What's John Donne Doing in a Taxi

She had come home to her apartment that afternoon at about five-thirty in the afternoon feeling very happy. As she poured herself a mango juice she suddenly remembered an invitation to a party that evening.
Deep in thought, she walked over to her bedroom mirror.
"Look at my hair, my cheeks and my eyes. Even my good figure. And still I've not met any man that I can relate to."
She sat down on the small cushioned seat and spoke again to the mirror.
"No, that's not true. I've had plenty of propositions. All that 'what gorgeous eyes you've got ' thing. Tra la la. Guys with only one thing on their mind. Never a real man. Never that real man."
"Oh damn. This is all just self-pity. What the hell, I'll go to this party tonight on my own. I've done it before. Why not do it again?"
Priya walked determinedly over to her bed side table and picked up the phone and spoke for a while.
"Are you telling me that there are no taxis available at that time tonight? Such a busy evening? What about a half hour earlier or later?"
"Okay, so you can't help me. Do you perhaps know of someone else whom I could phone?"
"Kismet Taxis? Kismet? Why not? Maybe that's just what I need. Can you give me their number? Thank you so much."

She dialled the Kismet number and was surprised by the cultured voice on the other end of the line. For a moment she thought that she must have made a mistake. Perhaps she had dialled a wrong digit somewhere.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Have I dialled the wrong number? What name did you say that was?
"Oh, so it is Kismet? OK Kismet. Can you pick me up at seven-fifteen tonight?"
She gave her address and then gently put the phone down. For a while she wondered about the voice that she had just heard. Then she shook her head and went on with her preparations.

Later that evening, Kismet arrived exactly on time and stopped his taxi in front of her place where Priya was already waiting. He opened his car door and nimbly climbed out. He walked up to her and introduced himself.
"Miss Patel. I'm Kismet. At your service, madam."
She stared at him, then at the vehicle and then back again at him. He was really handsome and well built. There he stood. Very smart looking in a good suit. She had never seen a taxi driver dressed like this before and with such a well groomed voice. Then she looked at the taxi. It was orange. More than that. A radiant orange.

Eventually she pulled herself together and spoke.
"Ah you're on time. Thank you for that, driver."
He held out one hand towards her while he gestured towards the rear door of the taxi with hi other hand.
"Madam, your car awaits."
As he spoke, he opened the rear door with a little flourish. After making sure that she was comfortable, he walked around and resumed his driver's seat. Then he turned to look at her.
"Where to, madam?"
To her annoyance, she found herself answering somewhat hesitatingly. She did not know why but she had suddenly become a little unsure of herself. She had always felt quite at ease in public before but now here she was suddenly feeling very uncertain of herself.
Thankfully, however, he had immediately understood her mumbled directions.

As they travelled along the North Coast road, on the way to La Lucia, an upmarket suburb of Durban North, she felt herself slowly beginning to relax. As she sat back in the comfortable seat a kind of dreaminess overcame her. She remembered a poem that she had once learned by heart. Absentmindedly, she began to recite the words aloud.

"Therefore thou wakest me wisely.
Yet my dream thou breakest not,
But continued it."

Wait! What was that? Had he spoken? Yes, that had been him speaking. Her eyes opened wide as if she was trying to recall the words that he had just been said.
"John Donne, madam."
"What do you know about him, driver?"
"A great poet Madam. Let me finish the verse for you. It's too beautiful to leave it hanging like that in mid-air."
As he spoke, she could not help noticing that he spoke with real feeling and commendable intonation.

"For art so truth, that thoughts of thee suffice,
To make dream truths and fables histories.
Enter these arms, for since thou thought it best,
Not to dream all my dreams,
Let's act the rest."

Priya sat back in her seat in wonder. She looked stunned. Usually of a rather shy and modest nature she felt that at that moment, she had been drawn into a whirlpool.
"Driver, what are you trying to say?"
Kismet gave a little laugh.
"Madam, the poem suggests that we act out a dream."

Priya remained quiet for a long time. Was that Kismet sitting in front a taxi driver or what? Whatever, she had never felt such a strange undercurrent of excitement before. However, she did her best to remain civil and polite.
"You must understand, driver, that I was merely rehearsing the recitation of this poem. I'm a member of a poetry circle and this is the poem that I've selected."
He remained silent for a while before he spoke.

"Madam. My name is Kismet. May I congratulate you. You've indeed chosen a most remarkable poem."
"Who are the hell are you, Kismet? You know poetry. Your manners are good. I can't make you out."
"I have an idea, madam. Just an idea. You can say no, of course. It's all up to you. Let me put it like this. You're alone this evening. You've obviously been invited to a party. You're all dressed up. Why don't I be your escort at the party?"
"What? Excuse me. You want to go with me into that big house with all those high society crème de la crème?"
"I'll be able to handle them. I'm not afraid of high society at all. Been there done that, you know."
"Wait. I can't believe that I'm listening to you. How do I know that you won't let me down? Have you ever been in the company of the so-called upper crust?"
"Don't worry about a thing, madam. I'll be on my best behaviour, I assure you."
"I don't understand all this. It's all so strange. Are you some kind of male escort?"
"No, madam, I'm not. Anyway there'll be no charge."
She became silent for a while as if she was weighing the options, Then she shrugged her shoulders in a kind of philosophical so be it way.
"Mmm.... Well, why not? You know that I'm so tired of coming here alone. OK Kismet, you're on."
"Just promise me that if things get out of hand and you become embarrassed you'll come with me immediately when I ask you. And that you'll then take me home without any argument. Is that understood?"
"It's understood."
"Well, okay then. Let's do it. Will you please just take off your cap before we go in. Try and look like a gentleman. Anyway just do your best please, won't you? And my name is Priya, by the way."