THAT hold up was so unexpected that everyone stood there stunned as they were robbed of their phones, cash and jewellery at gunpoint. It took just a few moments and as the robbers sped away, Sachin pulled Ahana to her feet and she ran to her friends who were reeling in shock.
Chris, for all his big talks on how bold he was, froze as they took his watch and phone. He turned to look at Sachin and asked, an incensed look on his face.
“How did that happen? Who are they? Friends of yours?”

Sachin looked at him in disbelief but before he could answer, Ahana came to his defence, infuriated with Chris, “How can you say that? He was warning me about the suspicious men so we could all leave but if you weren’t interested in harassing him, this could have been averted.”
“So what now that makes him a hero? Your hero?”

In a swift movement, he sucker-punched Sachin, who fell back against the car.
“That’s for pulling my girlfriend’s hand away from mine, you clown.”
Ahana choked back a scream and looked at Chris exasperated, “What is wrong with you?!”
He pulled her a little roughly to him and said in a low, furious voice, “I don’t like him being your driver and I don’t like you being nice to him.”
He walked away and Ahana shook her head, fuming a little and said to Sachin, “Let’s go.”
On the way she said, “I’m sorry about that. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”

She sighed with controlled frustration and though he was the one feeling the pain from the blow, he somehow felt sorry for her having to deal with someone like Chris.
Sachin reported to Mr. Singh and gave him the licence plate number of the robbers’ vehicle that he had noted down.
“You did a brave thing, once again, in protecting my daughter,” he said, “In showing my gratitude, I will be increasing your salary.”
“Thank you, Sir.”

“That’s good,” Sachin said with a wry smile after leaving the office, “For I’m getting punched by her crazy boyfriend.”
He didn’t see Ahana for two days since the incident at the creek and thought she was still dealing with the trauma of it all, but it was more than that. According to Paul, who always had an update on the latest news, she had broken up with Chris.
“Good for her,” Sachin said with relief, touching his jaw, “That guy packs a wicked punch.”
As he polished the Lexus, Paul said to him, “You have done better and lasted longer than the previous drivers she had.”
“That’s good to know.”

“And…” Paul paused, so his words could have an impact, “I think she likes you.”
His words did have an impact, for Sachin did not respond for a long moment, not wanting to think of any new feeling within him and he said offhandedly, “I guess she’s pleased with the fact I’m doing a good job.”
The next morning she came out dressed in simple casuals, a cap pulled low over her head and said to him, “I need to go for a drive somewhere quiet.”
He drove to a nice spot on the East Coast seawall in a backdrop of palm trees and she sat there for a good while in her private thoughts, relaxed with the cool wind blowing in from the Atlantic. He waited by the car, not far away, until she was ready to leave. He drove her around town because, it seemed, she wanted to be out and about, not in her rich lifestyle but in a normal way.
“I don’t know what this is about,” Sachin said to himself doubtfully, “But she’s the boss.”

She walked down Main St as he stayed a few steps behind, stopped to check out an artist’s work then bought a few pieces of local jewellery from the craft booths. She handed him something, saying, “It’s a little gift for you.”
It was a keychain with a picture of Kaieteur Falls.
“Nice,” he said, “thanks.”
She wanted next to go to Bourda Market to drink fresh coconut water, but Sachin cautiously objected this time.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Miss.”
“Why is it not?”

“Well, it’s a very busy place and your father—”
“My father,” she interrupted him, “employed you to protect me, isn’t that so?”
“Yes,”
“Good,” she said with a little smile, “do your job.”
Sachin realised she was walking on a different side of life to unburden something from her mind and he thought, “Might as well help her along the way.”
It was busy, as usual, near the coconut vendors, but he found her a nice little spot away from the jostling passersby so she could enjoy the delicious coconut water.
“Aah,” she expressed satisfied, “that was good.”

They had to walk back a little way to where the car was parked and suddenly he took hold of her hand. She looked at him surprised and he said, “Just keep walking calmly in front of me, there are two young guys behind us.”
They reached the car without incident and the two boys walked past giving Sachin a hard stare.
“Gosh,” Ahana breathed with relief.
“Sorry about holding your hand.”

Ahana shook her head and smiled at his discomfort.
“It’s okay, you were doing your job. Come on, it’s time for lunch.”
It was at a Brazilian restaurant and she said to him, “You’re coming in too to have lunch.”
“No, that wouldn’t be right.”
“You don’t have to sit with me,” she assured him, “You can sit at another table nearby. I’m treating you to lunch, okay?”
He sighed and said, “Okay.”

At the end of quite a leisure lunch when he took her home, she said, “Thank you for today.”
He nodded with a hint of a smile.
Whatever renewed spirit she went out to find today, she found it because there was a satisfied glow on her face and light in her eyes.
She looked at him for a short moment, as though wanting to say something but turned and walked to the house.
He took a deep breath as he watched her go and as he parked the car, he said, “It was indeed a good day.”

A few days later she went away on a two-week vacation in Europe and Sachin felt he could also take a short break until she returned. But the family had visitors who came in from the US to vacation in Guyana so he had to continue working. It was constant driving every day with trips to resorts, Berbice and Essequibo, and if being tired and overworked weren’t enough, he encountered Chris with a few of his friends at a resort in Essequibo.
“Well, well, look who’s here,” he mocked, “the driver-bodyguard.”

It was early and Sachin had been sitting alone under one of the benabs whilst the visitors went out for a boat ride.
“Hey man, I don’t have a problem with you.”
“Oh yeah?” Chris sneered, “But I do.”
And he punched Sachin in the stomach.

“I never liked you, loser,” he said with disdain and hit Sachin with some quick blows to the body.
Sachin stumbled backwards but did not fall, the breath knocked out of him but the last thundering fist to the jaw knocked him down.
“And that one is for Ahana breaking up with me,” he said with a cruel grin on his face.
Sachin took some time to get himself back up, the heavy blows having hurt him. He groaned quietly in pain, “Why do I have to pay the price for that break-up?”
To be continued…