The Unexpected Blast

It was the quiet ending part of the day. In the peaceful and leafy green suburb of Bandra, time marched on. Few people strolled unhurriedly after their dinner ,absorbing the star lit sky, wrapped in the fragrance of the Queen of the night. Others were settling in for the night. In the Bandra Gymkhana, friends gathered— sharing stories and laughter over a late dinner and drinks, their spirits intertwined in the warmth of companionship. 

Suddenly a loud BOOM! , reverberated through the air, followed by three more terrifying blasts. The workers and guests left everything and ran to investigate;  to support the  people from the rustic cottage  across.

Flames shot up like a monster’s mouth, hungry and wild. The room at the far left end was on fire. Curtains, furniture, everything started to burn. Without wasting time, they grabbed fire extinguishers and ran. The fire hissed and roared. It was hot. Smoke filled the air. The workers didn’t stop. Relentlessly they with other friends, ran to the rescue of the family. 

One by one, they aimed their fire extinguishers. White clouds filled the burning room. The fire slowly began to die. After ten minutes of fear and smoke, the flames were gone. No one was hurt. The cottage was saved. If the workers had come just a minute late, the whole place could have turned to ash.

An  electric bike was kept charging.. The bike was old. Its wires were loose. The man  didn’t notice the warning signs — a faint smell of burning, a soft buzzing sound. Gas cylinders for electrical repairs were lying around. 

The  room stands charred as a testament to fire’s destructive power, a space now consumed by darkness and the lingering scent of smoke, a dirty stench, and blackened wall.

It is heartening that in times of hardship, the human family rises, a fabric of empathy, woven with threads of shared strength and unwavering support, a testament to our interconnectedness. 

Even now, some nights, the man who owned the bike stands in the dark, staring at the burnt wall — wondering if it was just an accident… or something more.