the cover of the Choco-pie, I was dying to dig my teeth into. My tummy was making noises. I had heard that the carbs are instant fuel for the body. And to add to that I have a sweet tooth. Did he know about that or was it just a coincidence? Any way, it hardly mattered. I sat down on the edge of the seat close to the window not to dirty his upholstery and stay as far away from him as possible.
He proffered the open bag to me. I took it. He pushed the heater button and warm air hit my face. We sat for sometime drinking our coffees silently. The warmth started flowing through my veins. My cheeks became beetroot red and my tummy stopped making noises. It was a novel feeling, an experience I had not had ever before. I finished the Choco-pie quickly and lifted my cup of coffee from the dashboard.
"Would you like to come with me?" He asked suddenly.
I nearly spilled my coffee.
"Hey mister, say that again? I am no whore. What do you think of yourself?" I snarled putting my hand on the knob of the door handle getting ready to jump out of the car.
"Cool, cool down. Who said anything about whoring?"
"Why do you want me to go with you? And where to? And why did you call me 'Missie'?" I slammed the coffee cup back on the dash board some of the coffee spilled on to the dash board.
"That was not meant to disparage. I was just trying to be friendly. The car door is not locked. You can step out whenever you feel like and take your coffee with you. It will help in the cold."
I relaxed a bit. I had spoken my mind and he had heard me out calmly. He looked annoyed. I removed my hand from the handle.
"Leila knows me well."He said to assure me.
"Yes, I noticed." I answered rudely.
We were silent for a long minute. "Where were you planning to take me?"
"To my place, for dinner. I can't find anything wrong with it." He said innocently as if it was the most obvious thing to do. As if we were old buddies doing it day in day out.
"I will drop you back here afterwards." He added quickly.
Men had tried a lot of things before and I had always seen through their swindles. This was something totally unexpected.
"Why?" I asked somewhat intrigued.
"Why? Because I am hungry, I want to eat and I don't to eat alone. I want company." He said turning towards me.
"Of an old hag like me! In shabby clothes and smelling like shit?"
"Yes." He said and paused. "Your clothes may be old but you are not and even in your long coat I can see that you got a nice figure and a pretty face to go with it." He became silent and I digested what he had to say about me. Nobody compliments an old homeless woman.
"You don't want to? It's okay." He said admitting defeat and switching off the heater.
I was thinking fast. He didn't look like a sexual predator and I didn't want to leave the warmth of the car so soon. I didn't know when I will get another chance to enjoy such luxury. I came up with a proposal of my own.
"Why not just drive around for a bit and eat out at some place nearby." I offered. "Nothing swanky, any small restaurant will do.
