SACHIN looked at his father’s photograph on the wall as he made to leave for work and he said quietly, “I need your guidance, Pa, so I can do well in this new job.”
He often spoke to his father, whom he still held in his heart as his hero, though he had died ten years ago in a fatal accident in the backdam. His father had been a hard-working man, strong, selfless and kind, and it was from those qualities Sachin, as a young boy had modelled his life.
His mother’s trauma at dealing with the father’s sudden loss and faced with the struggles to maintain home and family had caused Sachin to leave school at age fifteen. He had worked many odd jobs to support his family, and his sacrifices helped them survive as a low income family.

Today he was a young man, tall and strong with rugged good looks, confident that one day he would have enough to invest in his own business and be his own boss.
“It’s okay to dream,” he had kept telling himself for it motivated him to stay strong and face life’s challenges one day at a time.
He called out to his mother as he opened the door to their modest home to leave, “See you later, Ma!”

“Wait, son!” she called, hurrying from the kitchen and she kissed him on the forehead.
“May you stay safe and your day be good.”
He smiled at her fondly for her blessings were always a good beginning to his day.
Sachin reached to work at the residence of a wealthy businessman in an upper-class residential area in the city. He stared in awe at the impressive luxurious mansion and expressed silently, “Astounding!”
It was his first official job as a driver for a wealthy family for over the years he had gained valuable experience in driving and a good knowledge of vehicles. He was handed the keys to a gleaming black Lexus and stared awe-struck at the other luxury vehicles in the garage; a Range Rover, Mercedes and Jaguar.
“Awesome,” he expressed to himself, “This is like a dream.”

He had been employed to drive the businessman’s daughter and as he waited, excited but a little nervous, an older driver imparted some advice to him, “You’re new and nervous so I’ll help you a little here. Do not let your eyes linger on her, do not smile, and only answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. She’s not easy to work with.”
“Thanks,” Sachin responded and turned to look as the driver Paul said, “Here she comes and good luck.”
One of the most beautiful young women he had ever seen walked down the paved pathway with smooth, confident strides, the light wind reflecting her lustrous brown hair. Sachin felt an incredible rush in his heart as he briefly looked at her.

She glanced at him for just a second as he opened the door for her and as they moved off she gave him instructions in a firm tone.
“Yes, Miss,” he responded politely and inhaled slowly as a whiff of the refreshing fragrance she was wearing touched his senses.
It was the first time as a young man, he had felt such an instant attraction to a beautiful woman, something he couldn’t quite understand. So he set his mind on staying cool and focused on his job as a driver.
She had to go to several places on the West Coast, then back over the Demerara River up the East Bank to Amazonia Mall.
As he waited in the VIP parking lot, he ate a quick lunch of tuna sandwich his mother had fixed for him, staying focused and alert to everything and everyone around because it was a part of his job.

“I have many enemies,” the businessman had told him during the interview for the job, “My little girl is in your care on the road, always be on the alert and take great care of her even if…” he had paused and looked at Sachin in the eyes with a steely look, “Even if your life depends on it.”
“Yes sir,” Sachin had answered, a slight chill of fear pulsating through his body.

She came out of the mall a couple of hours later, said ‘Goodbye’ to her friends and with nowhere else to go, Sachin drove her home safely.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he parked the car.
The day went well.
His days on the job continued with no incidents on the road except errant drivers and sometimes ambitious guys who wanted her attention, and that was something she took care of herself.
He liked her boldness and though he still heeded Paul’s advice, he couldn’t help admiring her chic, elegant and stunning outlook in the brief moments he could look. Her personality though, was not as beautiful. She was impatient, demanding and mean, sometimes for no real reasons.

“Entitled, spoilt, rich girl,” Paul stated, “You wanna keep your job, ignore the attitude.”
Sachin tried his best to do so because he needed that good-paying job for some important financial needs at home. He stayed cool in the face of her arrogant boyfriend, stayed cool when her friends in party mode mocked him for being a country boy.

She never spoke a word for him and he didn’t expect her to because he was just an employee. Yet, it didn’t change his feelings for her and that he kept locked away in his heart.
On a trip to Berbice to see an old friend at Blairmont Estate, she received a phone call from someone that seemed to disturb her deeply and Sachin knew she was crying. After a long moment, she told him to pull over and she got out of the car, pacing a little and taking deep breaths to compose herself. Vehicles passing slowed down to look at her curiously and given it was a lonely area in Abary, Sachin motioned to her that they should leave.

For once, she didn’t question anything but in the car he made the mistake of asking her, “Are you okay?”
She sighed deeply, not answering for a long moment then said, “It’s none of your business.”

He smiled a little wryly, “Sorry miss.”
The journey continued and he had to stop a few times so she could take pictures of the lush vegetation, … expanses of farm lands and animals. He said not a word more but noticed her looking at him, a little longer than before, though there was no hint of a smile.

“One day, maybe, I’ll see a smile,” he said to himself.
He had no idea how things were about to change.
On the way back late that afternoon as they crossed the Mahaicony river bridge, a speeding car overtaking them clipped the front bumper of their Lexus. The contact sent the Lexus into a spin, and the speeding car flipped over twice before crashing into a utility pole.
She screamed in fear as Sachin kept his cool and tried to bring the car to a safe halt as the back end hit against the bridge’s concrete barrier. The mishap had shaken her badly and opening the car door to where she was sitting, he asked, “Are you okay?”
She shook her head, unable to speak and grabbed his arms, burying her face in his shoulder.
To be continued…