Smita was nervous but she didn’t want to show, this side of hers to Amit. On top of it, she knew Amit was right with his words. She has to show courage and drive all the way from Detroit to Lansing. Though she had got her license a year back, she had hardly scaled miles. Her driving was restricted only to a radius of ten miles, which included picking grocery from local store or dropping Rohan in his swim classes. But today the thought of driving hundred miles was making her tensed to the core. Amit and Rohan had busy schedules and hence Smita needed to travel alone to her friend, Rashmi’s place.
“I hate this! Now I have to drive hundred miles just to pick up Pappad and Aachaar. Why does Mummy ji need to do this? Now everything is available here, but who will explain her?” Smita kept on blabbering this time and again.
“What happened Smita? Are you scared of driving alone?” quipped Amit.
“Nope dear! I can manage” Smita was stern.
“But again, Rashmi has said to come in the evening. I won’t drive back today, rather will start tomorrow morning” Smita added while taking her purse out from the closet.
“Sounds good!” said Amit, while giving finishing touches to Rohan’s project.
These words were enough to raise Smita’s spirit and there she was, behind the wheels looking forward to a trip that she was herself scared of. One look at GPS and google map was enough to bring back the smile on her face.
“I have GPS with me…………………. All is well!” she murmured.
With her favorite play station’s music playing in the background, and with minimal traffic around, Smita had started feeling better. After driving on Interstate highway for thirty miles, Smita was instructed by GPS to take Exit 2A in the right. Smita adhered to the instructions and within minutes found herself in a secluded village road.
“Why did GPS show this way? Aren’t there any other routes that pass-through highways?” Wondered Smita.
To be doubly sure Smita checked in the google Map, but to no avail. It too displayed the same “25 miles in scary road.”
A chill ran down Smita’s spine as soon as she saw the name “Scary road”. Her heart started to beat fast and to calm herself she drank water from her bottle. It seemed to be an unfrequented road with hardly any traffic. On either side of the road there was farm land and few barns in dilapidated condition. Smita looked at the side mirror, but couldn’t spot any vehicle close to hers.
“Am I the only one in this deserted road?” her fear was growing with each passing second.
With trembling hands and weak legs, she kept on driving such that she could swiftly pass through this road, which was at its scariest best the very day. All of a sudden, a biker came In-front of Smita’s car, forcing her to apply sudden brakes. Smita started sweating profusely and closed her eyes just to gather herself. As soon as she opened her eyes, she got the shock of her life. A man wearing a black hoodie was standing next to the window near the Driver’s seat. The hoodie was worn in such a way that, barring his dark brown eyes, no part of his face was visible. Smita started having cold feet. She didn’t have the courage to have one more look at the window. Panic and fear had gripped her from head to toe. She had read about many untoward incidents on Detroit roads, hardly realizing that one like this was awaiting her.
Further to make matters worse, the Man started to bang continuously on the side window. He was showing his anguish and his big eyes bore testimony to the same.
“What if he shows a gun?” Smita was panic stuck.
She remembered Amit’s words………………. “Don’t ever open car windows to strangers.”
“Let him bang! I won’t be pulling down the window glasses” Smita said as her throat choked.
“Omm…. Ganeshaya Namah!” uttered Smita with closed eyes and started the car. The car ran over the bike, but Smita hardly cared. She zoomed past at the highest speed. Her face was as white as a paper, her hands were shivering and her jawline was hurting. Despite that she was happy…………………happy to have escaped from the clutches of this unknown Man whose intention was ambiguous.
Her quest forced her to have one more glance at the Man, and what she saw blew her mind,…………………………….Neither the Man nor his crumpled bike were present anywhere on the road. The dark Scary road stood still like a mute spectator, awaiting one more victim like Smita to fall prey to its terror act.
