was 11:58 PM…
Riya missed her last bus home.
The road was empty.
No autos. No people. Just silence.
Then suddenly…
an old bus stopped in front of her.
The door opened slowly…
creeeeak…
Driver ne seedha uski taraf dekha—
"Last ride… chalo?"
Riya hesitant thi…
par aur option bhi nahi tha.
Woh bus me chadh gayi.
Andar sirf 3 log baithe the…
Sab chup… bilkul chup.
Ek uncle… jo seedha aage dekh rahe the.
Ek ladki… jiska face baal se cover tha.
Aur ek aadmi… jo dheere-dheere muskura raha tha.
Riya ko ajeeb feel hua…
Usne ticket lene ke liye driver ke paas jaana chaha…
Driver bola—
"Ticket ki zarurat nahi… sabka destination same hai."
Riya ka dil tez dhadakne laga…
Bus chalte-chalte ek jungle ke raste par aa gayi…
Riya ne turant poocha—
"Ye route galat hai!"
Driver ne dheere se mirror me dekha…
aur bola—
"Galat tum aayi ho…"
Achanak…
Riya ne notice kiya—
Woh uncle… ab uski taraf dekh rahe the.
Unki aankhen… bilkul safed.
Woh ladki… jiska face baal se cover tha…
ab dheere-dheere apna face utha rahi thi…
Aur woh aadmi…
ab zor se has raha tha.
Riya chillayi—
"Bus roko!!"
Driver ruk gaya…
Par jab Riya neeche utri…
Usne dekha—
Woh road nahi tha…
Woh ek shamshaan (cremation ground) tha.
Riya ka dimag ghoom gaya…
Usne peeche mudkar bus ko dekha—
Bus gayab.
Bilkul gayab.
Next morning…
News aayi—
"Kal raat 11:55 par ek ladki ka accident hua…
aur uski maut ho gayi…"
Log keh rahe the—
Usse last baar ek purani bus me chadte hue dekha gaya tha…