Standing her own ground

Itika was nearing the airport exit when it occurred to her that she should go to a hotel instead. Her family had reluctantly agreed to his uncle's wish to stay in his home, a three bedroom apartment in Queens that wasn't big enough to home his own family of six, let alone three additional guests. Itika didn't want to bother him again.

She reached for her phone which was now in the back pocket of her pantsuit, and started browsing through a recommended list of Bread and Breakfast nearby. There were three decent ones that she could stay in for one night, affordable and close-by with decent customer ratings.

BnB Vicario was about three miles away, still twenty from Allura. It was merely two thirty in the afternoon, their flight was at six in the evening. Itika tried to imagine her mother's reaction once she found out Itika had made a major decision without discussing with her. The thousand dollars she just wasted on the ticket was going to bring more chaos. Itika had to brace herself to remain calm while her mother lectured her for several minutes once she was up, which wasn't going to be for another hour. Mrs. Jones was a deep sleeper. Noise, confined spaces, uncomfortable seats did little to disturb her naps, a quality Itika envied; she couldn't take an afternoon nap even if her life depended on it. Roughly four to five hours of sleep at night was more than she could physically afford.

Spending half a day in the hotel doing nothing was a waste. If she could, Itika would prefer a meeting the same day but that would be asking too much from people who had their months packed with appointments.

Itika joined international check-out queue and started searching for some sports clubs in her phone that were located around the bnb and that allowed entry without a membership in her. She hadn't had the chance to do any work-out or practice some steps of modern contemporary, and she was eager to get some physical exercise. Even an unrecorded street match of basketball was good enough to work her muscles. In her cramped stay in Queens, she had no privacy, practicing a dance routine was out of the question.

The autumn Sun was glaring back in its full shine over where Itika was standing. There was a long walk to reach the taxi stand at the front of the airport. Itika was thankful she had chosen to wear something warm in spite the hot and cool weather of NYC. The rest of her wardrobe had been packed and checked-in and Itika couldn't retrieve them from the airport, and had to do some shopping before she had to present herself in Allura.

She didn't know when or where exactly the meeting was. She had listened to the words of basically a stranger and had cancelled her trip back home. It was a strange feeling for her; Itika's decisions were mostly calculated and analyzed inside out. The thrill of missing a flight on purpose was new, and Itika enjoyed the rush. She knew she was strong enough to handle any bad news that was in store for her. Shawn hadn't replied in the last half hour. But it didn't tense her. Itika was patient.

She looked for an Uber, and found far too many around her location. She quickly put in her destination in the application and searched for a cab.

'Miss Jones?'

Itika turned to her left to see a tall, plump man, in his forties with a dusky pockmarked face, wearing a black suit and white shirt inside that peeped from the tightly fitted coat, walking in her direction in measured steps. He looked like a driver for the A-listers. The black woolen gloves on his wide hands justified his outlook, but it made Itika feel bad for him. The Uniform clung his body, visibly uncomfortable. A thought for other day, Itika decided.

'Yes?' She replied.

'I was sent by Mr. Rayo to take you to any hotel of your choice. I'm Richard Evans. I am on airport pickup duty from Allura.' The man said in a practiced tone and handed out his business card to Itika which she later noticed he had been carrying in his hand all along.

'Oh. I see.' Itika responded hesitantly. Her phone showed her that a cab was nine minutes away. She needed to cancel it for the moment and talk to the big man in front.

'Miss Jones, Mr. Rayo also asked me to call him after I had introduced myself to you, and make him talk to you. Would you mind if I connect him?'

'Umm… sure. I don't mind.' Itika said with a broken but soft smile. She covered the top of her eyes with her right hand to shade her eyes from the scorching sunlight.

'Please give me a moment, Miss?' Richard sauntered back to his car, a black Mustang that she could recognize from the metal animal in front and seconds later returned with an iPhone in his gloved hand.

'Here, Miss. Mr. Rayo is on the line.' Richard handed over the cellphone to her.

'Hello?'

'Hey, Itika. How are you doing?' A voice said, excitedly.

'I'm alright… But, you didn't have to send anyone to get me.' Itika said, adjusting the belt of her sling bag on her left shoulder.

'Well, I couldn't let you cancel your ticket and not find you a ride and accommodation for you and your family.' Shawn spoke with a believable hint of concern.

Itika wanted to tell him she was alone, but thought best to withhold that information. Shawn didn't need to know that.

'Thank you, Mr. Rayo. But I am getting an Uber from here. I am free tomorrow. You can arrange a meeting whenever you can.' Itika said sternly. She didn't want to say there was no way in hell she was getting into a car with a stranger no matter how impressive his visiting card was. But she chose words that didn't show her skepticism with the driver standing three feet away from her, and offend him.

'Are you saying you don't want Richard to drive you to your hotel? Are you scared or something?' Shawn's question ended with a giggle.

'No. Mr. Rayo. But it's no big deal. I already have a cab waiting here. I'll see you tomorrow?' Itika smoothly enquired about his intentions for the next day.

'Come on. Richard is a nice guy. And I'll take full responsibility for his behavior.' Shawn said, trying to find humor in her refusing to get into the cab of a reputed Label.

'It's not that Mr. Rayo. I actually wanted to do some shopping before I decide a hotel. It's really no big deal.' Itika lied about shopping but she did need to do some soon. She changed her plans in her head and decided to do exactly that before she got to her BnB.

'Okay, but please at least allow me to pay for your hotel?' Shawn asked.

'You're making me feel bad now, Mr. Rayo. I can take care of all that. Thanks anyway.' Itika hated letting others paying her dues. No matter who it was, she wanted every single bill in her name to be paid by her.

'Okay!' Shawn sighed and added slowly and slightly annoyed, 'I will talk to my sister and set an appointment with her by the evening.'

Itika almost felt sorry for making her mistrust too obvious. She knew in her heart that Richard or Shawn weren't harmful but her mind had her in its control. She was in a strange city in a strange country; she had to be cautious, even if it was Shawn Rayo that offered her a ride.

Once their conversation had ended, Itika handed back the silver phone and said, 'Sorry Mr. Richard. I will be taking a cab for now. Thank you for coming here though.' Itika smiled apologetically.

'No worries, Miss. It's my duty.' Richard replied with an affirmative nod and treaded back in the direction of his car.

Itika opened the Uber app again and this time her destination was the Manhattan Mall.