A detour

 

 

 

"Parul!"

 

"PARUL FAST!!"

 

"FOR GOD'S SAKE PARUL, RUN FASTER!!!"  

It takes everything in Aditi and Armita to not jump out of the moving bus, lift me to my knees and cart me back to the bus. They have to understand it's also taking everything in me to not faint right on the spot. 

I'm panting so hard my lungs hurt. My whole body is aching with pain I never knew I had it in me to bear. Regardless, I find myself running at my best speed towards a bus. 

And surprise! I make it to the bus. 

 

 The moment I get in, Armita and Aditi pull me into a tight hug like they almost thought they'd lost me forever. I would be lying if I said I didn't think the same too. 

I inhale a deep breath and close my eyes chanting 'it's over, it's fine now, I'm fine and so are my friends. God, thank you' on loop. 

No amount of I'm fines could ever make me believe that though.

'Cause I'm SO not fine.

 

About an hour ago me, Aditi and Armita were on our bus ride towards an amusement park. We were ever happy talking and joking about the most random things. It was a perfect friends reunion. Until suddenly, the bus halted with a strong jerk. I stood up to check out what it was, only to see the driver's seat had caught fire which was escalating to the rest of the bus real quick. 

The rest of the passengers would've been quicker with their instincts as before I knew it, people were outside the bus and into the other rescue bus already. I, however, was still struggling. And having lost my specs in the flames wasn't helping in the slightest. 

Once I somehow reached the door, I fell in the least graceful way to the ground. To my horror, there was an ocean of people ahead of me.  One thing I knew without doubt though, more people equals more delay to reach the rescue bus. Not sure what it says about me that I was more horrified by the crowd than a deadly fire.

 

I noticed these people ahead of me were mostly from the media. Cameramen were shooting the half burnt bus behind me. Journalists were going on about how expensive and luxurious the vehicle was. 

 

No one was talking to the passengers or asking them how they were. 

Materialistic world, grow up.  

I bring myself back to the present. Reciting my I'm fine spell again. Aditi is crying next to me, so silently I would've missed it had I not known her better. Armita is looking outside the window with a pale face expressing extreme grief. And I'm sitting here like a statue. 

"I lost my dad's keychain in the fire" I say, and instantly regret it. I do care about that keychain more than anything but this isn't the time to express sadness for that. 

They both just look at each other and regard my words with silence. 

Deafening silence. 

 

"well..." I start, wondering what exactly I could add that fixes my last sentence. 

Then it hits me all at once. I look behind my seat and in front of it. 

 

"Everyone is here, guys! Every single one is here on the recuse bus! At least nobody lost their life"

Aditi sobs loudly and I wonder what part of my speech was hurtful, just when Armita says "you still haven't gotten a hint have you" 

I look inside the bus again but nothing clicks. 

Then I look outside. 

It's flying. 

The bus is FLYING towards the SKY!

And behind us on the land is the burning bus, which now I realize has more than just my dad's keychain...