I looked at my friend, Diya who was at the driver seat of
her Mercedes, no sorry, her precious Merc. She was high and happy. We were
returning from a small party including my close friends and me, thrown by Diya
herself. Occasion- I had received my visa to US and I was to travel by the month
end. I was the only one sober, others hooting and singing away. I was annoyed
at Diya, for driving the car under the influence of alcohol and Diya was aware
of it. She continued singing away which irritated me even more. I always stood
by rules and Diya..well..never. She faced life as if there was no tomorrow. And
me? Lived all my life following principles, rules and my mom’s dreams. Diya and
I argued a lot on this. Diya..my chuddy buddy..since 5th grade. Only
daughter of Mr. Natesh P ,a popular businessman in Bangalore, a simple , billionaire!
So Diya had no qualms in spending any amount on herself and..me. I would never
accept anything from her, my ego obviously, which she of course didn’t care about.
I was looking at the speedometer. It was a constant 130-140.
I was getting tensed. I offered to drive a million times. Diya hated
babysitting and was stubborn to give me the wheel. I turned away and looked
outside. I thought about my struggle at the office to get my visa and the drama
I had staged. Finally I did it and I was
happy. I whistled to myself, treating myself to be easy for once. It was dark
outside and raining hard. I again looked at Diya and the speedometer. Somehow
both of them were getting better at annoying me now and then. Diya looked at me
and said: ‘Nisha, chill man! Loosen up for once!’ Suddenly Susan, my colleague,
who was also in the car at the back, screamed ‘LOOK OUT!!’ We both looked ahead
and amidst the rain I saw a faint figure on the road. I watched in horror as
Diya slammed the brakes and the car skidded. ‘THUD’ came the sound as we hit
that figure. The car swirled around and hit the divider and stopped. I jumped
out of the car and ran out to check what we had hit. Just as I feared, we had hit
a person, a woman. She was lying on the road, in a pool of blood, her back
facing me. I felt a throbbing pain at the back of my head and my left arm was
numb. But I managed to kneel down and just when I was about to touch her, Diya
tugged at my arm “Nisha, Come on! Let’s go from here before any one sees us.
Susan and Akki (Akriti , another friend who was with us) are hurt and we need
to get ourselves to a hospital. We don’t need a case now, Dad will kill me!Lets
go and ..’ she went on and on as she led me away from the scene. I barely heard
what she had said. I was looking at that body on the road, my heart plunging
into guilt and my ‘always right ‘ subconscious nudging me to take that woman to
the hospital. By then people had begun gathering and we got into the car and
scooted.
I woke up two days later at the hospital, feeling wobbly and
woozy. I saw my parents looking anxiously at me along with my brother, Nihal. Diya
was at the other end of my bed , her arm in a sling and a band on her head,
probably from a head wound at the accident. Suddenly my thoughts went back to
that night. ‘Diya, that girl..that girl..’ I started. Diya stopped me half way ‘Nisha,
come on , you are stressed and you need rest ,so stop speaking and go to sleep.’
I felt she was right since I had already began feeling sleepy and dozed off slowly as I heard my mom asking Diya , ‘what
girl, which girl’ ..
I woke up again, this time to see Diya only. I looked around
and saw no one else. ‘I sent them home. They were here for two straight days
and they needed to take a break. I told I will look after you.’ ‘hmm’ I murmured
and sat up. I was kind of not wanting to sit alone with Diya. I was angry with her. ‘Listen, Nisha. I have no idea about that girl and neither am I
interested. No one else knows about her except you and me. Let’s keep it mum. If
this news leaks, media will link this to Dad and I don’t want that. ’ ‘What?
You are talking about your Dad ? What about that girl? What if she is dead? Do
you realize that we would be freaking murderers??’ I was hysterical. ‘Shushh…’
Diya hissed. ‘You will let the whole world know?’ ‘That’s it’ I said. ‘Get out!’
Diya was taken aback. ‘What?’ she asked , her voice barely audible. ‘Ya you
heard me. Please go. I really need some time alone.’ Having said that I turned
and shut my eyes down. I was so mad. Mad at her. I loved her all right, because
despite all the spite , she had some humanity. And now? It’s vanished. No, I
needed some time to clear my head. I heard my room door open and shut.
I got discharged from the hospital a week after. As soon as
I reached home, I changed to some cleaner clothes and left home, amidst all the
cacophony at home for me not being well and all. I took my scooty and raced to
that exact, same spot, yes! Where I last saw her body. I stood there. It was midafternoon
and the roads were filled with trucks and cars speeding down, since it was a highway.
