on the streets

about a month ago i posted this.
about a week later, i ran into him again, mr. architect from goa. in colaba, where he said he was staying. we talked for a few minutes, his job was going ok, he was working on some interesting projects he said. i was not so much in the mood for conversation after being already propositioned by one of the bollywood extra guys, and i had a predetermined mission to find a toothbrush. so i said, hey, i have to go. no you cant come with me, im going shopping. i tried to stress shopping as if it were very important that i do it alone. that was ok with him, but maybe if there was some interesting work, and id like to see the office, he could call me. mistake number 2*, i gave him my number. im not exactly sure why? maybe i just really wanted to give someone the benefit of trust? im not a complete idiot, i pretty much knew it was foolish immediately after doing so. but at the time i was thinking, wow, in such a huge city, ive seen this guy twice now. thats remarkable.
i mentioned this to a friend, and he warns, be careful. sometimes these situations are not random.
fast forward a week or so, and my phone rings. its him. i tell him not to call again. it was the only time he called, so i kept it fairly polite, and then saved the number in my phone for future warning.
another week or so goes by, and he surprises me on my way home, after following me for over a block calling me kelly. at this point i realize that maybe he doesnt really know me, but knows how i usually walk. i tell him, please dont contact me again, i cannot talk to you, please leave me alone. he persisted 'why dont you answer my calls?' the usually effective, 'my husband will be very upset with you if you do not leave me alone!' and walking fast got me out of that situation.
from then on, ive been walking with the guys from the office, out of the way, just to have a different path. they think im slightly crazy for doing so, so i explained the situation. they pointed out that yes, i was an idiot for giving out my number. and if he truly was an architect, he wouldnt have the time to follow young ladies around the city. so right.
i thought i saw him twice after that, but i was safely behind glass, and also on lariam, so i cant be sure.
so maybe its a con? my idea of a city where paths cross, people come and go, and neighborhoods develop from the characters you see on a regular basis may never exist.
just recently, after dinner in colaba with two friends, i decided to accompany one to her hostel. it was pretty much halfway to my place, and the short distance makes getting a taxi difficult. she was saying how much safer she felt than in delhi, and i agreed that while i felt uncomfortable sometimes, i never felt threatened (except with the water incident). and then he appears, out of seemingly nowhere. and talks first to my friend, so conversational, convinced that they had met earlier. then he notices me, and says a big hi! how are you doing, i never see you anymore... she says 'i dont know you', i start yelling 'go away'. he says he doesnt understand, but retreats.
my friend and i say goodbye. i cross the street to take the two turns that will take me to my flat, making sure he is not around. as i come up on the last turn, hes walking ahead, so i wait. losing him to a clump of trees, i go ahead, and he pops out from the corner. not understanding why i wont talk to him, hes just trying to be nice, etc, etc. i yell again, dont talk to me, dont contact me, leave me alone! he stays, i go. fast. after a minute hes still following me, at a distance, so i run, tell the security guard at the building, and let my friend know i got home ok. its barely 11:00pm.
i want to like this city, and i want to like this neighborhood. and i want to not lose trust in people entirely. i understand that by virtue of location, im probably getting a bigger dose of this stuff than i would in a different area, but i know my building is really safe, and i couldnt ask for a better living situation. i just have a problem with not being able to walk the 15 minutes it takes me to the restaurant where we were eating. besides, taxis can be an even bigger hassle.
so right now, im not scared, im angry, and frustrated. i did feel slightly threatened. i kind of really hate colaba, and the gentlemen of the city. you make me not want to ever leave my little room up high, far away from the street.
but i refuse to speed dial mc donalds, so sometimes i do have to leave. i will promise to take a taxi after 9pm, no matter how short the distance, and walk (as a good friend suggested) warily.

i hope this is the end of the story.

*mistake number 1 of course was trusting the situation in the first place.
update: the number he called from was a phone booth. he probably called many times and i didnt even know.