The Worst Mistake

Mr.Doshi was a wealthy man who had just returned from Singapore and was heading towards home. His taxi driver, an extremely obedient yet injudicious man, had just taken another wrong turn. Mr. Doshi hardly seemed to notice as he stared at the full moon. He kept thinking about his family. He was unsure why, because he wasn't much of a family man and would only care about his work. He hadn't heard from his family in weeks, not that he had ever expected them to call.

He too never bothered to text at least a message because why? He could never see a clear reason to.

He suddenly started thinking about his only son, Aryan. Aryan must have been twenty by now. Strange... Mr Doshi had last met his son two years ago. A very strong and sudden longing to see his family rose in Mr Doshi's heart. Aryan must have grown a lot. Both emotionally and physically. With this final thought, Mr Doshi fell asleep.

Two hours later, Mr Doshi woke with a start. He glanced at his watch. Eleven pm. He asked his driver-

"Where are we?"

"Almost there sir", came a quick reply "About 10 mo....."

The car screeched to a halt. Mr Doshi looked out the left window instinctively.

There lay a man lying on his front in the middle of the road. A mobile in his right hand and a small gift box in the left. His legs were bloody and looked.....crumpled up. The man was twitching creepily. Mr Doshi wasn't sure what to think of it. The man's face wasn't visible. Mr Doshi was still staring when the driver's voice made him jump in his seat.

"Shouldn't we help him, sir?"

Mr Doshi's heart turned to lead. He wasn't sure what to do. He didn't want to make another journey to the hospital with a half alive stranger. A sense of irritation and selfishness rose inside of him...

"Just call the ambulance and get out of here."

"Sir, shouldn't we..."

"Just DO IT!"

The driver did as he was told. After telling the location, Vartak Nagar, they drove away.

About twenty minutes later, they stopped at the gates of the building. Mr Doshi got out of the car, paid the driver, and, with his suitcase, got into the elevator.

His wife greeted him in tears with a hug. Then she looked behind him....

Mr Doshi raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"Where's Aryan?"

"Aryan! Why should he be with me?"

"But he was standing in front of the Raunak building in Vartak Nagar."

"Wait..."

Mr Doshi experienced a flashback the first time in his life. The twitching man...........Vartak Nagar......

The telephone ring got him out of his trance.

His forehead beaded with sweat, he picked it up.

"Excuse me, this is Bethany Hospital. Is your name by any chance, Mr Doshi."

"Yes."

"Sir. Your son was recently found dead by our ambulance in Vartak Nagar. Had he been sent to the hospital quickly by someone, he might have survived. We are sorry for your loss...."

Mr Doshi dropped the receiver from his hand, sat down on a chair and started crying.