Who Was She?

It was a bit late according to the clock but not for me. Returning late from work to home is something really common and so was that day...

My boss was nagging at me as to work hard, nothing new to me. I resumed to my desk filled with rage and looked at the watch, it said a quarter to twelve. I arranged my files and went to parking. As it was bit late so I could make out the deficiency of cars. Started the car and went out of the parking lot.

When I looked outside, suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind. It was tremendous both the sound and the wind. No one wants to get out of their homes in this not so pretty weather. I took a deep breath and resumed to the road. I felt alienated as mine was the only car on the long road. Not a single human thing was present. The wind was so harsh that I could feel the resistance inside the car. It was an ignition of fear inside me.

After driving 2-3km red light came, which was normal as it was the regular route. I imagined 24hrs back there were people rushing down and look at now!. I took the water bottle which was kept at the desktop and as I turned my eye away, there was a bang on my window. A small girl was standing and yelling something. She wasn't the beggar for sure as I was seeing her for the first time. She was extremely weird. Can't really describe her. She was wearing some undefined clothes, her hair covered the entire face, foot and hand were opposite with respect to each other. She was then crossing the road and stopped in the middle of it. Turned to me, stayed for a while and went. Due to the wind, I could barely see anything and raced a bit. With a blink of eye, that girl was standing next to the driver's gate.

I hurriedly started the car and escaped from that place. Breathing heavily, sweat drops on the forehead, it was difficult to catch my breath and wanted the touch of natural air regardless of the condition outside. In order to do so, I opened the window. Somehow backed my self and focused on the road. It was difficult to forget whatever I saw and happened to me.

Somehow I managed to get home. It was 1:00 am, without giving much of the thought to the incident, I slept. Next morning I woke up startled. The big question was what about today? Should I go? Even if I don't, for how long will I be able to escape. Bitter truth! So I decided let's face it and if there is something to dig, won't take a step back. Afterall "Every road has its destination".

I packed my stuff and went for work. That red light arrived which encountered me last night in not so usual form. I stopped over there and my eyes were constantly looking for someone, you all know. I was shocked from top to bottom and how on earth can she be real? How can she be alive? I saw that same girl who appeared last night. She was poorly dressed and anyone could make out that she is a tramp. She was banging everyone's door for asking money. I was stunned seeing all this. It was like an illusion for me. 'Someone who does not belong to this world is actually present in front of my eyes'. She did the same with me as well and said:

'Sahab kuch paise de do,bhagvan apka bhala kre'.

I asked: beta ap pehle to kabhi dikhe nhi?

She said: haan, ham log aj hi aye hein sahab!

I verified: beta apko pakka yad h ki ap log aj hi aye ho? Kl.. I stopped as I don't want her to put in any psychological trouble.

She replied: haan haan sahb!

The light turns green, she went and so do I with an infinite number of unanswered questions.

The whole day long I tried to figure out as what's exactly happening. Due to workload, I stayed up for long and checked my watch, it said a quarter to twelve. I drove my car out and reached to that area again where I first met with that ghostly alive girl.

As I reached to that red light, what I saw was something out of this world. I saw that girl again but this time she was not looking the same as to what I saw her this morning. Her hair covered the entire face, undefined clothes, hands, and feet were opposite with respect to each other. Just the same when I saw her first time.

She was crossing the road and immediately I got off my car in order to catch her, basically to verify as to who she is! I moved a bit, yes I was scared with all those events happening around and what I saw in front of me. Just then

She yelled: "Please save me"

I paced up my speed and as I was about to reach, a car came with lightning speed and hit that poor girl.

I shouted: Stoop!!!

I was stunned, the whole body went numb. Somehow I managed myself. I chased that car for some distance but it got escaped. My six sense worked at that point of time and I remembered the number mentioned on the number plate. It was DL 5AB 1363.

When I lost that car, I came back to take that girl to the hospital. As I came back, she wasn't there. There was no human thing as if nothing happened. I looked around even yelled but it all went in vain.

I scratched my head and sat in the middle of the road. I shouted: god! Please help me. What am I suppose to do? What is happening with me? Who is she? Why is she doing such things with me? I was in tears as I was clueless.

I starred at the lights and all the incidents were going in my head. Suddenly I thought of the clock. Yes!

The clock. Whenever I left my office it said a quarter to 12. Same goes with today both now and afternoon as well.

She yelled, "please save me". She basically tried to communicate with me and wants my help?

What help? To avoid that accident. Oh! God. I was almost there and the riddle got solved!

I reached home around 2:00 am with all the clues and hints. I sat down and tried to solve the rest half of the puzzle. I was constantly looking at the wall, assuming that it might help me. I was feeling tired and drowsy but at that same time don't want to sleep. That thing won't let me!

Don't know how, but my soul persuaded that it was the last chance to do. "There will be no tomorrow after this."

Her voice was constantly going in my head. Please save me! It is clear that she wants my help but how? That accident which happened but... Wait

Quarter to 12 was always the time. Why did I get to know about the number mentioned on the car? Because that's the actual car. Yes! The girl was crossing the road and that car hit her which is exactly going to happen tomorrow morning at 11:45. Why only in the morning? Because if it was supposed to happen at night this illusion won't take place. The puzzle got solved! I have to save her from the accident which is going to happen tomorrow morning at 11:45. It gave me goosebumps as the question was will I be able to save that girl? But once I only said 'Every road has it's destination'.

Next morning I reached there at 10:30 and was keeping an eye to that girl who was banging everyone doors asking for money. She was clueless as to what was going to happen with her. I couldn't pre-inform her as she won't believe me and I might lose her. The clock was ticking fast and with it, my heartbeat as well.

So it was 11:30 now. I reached to the girl and plan was to ingaze her so that all the possible situations get eliminated. I asked: beta! Apka nam kya h?

She said: Sahab ap? She recognized me and was a bit happy.

I said: hanji! Mein, kyoun kya hua? Mein nhi a skta kya?

She busted with laughter and seeing this my eyes got filled.

She replied: nhi nhi yese bat nhi. Vo ap poch rahe the n kl,to muje laga ap chale gaye hoge to is vajh se. Mera nam..

'Beta! Yahn aoo 'A voice came from the other side of the road. Probably her father but that wasn't the concern. I checked my watch and it said all. I looked around and the other half of the story was completed by the car whose number plate was DL 5AB 1363. I held the girl's hand and tried to stop her by saying:

Beta! Mere hath mein pata nhi bhuut tez dard ho raha h. Ap pakd lo mere hath ko taki dard dhere dhere kam ho jaye. She held my hand and stayed with me. That car collided with another car. It produced massive noise and shock due to which that girl fell on me. Luckily there were no casualties in that accident. I left from that place when I saw her father rushing towards the other end as he thought that her daughter! He reached and hugged her daughter.

That girl tried to find me by looking around but I don't want to tell her nor can I hide from her. So I left!