'Dai Anna!!!!
Don't you have sense?
Why the hell are you doing like this???
Anyway the bus will come here by 5.30 only.
Why do you want to go to By-Pass by 3.30 itself?
That too in this MAY sun. You are frying me in this hot sun. All my fate!!!!',
My brother Ajay was scolding me, no literally he was cursing me like anything.
But, how can he know the excitement and happiness I have in waiting for the bus. He is just in his 12th grade. He will also have the same excitement after 5 years, while going for his final tour with his college class mates. Yesterday only our final year exams got over. We had planned this trip an year before itself. So, lots of dreams and excitement.
'Hey Ajay, you won't understand this. You will understand this only when you feel this. Even though the bus comes here by 5.30, it starts at 3.30 and all my class mates would have started the journey together now. Now, the whole bus will be full of song and fun.'
'Hmmm, my excitement jumps up a great height when I think about that enjoyment.'
He was staring at me like a furious tiger seeing its prey, my SHORT explanation may had tested his patience. We started to walk out of the house to start the bike for our travel to By-Pass, where I was going to go for my life time trip.
I heard my mobile playing 'Oru Maalai Ila Veyil neram' and saw the caller name in the display. The display said it was Santhosh. I and Santhosh are like two sides of a coin. We don't have anything in common except our friendship. He is my best friend and we used share everything between us. I picked the call,
'Hey Santhosh, wats up da? Where are you guys? I am really excited to meet you all. I am unable to sit in my home.'
'Hey Machi, just now the bus started and we are on the way. I hope this will be a great trip. I will call you again after crossing Tambaram. Note down the bus number. It will be easy for you to stop it.'
'Ya, just a minute Santhosh'
'Hey Ajay bring me a piece of paper.'
Ajay gave me a paper in 15 seconds. 'Santhosh, tell the number now.'
'TN15 A 3500. Note it carefully and stop the bus if the driver misses you. Anyways we will surely stop the bus machi. See you soon dude.'
With that statement he cut the call and I saw the number. The paper was an A4 type and I turned the paper and it was an extra copy my resume's front page. The resume I gave for my CAMPUS interview.
It is always a proud feeling to see your resume some months after your Placements. I too got the same feeling. I started reading the front page of my resume with full pride.
Ø Name : Sanjay
Ø Date of Birth : 28th May 1987
Ø Gender : Male
Ø Father name : Maniraja
Ø Mother tongue : Tamil
Ø Nationality : Indian
Ø Degree : B.E. Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Ø College : SRI Sivasubramania Nadesan College of Engineering
Ø Permanent address : 31, Anna Street, Balaji Nagar, Chengalpattu – 603002
While reading the resume, that moment came to my mind. That moment is always a great one to cherish. It was the selected candidates list announcing time. After a looooong day they finally came to the end of the first campus day of our college's campus drive. Our college placement officer started to announce the results of selected candidates for 'Cognizant'. The crowd was very much excited and tensed like the people waiting before theatre counter from morning 6 AM for first day SUPER STAR film. The names were being called and no one was from EEE yet. All faces were much tensed and I started to walk back with lost hope. At that very moment, I heard Placement officer calling 'Sanjay Maniraja from EEE'. My name was the first to be called from my department. Still I think that moment as a dream. Santhosh is the one who pulled me from behind and pushed me to walk to the group of placed candidates. Before I reach the group Santhosh's name was also called and we were out of the world for some time.
'Sanjay, have this money. Take care of health. Don't eat junk foods.' My mom's words brought me back to earth from that dream. (A typical Mother.)
That is really true, Mother is the only person who cares about you more than anything in this world.
'Sanjay, be safe. Don't try any adventures. Friends will say you as a hero. Do not get over enthusiastic and get in to trouble.' My dad advised with a little strictness in his speech. (A typical father.)
'I am not kid anymore, dad. I am 22 and I can take care of me.' (A typical youth dialogue.)
'But you are always a kid for us Sanjay. I and dad will always say good for you. Always remember that we both are living for you and Ajay only. So, go safe and come safe Sanjay.' My mom told and I can see some tears on her eyes while completing the sentence.
After this 'TELE – SERIAL' events, me and Ajay took bike and started to the By-Pass. Chenagalpattu By-Pass, this is not like other By-Pass roads. You can see a lot of vehicles on this road day and night. In morning, you can see many amateur SHUMACHERs' practicing their driving schools cars and as the day passes you can see a lot of lorries with sand from the 'PALAR' river.
While going in bike or any vehicle I only drive the vehicle. According to me there is no thrill in sitting behind and watch others ride. I won't ride very fast but I love and enjoy my own driving. I was recalling all my memories from college days and cherishing within my mind without knowing the upcoming danger. We reached the By-Pass.
'Ajay, it is really hot na.' I told and looked at my brother. He was hotter than the 38 ⁰C sun. It was 5.15 PM and I guessed they could have crossed Tambaram.
I thought Santhosh should call now and saw my mobile. The screen displayed Santhosh's name as he called at that very moment. I was very happy and attended the call and said 'Santhosh'. But the opposite end was very silent. I couldn't even hear the vehicles passing by and the sound from the bus. I again said 'Santhosh'. Now, I could hear a husky voice from the other end. I was calling his name repeatedly, but no response. I cut the call and thought that there must be some network problem and called Santhosh's mobile. Now it said "Switched off".
'Hey, it is really a bad network yar.' I told myself and tried some of my class mates. Rajeev, Akshay, Gopi, Venkat, Devi and Aishwarya. All mobiles said "SWITCHED OFF".
I am not sure what had happened. I started worrying about them. But, the later part of my cerebrum told me that 'No problem dude, they are safe and they will be trying to play with you'.
I turned towards Ajay and told him the matter. It was 5.35 PM and at that time Ajay pointed to a distant object. I turned back to see the object.
It was "TN15 A 3500" and they finally came. I really got excited and waved my hands towards the bus. The bus stopped 15 meters in front of the place I was standing.
I took my luggage and told 'TATA Ajay, tell parents that I got bus safely. I will get some goods for you from there.'
After telling this I started running towards the bus. It was a KPN deluxe bus. It was a type of bus everyone could have seen while travelling to some distant places. A typical deluxe type.
I thought my friends will jump out of it and will make a great noise by shouting around me. But, it was the opposite. There was a pin drop silence in and around the bus. The whirling wind was making sound in my years. I stopped some distance before the bus and walked slowly. I saw the bus door was open. I could hardly see any faces through the windows. I neared the bus. The driver was not there. Something in me was telling that everything is wrong here.
I entered into the bus. I moved the curtain that was closing the entrance into the seating area of the bus. There,
I SAW THE MOST UNEXPECTED SCENE OF MY LIFE.
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