The crash resonated in the air as if it happened a million times over and over again. Anamika couldn’t believe what had just happened. Varun was equally perplexed. Anamika’s fear of being wrongly touched by him was replaced with number of bruises. Her knees hurt with the sudden impact. She felt numb in her head. Her heart slowed it’s pace, than racing or throbbing. She was shocked beyond her imagination.

Being so engrossed in her state of mind, she couldn’t even think and inch beyond her. But the horrified look on Varun’s face scared her even more. The dashing man was visibly dumbfounded. They both sat there motionlessly for what seemed like eternity. It all felt so unreal. The moments of fun a minute ago were replaced by an occurrence that could change the course of their unbuilt relation. How could they get into such a situation. One thing was sure, they both were alive. Very much alive.

Amidst the tiny rejoicing of survival, Anamika’s thoughts crossed beyond their car. She had not paid any heed to the fellow accident-mate! She hated to look beyond their bonnet. Her mind had calculated the impact that might be made on the other car. It was quite obvious what their very high speeded car might have done to the other car. She felt pangs in her head. It hurt far beyond the hit.

A familiar voice hit her ears, “GET OUT OF THE CAR!!!”

“Huh?”

“GET THE HELL OUT OF THE CAR! GO!! START WALKING!”

With a dumb pause in her reflexes the voice repeated again, loud and clear this time, “GO AWAY! GO HOME! START WALKING!!”

It was Varun, shouting at Anamika. He surely must be kidding. Like a lighting bolt, Anamika jumped out of the car. Without looking around, she peeked into her watch. It ticked 11:19PM.

“WHAT THE HELL!”, she thought in her mind. All of this happened since a single minute? An upside down life. What she saw next horrified her even more.

A white car. Bonnet crushed beyond the recognition of the brand of the car. The myriad of glass pieces lay sparkling on the road, shining in the gleam on yellow street light. Looking around the impact of the accident, Anamika saw a number of people walking towards the accident spot. The empty roads were suddenly chaotic place with almost thrice a dozen of people.

Anamika stood there totally dazed looking at the crowd, where she was the only girl. She avoided looking at Varun, but hoped he would do something to rescue her. He was nowhere to be seen. She rubbed her eyes. She couldn’t believe her eyes. She felt like shouting his name, but only a sigh seemed to leave her mouth. 

With not much of movement, she glanced back in her watch, it showed 11:20PM. She felt like throwing the watch away. It was slowing down and stretching long each moment like a chewing gum. She hoped to have left the hotel five minutes prior, and to have peacefully be sleeping in her bed. Suddenly the fear of Varun’s touch seemed warmer than a threat. She wanted him to hold her close, and comfort her. But it seemed there was something far more dreadful stuff that had happened beyond her knowledge.

She glanced back at the white car without glass windows. She noticed something new this time. The driver’s door had an equal impact as the bonnet. The driver was not to be seen. She was nervous and jittery. Her heart was thumping faster as though it was trying to breakthrough her ribs. Adrenaline gushed out from her throat. Her blood went cold.

Had they killed someone?

[…to be continued]