A Week with My Dog Alex

The Incident

Ashok's eyes opened to the faint glow of dawn streaming through the window. He had tossed and turned all night, plagued by fatigue and the weight of his responsibilities. As the first light of daybreak illuminated his modest bedroom, he couldn't shake the weariness that clung to him like a persistent shadow.

The night before had been gruelling. Ashok, a diligent cab driver navigating the bustling streets of Gurgaon, had just finished another exhausting shift. His days were a relentless cycle of driving for multiple companies and shuttling passengers across different routes. But this night, in particular, had been more demanding than usual.

The reason behind his added exhaustion was the upcoming marriage of his niece, a girl he cherished like his own daughter. The responsibilities of arranging and managing the festivities weighed heavily on him. Ashok had spent the last week juggling his demanding work schedule with the intricate details of the wedding preparations.

With a sigh, Ashok got out of bed, his body aching from the physical strain and lack of sleep. His mind replayed the events of the previous night — the extra hours added to his shift, the journey to the railway station to pick up relatives from distant Haryana villages. It had been a relentless marathon, leaving him with only a few hours of restless sleep each night.

Dragging himself out of his fatigue-induced stupor, Ashok decided to take his German Shepherd, Alex, for a walk. The loyal dog, with its sleek and well-maintained coat, was a source of solace for Ashok. Together, they embarked on a morning stroll, the fresh air doing little to dispel the weariness that clung to Ashok's bones.

As they walked, Ashok's mind drifted to the previous night's drive. The Bollywood tunes playing in his cab had failed to uplift his spirits. The monotony of the familiar MG Road had lulled him into a drowsy state. The exhaustion took its toll, causing his eyelids to droop and his reflexes to slow.

It was during this haze of weariness that Ashok experienced a jolt — a sudden, unexpected speed bump that sent a shiver through his spine. His eyes snapped open, and he heard a faint squeal, like a distant cry. Panic surged, but he hesitated to look in the rearview mirror or bring the cab to a stop.

The reality of the situation hit him when he reached home. Blood smeared the front bumper of his cab, a grim reminder of the mysterious incident on MG Road. In a moment of instinctive action, Ashok grabbed a wet cloth and scrubbed away the evidence. The impact had left a slight dent, a subtle misalignment, but Ashok was determined to erase any visible traces of the night's events.

As he stared at his cab in the daylight, the absence of any visible signs of an accident perplexed him. Had it been a figment of his exhausted imagination, or had something truly ominous occurred on MG Road? The questions lingered, casting shadows on the edges of his consciousness.

The following morning, as the sun began to rise, Ashok took a moment to assess the situation in the harsh light of day. The car displayed no major signs of a collision. Doubt gnawed at him, but he pushed it aside, telling himself it was just a weary mind playing tricks.

With a heavy heart, Ashok returned home, determined to resume his routine. The day unfolded, and he found himself preparing for his first pickup and drop — Captain Verma, a pilot from a renowned airline company. The mundane activities of daily life masked the mystery that lingered from the night before, a puzzle waiting to be unraveled.

Little did Ashok know that the shadows cast on MG Road would follow him, weaving their tendrils into the fabric of his ordinary existence, setting the stage for an unforeseen journey into the unknown.

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The next morning, as Ashok maneuvered through the chaotic streets of Gurgaon on his way to pick up Captain Verma, a cloud of worry clung to him like a persistent shadow. The events of the previous night replayed in his mind like a broken record, each thought gnawing at his conscience. Why had he closed his eyes? What if someone had witnessed the peculiar incident on MG Road?

As he pulled up to Captain Verma's house, his mind was a whirlwind of unanswered questions. The captain hopped into the cab, exchanging pleasantries with Ashok. However, as soon as the seasoned pilot settled into the passenger seat, his keen eyes noticed the slight misalignment of the cab's bumper.

Curiosity gleamed in Captain Verma's eyes as he pointed to the bumper and asked, "What happened here, Ashok? Looks like your bumper took a hit."

Caught off guard, Ashok quickly conjured a lie, claiming that an unruly auto had collided with him. The captain chuckled, expressing his disdain for the reckless driving habits of auto rickshaw drivers, and soon shifted his attention to his phone. Ashok breathed a sigh of relief; his feeble attempt at deception had passed without further scrutiny.

As they approached the same intersection where the mysterious incident occurred, the traffic signal glowed red. On the opposite side, Ashok spotted a flurry of activity — policemen securing the area, scrutinizing the surroundings for clues. Anxiety crept over him like a shadow, and the captain, noticing Ashok's unease, nonchalantly remarked, "Looks like there's been an accident."

With a subtle nod, Ashok acknowledged the captain's observation, desperate to avoid any discussion on the matter. Captain Verma, sensing something amiss, continued scrolling through his phone, leaving Ashok to grapple with the weight of his secret.

After dropping the captain at the airport, Ashok wasted no time. The burden of guilt and fear weighed heavily on him, making it nearly impossible to focus on his work. The constant dread of potential consequences gnawed at his conscience. He decided that he couldn't continue in this manner, living in perpetual fear of being caught or interrogated.

On his way to the next corporate pick-up, Ashok made a bold decision. He reached out to his daily route vendors and requested an additional week's leave, extending beyond the upcoming week dedicated to his niece's wedding. Given Ashok's reputation for honesty and reliability, the vendor didn't hesitate, granting his request without probing further.

With the leaves approved, Ashok completed the remaining pick-ups and drops diligently, ensuring he fulfilled his commitments to the vendor. Every interaction was marked by an undercurrent of anxiety, but he persevered until the last drop-off. Rushing home, he took Alex, his loyal German Shepherd, for a brisk night walk, contemplating his next move.

As he entered his house, Ashok found the courage to broach the subject with Geeta. Surprised by his sudden decision, she recognized the exhaustion etched on his face and the strain in his voice. With a mixture of concern and understanding, she agreed to his plan, only asking him to return before his niece's wedding ceremony.

With thirty thousand rupees in cash, a bag of clothes, and Alex by his side, Ashok embarked on an impromptu journey to Rishikesh. The city's spiritual tranquility beckoned to him, offering refuge from the turmoil that had taken residence in his mind. The hum of the engine drowned out the cacophony of doubts that had plagued him on his way back to home from Gurgaon.

The road to Rishikesh stretched before him like a promise of solace, a chance to escape the shadows that clung to him in the bustling city. As he left his humble abode in South Delhi  behind, Ashok couldn't help but wonder if the serene landscapes of Rishikesh held the key to unraveling the mystery that had unfolded on that fateful night on MG Road.

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