THE ROLLERCOASTER RIDE

PART-2

    The stranger, a young woman who seemed to step up from her teenage era, was standing at the edge of the river, her figure shillouted against the dusky evening sky.

     Her hair, a cascade of dark waves, tumbled down her back, tangled slightly by the breeze. She wore a simple worn-out dress that clung to her slender frame, hinting at the days of wear without care.

    Her eyes were red-rimmed and hollow, reflecting deep anguish and hopelessness. Her cheeks were stained with dried tears, and lips were pressed into a thin line.

    As she gazed down at the dark swirling water below, her hands trembled slightly,  fists clenched, and knuckles turned white from the pressure. The distant noise of the town faded into the background, leaving only the roars of the river in her ears.

     Just as she began to learn forward, a sudden shout pierced through her despair, pulling her back from the brink. " HEY! STOP!" She turned startled, her expression, a mixture of fear, confusion, and a faint flicker of hope.

    The girl sighed in relief, her hands gesturing the stranger to stop, to come back from the edge. She was still wary, her mind wishpering warnings about strangers and paranormal encounters. But she couldn't just stand by and watch someone taking their own life.

    With a quiet chants of "Bajrangbali ki jai," she steeled herself and approached the stranger. As she drew close, her voice firm but gentle, "Say it with me- Jai Bajrangbali."

    The stranger's gaze was incredulous, her eyes flashing with a mix of confusion and desperation. She seemed to be thinking, "Seriously? I'm about to die, and she is asking me to confirm if I'm a human or a ghost?"

    But something in the girl's determined expression stayed her, and she hesitated, her lips parting slightly. The stranger voice was flat, devoid of any emotions. "If you want, I can recite the entire Hanuman Chalisa for you. I'm a human, not any ghost. But I guess even ghosts live their life more happily than I do."

    The girl's curiosity got the better of her, and she opened her mouth. "Do ghosts really have life after they are dead?"

     The stranger frustration boiled over, her eyes flashing with irritation. "If you don't stop your nonsense, I'll drag you into this river with me, then you can learn all about ghosts firsthand!"

    The girl's eyes narrowed, her expression firm. "Listen, stranger! I'm not here to annoy you. I just wanted to know why you want to die? What's so bad that you'd rather end your life?"

    The stranger laughed bitterly, her voice laced with venom. "Why should I tell you? Who are you to solve my problems? The prime minister himself couldn't fix this mess. This country is a nightmare, I don't want to live anymore."

    The girl's voice was soft, gentle, as she tried to calm the stranger down. "Listen, I may not be the prime minister, but I'm a human who cares. Share your worries with me, and I promise, I won't judge you. Haven't you heard that 'Sorrow decreases by sharing and happiness increases by sharing'?"

    The stranger remained silent, her gaze fixed on the ground. Then, in a barely audible whisper, she spoke, her voice cracking with emotions. "I failed...my 5th attempt at medical entrance exam...today. I'm useless. I should die. I don't deserve to live."

    The girl's heart went out to the stranger, her eyes filled with compassion. She got closer to her, her hand reaching out in order to offer comfort. "You are not useless ." Her voice was firm but gentle. "Failing an exam doesn't define your worth. You are so much more than this moment."

    The stranger looked at her with fierce eyes and said bitterly, "Easy for you to say! You don't know what it's like to fail over and over again! To feel like you're not good enough, like a disappointment to everyone who believes in you."

     Her voice cracked as she continued."One exam may not define my worth, but it feels like it's all that matters. It feels like I'm nothing without it."

    The girl tried to calm her down. "That's not true. You are so much more than this exam. You are—"

    The stranger cut her off, and desperation creeped into her voice. "No!" The stranger looked onto the  girl's eyes and screamed furiously at her. "You don't understand! I've given up on everything for this, my happiness, my relationship, my health... and still, it's not enough. I... I just feel... so... lost."

    The girl's expression turned empathetic. "I do understand, I've been there too. I've felt like I'm not good enough, like I'm a failure. But that's not true. We are more than failure, we are more than this one exam."

    The stranger laughed bitterly at her. "Yeah, right. It's easy for you to say. You are probably one of those smart people who always get it right."

    The girl was taken aback at her harshness, but she composed herself. "No, I'm not. I've failed this exam four times. But, I've learned something new each time. And, I've got stronger. You can, too."

    The stranger eyes flickered, a glimmer of surprise in their depth. "Four times?" She repeated, her voice more like a whisper.

    The girl nodded, her lips pressed  forming a thin line in understanding. "Yeah, I know it's not easy. But I want you to know you are not alone."

    The stranger's gaze dropped, her shoulder slumping in defeat. She whispered, ans a fresh drop of tear made its way to her cheeks. "I feel so useless. I've let everyone down. I don't want to live."

    The girl's expressions softened, she put a hand on her shoulder, and her voice was a soothing balm to her frayed nerves. "I know it's hard to accept, but, sometimes, life has other plans. It's not just you and me, everybody face disappointments, rejections, and failures. But, they learned that there is more to life than just one dream."

    The stranger's gaze remained fixed on the ground, her voice cracked with emotions as she spoke in a whisper. "You don't understand. This was my only dream, I've sacrificed everything for it."

    The girl's hand wrapped around her shoulder. Her grip was a warm embrace to her otherwise form. "I do understand. But I also know that the universe has a way of surprising us. New opportunities will come, and new dreams will emerge. You just have to be open to them."

    The stranger's eyes filled with desperation. "But what's the point. I've failed, I'm a failure."

    The girl tightened her grip and smiled gently. "You are not a failure. You are just... redirected. Life is full of detours, but that doesn't mean you should give up on this precious gift called life. You have to keep moving forward, even when it's hard."

A/N: How's it?

1. What do you think the stranger reaction would be?
2. Will she get the girl's words or continue with her own grief?

      If you like it, do comment and vote!