Bound By Unknown(✔)

XXXVII. Black

"When a person leaves this world, they leave a huge load of responsibilities behind, and in them we find them alive and with us."

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As I said, happy moments are the bubbles that wrap us with happiness. I had fun with my family; I forgot the problems I am facing. However, that bubble of happiness burst with a single phone call.

Abhi and I were in the car, for the past 30 minutes he has been riding the car. We both were silent with many thoughts in our minds. He kept his gaze straight and unwavering; I kept glancing at him trying to find anything in his face. I wanted to ask him what the call was about, but was unable to utter those words.

I noticed that we moved to an abandoned road, I was seeing this road for the first time. There were no vehicles on this road, just some trees passing by. He increased the speed of the vehicle causing me to worry.

"Abhi slow down." I requested in a small voice, he increased the speed of the vehicle ignoring me. I don't understand why he was doing it, he may get us killed was the thought running in my mind.

I prayed for god that there would be no vehicle arriving in our path. But it didn't happen, a car approached opposite to us making my heart tremble in fear.

I looked in Abhi's direction hoping to catch his eye. Abhi was staring straight at the car but he was in a trance not looking at anything.

I looked at the car approaching us; the car was speeding in our way. "Abhi!" He steered the car to the side.

The force caused me to move sideways. My head collided with the glass window. I closed my eyes as I felt severe pain in my head.

"Avni are you okay?" I felt Abhi touch my hand. I jerked his hand away. I opened my eyes and observed my surroundings; the car was on the side of the road. I opened the car door and got out.

I took deep breaths trying to control my heart's erratic beats. I felt his presence behind me but I ignored him and concentrated on my surroundings. There were trees on both sides of the road, the moonlight glistening giving a beautiful look to the scenery. I would have loved to watch the scene, at a different time.

"Avni, are you fine?" He took my hand and turned me towards him. He placed his hand on my head, where I hit my head and rubbed it soothing the pain.

"Does it hurt?" The softness in his tone surprised me. He was drowning in his feelings and now he noticed me. I pushed his hand away, he sighed in reply to my action.

"Don't you dare, Abhi!" I took a deep breath and started pacing to collect my thoughts.

"Have you gone mad?" I shouted at him after a few minutes of pacing.

"We could've died from an accident. What got you so worried that you forgot that a person was seated next to you?" I stood in front of him and pointed a finger in his direction. "You know that I hate speed. Then why did you do it?"

He closed his eyes for a moment. "Avni, I am sorry for making you worry. It wasn't my intention. Please forgive me." He started messing with his hair. I took his hand in mine to calm him.

"It's ok. I just want to know what's this all about." He cast his eyes low unable to meet my eyes. I lifted his chin making him look into my eyes.

"Abhi, you can tell me anything." I urged him to tell me what was bothering him.

"Avni, uncle. Vinay uncle is no more."

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We were at our house now. After listening to the news about Abhi's uncle, I was unable to utter a single word. I met him some hours prior, and he told me things that were hard to believe and now he was dead. Abhi informed me that they found him in his car, near the city outskirts. After that, I kept quiet. We got into the car and Abhi drove the car at normal speed. Everyone was present in the living room, waiting for the police to arrive. Diya was sleeping upstairs; she doesn't know that her grandfather was no more.