GHOSTS

GHOSTS

Screech..
A sharp swerve, instinctive survival reflexes kicked in and the car
was braked sharply at the roadside.

A sharp sensation rose from the back of my head and slowly died out.
I waved an assuring hand at the couple of cars who had stopped by to
check on me.

Rickshaws stopping or swerving mid way without signalling are a common
thing in my city. No wonder the people who'd noticed the fiasco were
concerned about me!

I let my head clear, the pain stopped. I composed myself. I was
driving to a friend's place for her birthday, I should try not to look
ravaged.

I reached her place and called her to join me in the car, another
friend was to join. Waiting for the birthday girl I got out of the car
to stretch my shaking legs.

My heart was pumping fast, adrenaline flowing through my veins had me
all high strung. Thank God for the quick reflexes. I didn't think I
had any! For a second i felt like Van Diesel! Only for a second, the
next second I drew my mobile out of my pocket and messaged 'her'
friend.
When your love is taken from you, you try hard to get it back.
I intended to try understanding her or atleast die trying. Yes, I'd
seen the rickshaw stop a lil before me but i was busy thinking,
understanding her. Usually I would have slowed down, but my mind
wasn't concentrating on the road.

I messaged 'her' friend to do me a favour and look after 'her'.

I got back in the car, started some light music, nerves needed quick
calming. I didn't want to ruin my friend birthday by being all high
strung.

My friend's arrived, we went for a drive, I was unusually quite. These
are my close friends, the birthday girl 'C' asked me. I joked about
it. We went for pastries. 'C' sent another friend to get the pastries
in the car, it was raining outside.

'C' was direct, she asked about 'her'. I told 'C' about 'her' and the
dream she had. 'C' said, another person in my place would've been
enraged, she was glad i wasn't. You should give her time, we girls
think a lot and complicate things beyond reason sometime.
I smiled and then we had pastries and I drove 'C' to the church and my
other friend to her home.
I was as careful as I could be on my way back.

While checking my head wound, i contemplated. We all have ghosts,
skeletons in the closet. What matters is how much we let them haunt
us.
I too have mine and nice stories they'd make but I've slammed my
closet shut and if ever it creaks open and i see the dementors make a
beeline for me, i call upon my patronus of all things good.
And so far the patronus has prevailed.