I looked around and I couldn’t see anybody I could recognize from that night. I
returned home.
For the next three days, I kept returning back to the same
spot. I stood at the same spot, stared and then came back. On the fourth day, I
heard someone stand by me when I was at the spot. I looked up. A very pretty
girl was standing by me, her left open, a yellow kurti and off white leggings.
She had worn long earrings and her face was so perfect as if she was fresh out of
a painting. ‘Listen’ she said. ‘What are you doing here every day? What’s so
interesting that you see here on this spot?’ I got scared. But I regained my composure
and said ‘That’s none of your business’ I said haughtily. She smiled. ‘Do you
know, there are people who are regulars here, including me, and it’s pretty
weird seeing you come here, stare at this spot and then go away. Some people
are also saying , an accident had happened at this very same spot and a girl
was almost killed. Do you have anything to do with that?’ ‘Almost? She didn't die?’
I asked, but almost too quickly. She said ‘haa.. So you do have something to do
with it. Did your car hit her? Did you see which car at least?’ and she
bombarded me with questions. I ran to my scooty , started it while she
continued stalking me with her questions while I sped away.
I reached home and went up to my room. Her questions were
pummeling my brains. I noticed I was sweating. ‘Nisha..NISHA!’ I turned to see
my mom. She was holding a plate of some toast and milk. She looked worried. ‘What
happened beta, tell me. You look flustered.’ I didn’t say anything.
For the next two days, I didn’t go to that spot thinking of
someone else coming to bother me around. I started going to office and gradually
things were getting ok for me. My day of travel was nearing. I wasn’t still
talking to Diya and neither she was interested in calling me. Twice I picked up
my phone to whatsapp Diya, but then thought otherwise.
One day, while returning from office, I came down the same
road where the accident had happened. I slowed down at the same spot and when I
looked ahead I saw that girl again. It was as if she
was expecting me. She came to me. ‘Hello. I scared you off last time. Let me not
this time. Hi, I am Medha. What’s your name?’ I hesitated. Should I leave or
stay? I switched off my engine, took a deep breath and said ‘Sorry for running
off last time. My name is Nisha.’
We hit off good and from that day we met everyday for the
next three days. Infact, I liked her.She had
a way of talking less and listening more. She was very patient unlike Diya and
I was getting comfortable with her. One day we chatted about that night. I felt
good talking to somebody about that night, to someone who would not judge me
and just simply listen, I even talked about Diya shushing me. I really didn’t know
why I was spilling all the beans to this person, one I didn’t know much, but
somehow, I craved for some peace. Someone to tell me I didn't do anything
wrong. I ranted and then kept quiet, waiting for Medha to tell something. ‘Did
you visit her at the hospital?’ she asked. I shook my head. She said ‘Let’s go
there.’ I denied. She insisted. I denied and left her.
Again the next day, she insisted. I denied again. The
following day, I relented and together we went to the hospital. We checked for the
accident victim at the reception and found she was at the ICU. We walked
towards the ICU. I could see people seated outside the ICU. ‘ There she is.
Anjali’s mom.’ Medha pointed out. I turned and asked. ‘Who is Anjali? Is that
her name? And how do you know her mother?’ Medha said ‘Her pic was all over the
paper!’ ‘Hmm, possible’ I said. I walked towards the mother and introduced
myself as Anjali’s friend. Her mother gathered herself up. I looked at her sad,
disheveled face probably from days of crying. She folder her hands to a Namaste
and fresh tears rolled out. ‘Since 15
days I am waiting for my daughter to wake up and call me.’ Apparently she was still in comma. Behind
Anjali’s mother, I saw another pretty face of a nine year old. She was Aarti,
Anjali’s little sister as introduced by her mother. I looked at the little one
and smiled. I beckoned her to come and gave her a toffee I had with me. She
gave me a small smile and took the toffee. Anjali’s father was out collecting
money for his daughter’s operation, which was now a daunting task her entire
family was facing. Anjali was unemployed and didn’t have a medical insurance. I
was so over whelmed, that I started crying and hugging Anjali’s mom. Medha was
standing there all this time, letting me do all the talking. After sometime, I
turned around to go and I found Medha missing.Shit! I didn't have her number!
I got out of the hospital, took my scooty and drove straight
home. I couldn't get Anjali’s mom’s face out of my mind. I had to do something.
After all I was responsible for this. I made up mind, to go to Diya’s house,
not to see Diya, but her father.
