𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆

PART-2

The stranger, a young woman who looked to have just stepped out of her teens, was standing on the riverbank. Her figure looked like a shadow under the dim evening sky, hair was fighting for its existence on the back against the wind blowing in the surroundings. She wore a simple worn-out dress that clung to her slender frame, hinting at the days of wear without care, eyes appeared red and hollow, telling stories of deep pain and despair, while cheeks were stained with dried tears and lips were pressed into a thin line.

She looked down at the black swirling water below and her body trembled with fear. Involuntarily, she clenched her fists, the pressure turning her knuckles white. The distant noise of the city faded into the background leaving only the roar of the river in her ears.

She was about to lean forward when a sudden scream cut through the air, pulling her back from the edge. “Hey! Stop!” She turned around in a swift—a slight glint of fear, confusion and hope etched on her face.

The first girl heaved a sigh of relief, her hands gesturing for the stranger to stop and back off the edge. She was still cautious, her mind whispering warnings about strangers and supernatural encounters. But she could not just stand by and watch someone taking their life.

With quiet chants of “Bajrangbali ki jai”, she composed herself and approached the stranger. Joining her both hands against her chest in defensive manner, she spoke in a firm but gentle voice, “Say 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 there was something in the girl's determined face that compelled the stranger to open her mouth. She hesitated for a moment, but then spoke in a flat voice—devoid of any emotion. "If you want, I can recite the entire Hanuman Chalisa for you. I am a human being, not a ghost. But I think even ghosts must be living their lives more happily than I do."

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

The stranger frustration boiled over, and her eyes brows furrowed in irritation. "If you do not stop your nonsense, I will drag you into this river with me, then you can learn all about ghosts firsthand!"

The girl's eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Listen, stranger! I'm not here to annoy you. I just wanted to know why you were taking such huge step? What's so bad that you would rather end your life?"

The stranger laughed bitterly, and she spat in venomous voice, "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 features relaxed in understanding, her voice took a softer tone hoping to calm the stranger down. "Listen, I may not be the Prime Minister, but I am also a person. Share your worries with me, and I promise, I won't make fun of you. Haven't you heard that sorrows are reduced by sharing and happiness are increased by sharing?"

The stranger's lips pressed into a thin line, and her gaze darted towards the ground. Then, in a barely audible tone she spoke, her voice crackled with emotions, "I failed...my 5th attempt at medical entrance exam. 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 approached her closely, 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."