" Madam, you look weary. Should I park my cab near a departmental store? You can purchase something for yourself," asked the taxi driver, looking at the girls from the mirror above, attached to the shelter.
His eyes were visible from the front mirror. His eyes appeared to be drugged, making Stella roll her eyes away in disdain. The driver, not getting any answer, kept looking through the mirror at the girls.
The girls remained silent for a few minutes when Sophia spoke something to reassure the taxi driver," No, it's okay, thanks for asking." When Sophia rested her head on the car seat, her face tilted to look at Stella throwing an annoying look at the taxi driver, who was busy with his driving.
The destination became a matter of just two hours. Empty skies were filled with the sketch of mountains. The cliffs were dimly noticeable as if hidden behind a sheet of fog. Clouds surrounded the peaks of the mountains, while the path to it seemed a bit risky. The cab entered this path. Mist in the atmosphere and unrepaired fences, along with the way, pumped up the anxiety inside the cab passengers.
" Don't worry, madam! It is my routine route. I am getting many passengers choosing a mountain outing. If fate is in our favour at present, everything would be alright." soothed the taxi driver.
Stella widened her pupils and shouted," What do you mean by "if fate is in our favour"? You cross these paths every day. How can you be so careless? We didn't pay you for a death ride, mind it."
" This girl is beyond anyone's understanding. We have to deal with her differently. Her claims are sure to stifle a judge's decision. I can't face her, God." the driver chuckled, without having anyone notice.
" What are you mumbling?" asked Stella." Instead of chatting with yourself, better drive the car slowly."
"These roads are tough. They are lending me a headache as we pass over them. Your driving is so rough. How did you get a driving licence?" asked Diana, placing her hands beside her creased forehead. Sophia, too, felt nauseated. She started coughing and requested," Please can you slow down the vehicle, I am not feeling well."
Listening to her pleas, the taxi driver halted. He looked at Sophia with tense eyebrows, with his lips pressed, and asked, "Are you fine, miss?" Sophia raised her eyelids and nodded in assurance, giving a thumbs-up to the taxi driver. He understood it and continued to drive slowly over the path.
" You are partial with your passengers. This is unreasonable," said Stella, gritting her teeth.
" It all came from you only. If you differentiate against people with lower-ranking jobs, how can you expect equitable treatment? God made us all equal, and what did we do? We divide people into lower and upper classes. But inside, we all have the same soul, the same organs, and a similar brain." explained the taxi driver placing his hand on his chest.
" Kindly, Stop your drama. This is boring me more. How far is the destination?" grumbled Stella, wrinkling her nose. " You know what, I am fed up with you. First of all, you do not install a.c. in your cab, and secondly, you are irritating me with your philosophies. I just hate you." her face wrinkled more, and she raised her fists in disgust.
The side holder, beside the stirring wheel of the car, had seven buttons on it, organized in a grid pattern. He placed his finger gently on one of them, enabling the entire car to lower its windows. The cool breezes of the outside atmosphere entered through the vacant spaces, calming the passengers inside.
" Are we closer to our destination?" asked Sophia.
" Yes, we are. Look there are mountains. They are shaped like mushrooms with structures as spots. There are countless houses, churches and temples built on them, arranged at different locations, with trees covering the entire area of the mountain. " exclaimed Diana.
Suddenly, a dog stood in their path, with its fur covered with a sheet of dirt and its tongue sticking out of its mouth, and its muzzle slightly wet. As the taxi driver slowed his cab, it began wagging its tail. " Look, Mr., this dog is more handsome than you. He has the same mustard hue, same eyes, and same manners as yours. Does it belong to you? Did you leave it alone?" asked Stella sarcastically, looking at the taxi driver.
" Stop it, Stella! it's too much." requested Sophia in a calm tone to which the cab driver reverted to assure her," Don't worry about it, miss, I didn't get offended, it was a joke and I enjoyed it. And for this dog, we will feed it some bread, I have some with me. "
The driver opened the packet of bread and brought out three pieces of bread and threw them at the dog. The dog hopped to catch them up in the air, grabbing both the bread in one go and started to munch on them quickly.
After completing it, he wiped his mouth with his long narrow pinkish tongue, then stepped forward to gaze at the driver with an innocent look. He threw more bread, and the dog snapped again with the same intensity and munched fastly.
" Ugh! he is wasting our time. Has he got no further work? At least drop us off and then continue with feeding stray dogs. This is nonsense!" whispered Stella. "He likes you, I guess. That's why he is tricking to stop you here," whispered Diana and smirking quickly, in a low tone.
" Yuk! I don't like him. See, how he behaves. How he dresses and stares at us. Don't connect him with me, understand?" whispered Stella, giving an annoying expression to Diana and throwing her gaze away.
Then slowly, the cab driver pressed the clutch of the car and drove slowly. Then picking a fast speed and driving off. Stella's forehead slowly eased the tension built on them. The wrinkles slowly subsided and the redness of them restored to normal. The taxi driver could see Stella sitting in a relaxed condition and so he smiled inwardly.