Natesh uncle, Diya’s father was a reputed businessman. He
was very temperamental and was known to be outspoken. Diya was outright scared
of him, what with the military regime they follow at home. I rang the doorbell.
The door was open by one of the 100 maids he had at his home. They recognized
me quickly and informed Diya, who came sprinting down the stairs. ‘Hiya bestyy…I
knew you would come looking for me..’ she said coming down. I avoided her and
continued towards her Dad’s study room. It was a Sunday, and I knew her Dad
would be at his study doing something or the other. Diya stopped me , but I just
shoved her aside and continued. Suddenly I was pulled back by my hair by Diya
and punched. I was furious and punched her back.’ You can’t go in there.’ She screamed.
‘I need to do this’ I insisted, trying to save myself from her powerful blows.
The cat fight continued until uncle himself came out and took us both into his
study room. ‘Now tell me , what’s going on with you two. You two are obviously not
getting along well.’ I looked at Diya. ‘She wouldn't budge from there until I
ask her to. You go ahead and tell me.’
I blurted out to uncle everything. He listened and remained
silent. He looked at us both. ‘Thank you Nisha, for bringing this up to me. Now
go home and don’t tell anyone else about this. I will see what can be done from
my side.’ Rest assured, I went back home, bruised, by my best friend. I smiled,
but I felt a lot lighter.
I went to the hospital the next day to see Anjali’s parents.
They looked better and happier. I learnt from them that someone had come in and
sponsored all of Anjali’s medical expenses. I was very happy. I told them about
my travel to USA and sought their blessings. I went back to the spot to find
Medha and tell her the news. But she was nowhere to be found. I went to the bus
stop to ask about her but they said they knew no one like her. I was puzzled. Maybe
she didn’t come here today.
I came back home. For the next couple of days I finished
some of the pending work at office and closed my bank accounts here. I called
up my relatives and told them of my departure. I still didn't call Diya. I
wanted her to call me. Man , she had punched me hard that day. I can’t keep bearing
her stubbornness to this extent. Why can’t she call me? I also wanted to meet
Medha to thank her for taking me to the hospital and making things easier for
me. But somehow she disappeared.
Wednesday morning, D-Day. All my stuff were packed. I loaded
my bags and trunks into my Dad’s car. Nihal was my driver today. Just as I was
about to get into the car I heard an ‘OYE!’ I looked up. Diya.
‘You would leave without calling me, you sucked up, bitch!’
she yelled. I smiled. My besty jumped towards me , hugged and cried. I knew she
was crying out all the guilt and frustration that she had all this time, except
for the fact I wasn't there to babysit her this time. I hugged her tight and
gave a peck on her wet cheek. ‘I will call you every day from the US yaar. Chill
man! Loosen up!’ and we both laughed . My mom closed the main door. I noticed
the morning paper lying outside the door. I picked them up and was just about
to put them through the window when I noticed a picture.
Of Medha’s.
I opened the paper and read what was written above her
photo.
‘ANJALI’S LIFE SAVED BY UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR. ANJALI UP AFTER THREE WEEK COMA.’
‘What??’ I shouted. ‘Diya, get into the car. Nihal, go to
Fortis now.’ ‘Why? What’s happening Nisha?’ Asked Diya and Mom.
We raced to Fortis, thanks to my brother’s reckless driving
and I ran to the ICU. Anjali’s mother was coming out of the ICU and stopped
after seeing me. ‘Beta, you were supposed to travel today na?’ she asked. ‘Aunty,
Can I see Anjali please?’ I pleaded. ‘Beta, only one visitor is allowed to visit
the patient during the visiting hours and that's done. I don’t think they would
allow anymore.’ I ran to the duty nurse standing by the ICU door side and begged her to
send me inside. She didn't allow. Hearing the commotion, the duty Doctor came
out. We tried to reason out with him. He looked at me and Diya. He took a long
pause before he said ‘Listen lady, only one of you can see her through a glass
just outside her bed. That’s all’ I accepted that and went inside.
Inside, I could hear the beeps of the machines at the bedsides
in the ICU chamber and the same, strange hospital odor. I was escorted by the Doctor
himself. We stopped by the glass near Anjali’s bedside. There she was.
Anjali..no Medha.. the same pretty face... how was this possible? How did I meet her, if she was in
here all this time? I looked at her long time. She was sleeping, peacefully.
The Dr. beckoned me to come out and just when I turned to leave, Anjali opened her
eyes. I stopped. She turned her head
towards me. We looked at each other and then….
She smiled…
- Please do not drink and drive.
