A Night Time Expedition

A Night Time Expedition

I am an Indian first, then a Muslim and then a Shia( which is a section of Muslim community).

It was 11 o'clock at night when my mother and I left the mosque. We were somehow the last few people left to leave.

Seeing two cab outside the mosque ready to leave, forced my mother to walk faster. I knew what she wanted to do hence I ran to the cab. Looking at the first one full, I rushed to the second one. Finding the second cab also full, I sadly turned towards my mother and told her, "mom no space.".

She still kept speed walking towards me, or should I say towards the cab. She was breathing hard when she reached the second cab. She started to talk with the driver, or should I say argue? I was a little irritated by her, and hence turned the other direction.

I watched the first cab leave, I watched it till it disappeared into the darkness of the night. It was a no moon night cause I seriously couldn't see a moon. Or is the clouds hiding it? Damn I don't have a clue! Well it can be the clouds cause I can hardly see stars. Is it suppose to rain? I remember my sister telling me, 'If you don't see stars and the night sky is reddish, you should expect rain.'. Well the sky is completely dark.

I felt a tap on my shoulder taking me out of my trance. I turned towards my mother and saw her smiling, as if she achieved something great. "What mom?" I asked, confused. "Get in fast! It's already too late." she said and that's when I realised that the people in the cab have shifted and made a little space. Without hesitating I went through the open door and sat, trying to make some place so that my mom can also fit, but stopped when I saw my mom closing the door.

"Mom, why are you closing the door without getting in yourself! Weren't you the one who told me just seconds ago that 'it's already late'?, how will you come home?" I asked a little panicked and worried about my mothers well being. "Don't worry about me, I will find a way! The cab driver is not allowing more than one person, and you know it has to be you. You leave, I'll come soon." She smiled sweetly.

I felt very uncomfortable with going in a cab with strangers and also leaving my mother at this lonely area alone.

We argued a little but then like always my mom won. She just in the end uses her scary and commanding mothers tone.

The cab driver started the four-wheeler, I was glued to the left window at the back, very uncomfortable to the erie silence that's taken over. No one was speaking until it was really have to.

It wasn't until we were ascending the bridge that I caught a distant glimpse of human presence. It was a figure, definitely of a female. I was surprised but also excited. When the cab was nearing the female walking at the sidewalk. She  turned as she heard the sound of a car behind her. I saw her reflection when thelight from the head lights of the car hit her face and I immediately recognized her. She was one of my closest and crazy friend of mine. She lived close by my house and since there was still a little (very little) space near me, I decided, we could fit.

I heard her scream first to stop the taxi and then I tapped the driver, "Stop the taxi. I know her! She is my friend! We'll easily fit here. Please stop and help her." The driver and people surrounding me, completely ignored me. As the cab wheeled pass her my frustration increased and started throwing tantrums.

Don't these people have little mercy, first they let my mother stay alone in a very lonely area, refusing to help and now a friend of mine, who was too skinny and could easily fit hear. My anger and tantrums somehow worked and the cab stopped. I screamed from the window of the car.