I did not speak to any of the association heads post the conference and did not file a report on the event either.
Next evening, around 7pm, I was crossing the road to go to Church Gate Station, when a shinning Black Mercedes stopped before me! The face at the window looked familiar and as I walked closer, Dilip Kumar smiled and opened the car door for me.
Unthinkingly, I stepped inside the vehicle but my mind was racing. Why had he stopped the car for me, was he confusing me for someone else and where were we heading? I sat on the edge of my seat and I am certain he was aware of my discomfort but continued to converse casually. He spoke so softly that he was barely audible and to not appear rude, I alternately shook my head and smiled.
When the car zoomed on to the Pedder Road, he asked the driver to stop aside, turning to me he said, “My destination has arrived, thank you for your company”. I got off on the middle of the road still perplexed about what had happened, I managed to hail a passing cab and hopped into it unsure if what had just happened was my hallucination or real.
To be continued