I am sitting on the floor, my back resting against the sofa, files scattered all around me. I have been going through them for the last time… because I have to submit them in office tomorrow. I take the last sip of my now-cold coffee and finally close the files with a long, heavy sigh.
I yawn, stretch my arms, and lean my head back for a moment.
Suddenly the doorbell rings. I frown and look at the clock.
“Iss time kaun hai bhai…” I say irritably. I am literally about to take rest for some hours but there is always someone who can't digest it.
The doorbell rings again. This time continuously, almost banging on my nerves.
“Aa rahi hoon bhyii! Ruko!” I shout while getting up immediately.
I walk to the door, unlock it, and open it. But the moment I see who is outside… my brain pauses.
My society aunty, who lives right in front of my flat, stands there. Her breathing is uneven, her hair messy, and her dupatta twisted in her hand as if she has run all the way.
“Heer… Heer beta… chalo jaldi!” She grabs my hand and tries pulling me out.
I stop her immediately, confused.
“Kya hua aunty ji? Kya baat hai? Kuch hua hai kya?”
She looks straight at me… her eyes filled with pure fear.
“Woh… woh… Gungun ke school mein aag lag gayi hai.”
“Kya…” I can’t even speak properly. “Kya?” I ask again maybe I mishear.
She glances at the stairs and then at me again.
“Heer… Gungun ke school mein aag lag gayi hai. chalo.... Jaldi!” she almost shouts.
Something inside me snaps. My ears start ringing. I don’t ask anything else. I just run as fast as I can…
I fly down the stairs, aunty running behind me. Tears already start forming, and I wipe them quickly with my dupatta.
I start my scooty with shaking hands.
“Aunty jaldi baithiye,” I say, my breath uneven.
She sits immediately. I don’t wait a second. I race it at full speed.
Sweat trickles down from my hairline. My hands are shivering so badly it makes the whole handle shake. The fear of losing my daughter is eating me alive.
“Please Bhagwan ji… meri bachi ko kuch mat hone dena… please…” I keep whispering as I break every traffic rule possible.
After a few minutes, I see dark, heavy smoke rising in the sky. My heart almost stops on seeing how badly the smoke covers the sky.
Aunty places a hand on my shoulder.
“Beta… yahin rok do. Aage bahut bheed hai.”
I nod, swallowing hard, and park the scooty near a tree.
We both rush toward the school building. The smell of smoke, the sound of people crying, screaming, running in panic… it all hits me at once.
I freeze when I see the fire is on the same floor where Gungun’s classroom is.
I don’t wait for aunty. I start running straight toward the school gate. My legs are moving on their own. My chest feels tight. I just want to see my Gungun. I just want to see my daughter.
I see Gungun’s class teacher. Her face is covered with sweat and tears, her eyes red from crying.
I rush towards her and grab her arm, my voice breaking.
“… gungun? .....Kahan hai?”
She can’t even speak. Tears roll out of her eyes as she shakes her head.
My whole body feels like it is hit by a shock. My heart drops into my stomach.
“K-kya…?” I ask again, hoping I hear wrong.
She whispers, “Wo… woh andar hi hai… ma’am…”
I step back. My breath sticks. I feel like everything inside me dies for a moment.
Before I can think anything, I throw my dupatta aside and run toward the entrance. And just as I am about to enter the building, some man and woman grab me tightly.
“Mam! Aap andar nahi jaa sakti!” a woman says, holding my arms.
“Meri bachi hai andar!” I scream, jerking forward. “CHHODO MUJHE!”
“Mam, andar log hain. Woh bacha lenge,” a man says, blocking the doorway.
“please jaane do mujhe please!” I plead. But it seems like they still do not allow me. I breathe in and say loudly, so loud that it hurts my throat—
“JAANE DO MUJHE!”
But instead of letting me go they drag me backwards. Anger explodes inside me like the fire burning upstairs.
“Meri bachi ko kuch ho gaya toh main chhodungi nahi tum logon ko!” I warn them, my teeth gritted.
“Mam, kuch nahi hoga. Woh bacha lenge,” the man repeats.
I ignore him and fight harder.
“Mujhe chhodo! Mujhe meri bachi ke paas jaana hai!” I scream again, voice shaking with rage and fear.
