A Single Breath … Part 1

Geet was getting ready for college. She was already late. She looked at the time. ” O God not again” she took her bag and rushed downstairs. 

“Uncle I am going” 

She went to his room. No one was there. It was empty. 

“Uncle where are you? He must be in his study” she thought and ran to his study room. 

“Uncle”

 He was talking on the phone and cut it off when he heard Geet. 

“I was looking for you in the whole house and you are here. I am leaving for college. You have breakfast on time.  And yes, don’t forget to take your medicines. You always forget it uncle” 

“How much do you take care of me Geet. My real daughter could not even care as much as you do” 

“You too take care of me so much uncle. After Mom Dad left, you took care of me. You didn’t even get married to raise me” she became emotional. “Ok, uncle I am already late for college. I am going. And don’t forget to take medicines ok!” She left saying so. 

From the big glass window, he kept looking for a long time until her car disappeared from the sight. A smile spread over his lips. He returned back to his desk and re-dialled the number he was talking with a few minutes before. 

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Geet’s car was stuck in traffic.  She was already late. “It would have been better, I would have gone to college on foot. I am definitely going to miss my first lecture” She was bubbling in tension. 

“Bhaiya, how long will it take for traffic to open?” She asked the driver.

” Madam traffic is very long.  Seems won’t open soon”

Geet became more anxious. She decided to go on foot. 

“But Madam, college is far from here.  How will you go on foot” 

” Don’t worry.  I will go ahead and take the auto. You go back” She got out of the car and started walking. The traffic was very long.  Due to the crowd, Geet was also having trouble walking. “Today is a really bad day” she was in a foul mood now. 

Somehow she reached forward after crossing the traffic.  She found an auto. As soon as she moved her hand to stop the auto, suddenly a van stopped in front of her and pulled Geet inside with a jolt. 

Everything happened in such a hurry that no one came to know around it. Nor did Geet understand anything. And before she could understand anything, she fainted with the smell of a napkin over her nose.