“So, you saying you like me?” She asked.

“Yeah, maybe what I can say is… I want to date you,” he said shyly.

“I do want to try.” She said, holding his hand.

Thabo couldn’t believe his trick had just worked on Adishal. He was attracted to Adishal so much that he felt light headed, happy and woozy at the same time, the same feeling that happened to every woman he dated. Now, all he could think about was her; he craved to hold her body close. After a few hours, the taxi stopped at a restaurant, it was recess and they stood at the back of the taxi kissing. It was night time and nobody would see them.

“You are a charmer.” She said, chuckling.

“Really? I just wish we reached our destination already.” He said, checking his watch.

“We will. Do you stay alone?” She asked and the horn of the taxi rang.

It was time to get back. They sat closer again, people couldn’t tell what was happening. Maybe they thought they weren’t strangers at all. With all that they were doing, they seemed to have been lovers all this time. Adishal lay her head on Thabo’s shoulder and slept. His hunger for food disappeared. He drank a bottle of juice while Adishal slept peacefully.

He nearly jumped when Adishal’s hands went rubbing his shoulder. She woke up at 2 a.m. when her phone beeped. She looked at Thabo who was sleeping, his head lay on the seat. She shook him then her phone beeped again. It was her sister.

“Fumi, we still haven’t reached border. I think we are close.” She said in a low voice.

“OK, when you arrive at Park Station let me know.” Her sister said and dropped the call.

Thabo woke up and stretched his hands and legs. He smiled when he faced Adishal’s eyes.

“I love you,” he whispered.

She came closer and kissed him. Everyone in the taxi was sleeping, except the driver who was playing the radio. They kept on kissing and touching each other until a big light shone on the whole taxi. They stopped kissing, feeling like two kids caught stealing sugar. Everyone woke up. Thabo looked through the window, he could see the taxi was in Bietbridge. They were a few kilometres to the border.

When the taxi parked everyone went to get their passports except those who had problems. They gave the driver their passports and he took them inside. Thabo held Adishal outside, waiting for the driver to pay for the gate pass.

It only took an hour to be served at the South African side. The taxi was going to stop at a one stop in Musina. After they bought something to eat, the taxi was on its way. Thabo and Adishal looked through the window and watched the sun setting while the taxi drove off.

Adishal watched the taxi enter the city of Joburg. Thabo was sleeping. He woke up when he heard the noises that happened in the traffic jam.

“Finally, we are here.” He sighed.

“I am still coming with you, right?” She asked.

“What about your sister?” He asked concerned.

“Will tell her something came up,” she replied.

Thabo couldn’t refuse, he wanted to sleep with her and taste how she was. He wanted to have fun with the woman who stole his heart or he was infatuated with.

The taxi parked in a big rank. Adishal had a small bag and a handbag. Thabo had a satchel and a monarch. They walked in the street so they could go to the rank on the east of the Park Station. The city was full of people. Adishal kept on looking at all the shops, until she bumped into a man.

“Adishal, this is not safe place. Look where you are going.” Thabo said pulling her.

They were close to a taxi which had been calling out Braamfontein. Thabo whispered to her to enter. He followed her and he sat next to her. Adishal looked in awe at all the places where the taxi passed.

“I didn’t know you stay far.” She said.

“Do you know Jozi?” He asked.

“I only know town and Midrand.” She answered.

Within a few minutes, they had arrived. It was only a few minutes to the house he stayed in.

“Finally we are home.” He said loudly.

He unlocked the door and let Adishal in.

***

Tell us: Would you ever go to a stranger’s house in a strange city? Why or why not?