My whole body is trembling. Images of Gungun alone inside start flashing in my head.
“GUNGUN!” I scream hoping she hears me and comes outside. “Beta! Bahar aa jao! Mumma yahan hai! Beta please!”
I look around wildly. All parents have their children with them. Only I am without mine.
Suddenly, a few men come out of the building, coughing.
One of them shouts loudly,
“Sare bache bacha liye gaye hain! Ab koi nahi hai andar!”
My heart stops as his words process in my mind. I turn towards the man who is holding me.
I grab him by the collar.
“Meri bachi kahan hai?! KYA KAHAA THA AAPNE? ‘Bacha lenge’?! Boliye!”
I push him away and run toward the building again.
The man and woman call after me, but nothing matters anymore.
Before I can reach the gate, a strong arm grabs me from behind, around my waist and pulls me backwards with force.
“Chhodiye mujhe!” I scream, kicking.
I turn and see a man looking at me with sharp, intense eyes. His grip is strong.
“Chaliye aap yaha se,” he says firmly.
“Pagal ho gaye ho?!” I cry. “Meri bachi andar tadap rahi hogi aur aap keh rhe hai CHALIYE!”
He looks around once, then at me. Then suddenly he releases me and pushes me toward a woman.
I see him run straight inside the burning building.
Many men in black clothes rush behind him.
The woman who catches me looks around and then at me.
“Beta… chalo yahan se. Woh bacha lega aapki bachi ko.”
I shake my head helplessly. “Main… main yahan se nahi jaungi jab tak meri Gungun…”
She cups my cheeks gently.
“Beta, samajhti hoon. lekin yeh jagah theek nhi hai aapke liye .... Aapko saans lene mein dikkat hogi agar zyada der yahi rahi aap toh”
I don’t have the strength to argue anymore. My legs feel like jelly.
But my eyes are stuck on the school gate. On the smoke. On the place where that man disappears.
Fire brigade sirens grow louder. People are running everywhere. Chaos just like my mind.
The woman squeezes my hand softly.
“Himmat rakho, bachaa.”
I nod fakely. The truth is I am breaking from the inside. It feels like my life, my meaning, my dreams, my very breath have turned useless. It feels like someone takes my life. Like everything is ending in front of me and I am helpless. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what will happen.
I feel someone places a hand around my waist. I look up and see the lady is helping to stable myself. She holds my other hand. Slowly, she starts walking, guiding me with her.
I move forward with an expressionless face… and a meaningless life. I keep looking back at the gate again and again. No one is coming. Memories of my Gungun flash in front of me… how she appreciates me today for completing my project. How she begs to go to the PlayStation, and I say no.
Why do I say no? Why?
I swear I’ll take her there or anywhere she wants. Just let her come back safe. Please, God… I’ll do whatever that makes my daughter happy.
Suddenly I hear a voice near my ear.
“Beta…”
I snap out of my thoughts.
The woman is still holding me. She gestures ahead. I look and see a chair.
I nod faintly.
She helps me sit, and I collapse into it. I close my eyes and take a heavy breath. I open my eyes slowly.
But my eyes blur as tears pool again. When I see no one is coming out of the building.
I glance sideways. The lady is talking to someone on the phone.
I can’t hold myself anymore. I immediately wrap my arms around her waist, still sitting. A warm hand rests on my head, stroking gently.
I look up. Her eyes are wet, but she smiles and whispers,
“Sab theek hoga…”
She continues talking on the phone.
I close my eyes and start repeating every God’s name I can remember. My tears flow like a river, some falling on my kurti, some soaking into hers.
She keeps patting my head. Her hand moves down to rub my back, trying to calm me.
Then I hear the same voice again.
“Woh dekho beta, aa gaye woh.”
I look up immediately and see
A man in a white kurta-pajama is walking out of the smoke holding my daughter in his arms.
A smile bursts onto my face. I look at the lady. She smiles back and gently tucks my wet messy hair behind my ear.
I stand up instantly and begin walking toward him.
But suddenly everything turns blurry.
Why can’t I see anything?
My legs go numb.
Where am I walking?
Why is everything turning black?
Where am I…?
Someone… please…
Save me.
___________________________
Hii Aishians
This was the first part of the story.
Your support motivates me to write more.
Part 2 is coming very soon!
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