Why Did It Happen?

(12)

2nd September, 2030, 11:55pm, I was sitting on the couch, blankly staring at the wall. Shruti was sitting adjacent to me on a chair, reading a book. Chloe and Sophia were roommates but had decided to sleep with us that night. Dan and I had not talked since our fight.

“Scarlette, what is so interesting about that wall? Your eyes have been fixed on it for the past seven minutes”, said Chloe.

“Nothing. I was just thinking about something”, I replied.

“What?” asked Sophia. I crossed my legs and sat up erect.

“It’s Dan’s birthday tomorrow, that is, in another four minutes”, I said while looking at my watch. “And I have no idea about his whereabouts, or whether he is fine or not. I really want to call him but my ego obstructs me from doing that.”

“To hell with your ego!” bellowed Shruti. “You have always given your heart topmost priority. Why aren’t you listening to it now? Scarlette, in a relationship – be it between friends, or parents and their children – the one who gives up the fight first, is the stronger and the more courageous one. Call him up in another two minutes and wish him a happy and a blissful birthday.”

“Yeah you are right. I’ll call him up at 12.”

3rd September, 2030, 12:00 midnight, I called him up.

“Hello?” Yes! It is Dan’s voice!

“Hey Dan! Happy birthday!” I exclaimed.

“Happy birthday Daniel!” chorused Shruti, Sopia and Chloe.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” Dan sounded really glad, but his voice seemed somewhat weak, as if he wasn’t well. I got up and came towards the kitchen.

“Where ARE you? Why did you just vanish that day?” I asked.

“I had a job interview in Nuremberg two days later”, he replied in a monotonous tone.

“You could have informed SOMEONE. Everyone was worried about you. And.....” I paused, and then asked, “Are you fine? You don’t sound well..?”

“Yes, I am fine....” Just then, BOOM!!! There was a blast and the line went dead.

“Dan? Dan?? Dan???” I kept on increasing the pitch.

“DAN!!!” This time, I literally shouted. Shruti, Chloe and Sophia came running towards me.

“What happened? Is Daniel alright?” asked Chloe, concerned.

“I don’t know. I heard a blast and then the line went dead.” They gasped. My hands were shivering and I was staring at my phone.

“Call him again”, urged Sophia.

I tried calling him again. Twice. Thrice. But I could not get through the call.

“Wh-What do I do?” I asked them. My voice was trembling. I went and sat on the couch with my head resting on my palms. They came and sat beside me. I looked up to them and said, “I have never felt like this before. Never in my life have I ever been so terribly frightened and scared. It’s as if something is going far, far away, to a place from where it will be irretrievable. Why do I feel as if I have lost something?” I had started sobbing. I am not the kind of person who cries in front of people. Why am I crying now? I thought while rubbing my tears.

I called up my friend Ayaan in India. He was a computer engineer and could track any number in a jiffy.

“Hello? Ayaan? This is Scarlette.”

“Scarlette? Why did you call me up so early in the morning? Is everything fine?” asked Ayaan.

“I’m so sorry Ayaan. I need your help.” My voice was still quivering.

“I’m always there for you, but are you alright? You sound weird.”

“Yes I am fine. I’ll send you a number. I know it’s somewhere in Nuremberg, but I want to know the exact location. Will you be able to track it right now? It’s very urgent.”

“Yes yes of course. Send it to me.”

“Okay. Thank you.” I hung up the phone and sent him the number. He sent me the location within minutes.

Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof or Nuremberg Central Station. Main railway station serving the city of Nuremberg in Germany.

“Scarlette, look at this.” Chloe showed me a notification which had just popped up in her phone.

1:02am : Bomb blast in Nuremberg Central Station. Heavy casualties.

My phone fell down from my hand. Everything was bright and clear a few days ago, but at that moment, everything seemed lost in an abyss. The shock of the bomb blast had paralysed me. Shruti brought her hand to my shoulder and said, “Scarlette? Are you fine?”

“I am going to Nuremburg. I have GOT to know whether Dan is alright or not. I can’t live with this uncertainty. I am going to catch the first flight to Nuremberg.” I had stood up and was pacing back and forth when Shruti said, “You can catch the earliest flight at 1:30am and you’ll reach Nuremberg by 5:00am. Chloe, pack her back. Keep 2-3 pairs of clothes and make it quick. Sophia, write a leave application letter. We’ll give it to Mr. Brooke first thing tomorrow morning. Scarlette, drink some water. I’ll book a cab for you and your flight tickets.” All this while, I was staring at Shruti with an incredulous expression. I had never seen her ordering people around. I went and hugged her tight.

“Thank you. Thank you so much Shruti”, I said while crying on her shoulders.

“Shut up. There is nothing to be thankful for. You are my friend and I’m just doing my duty as your friend”, she replied, caressing my hair.

Within 10 minutes, I had left my hostel and was sitting in my cab. Shruti had come with me. She did not want to leave me alone. She dropped me in the airport and said while cupping my face, “Bring Daniel back home.” I nodded, hugged her, and then went in.

Will Scarlette be able to bring Daniel back home?
Is Daniel dead or alive?!
Why was he sounding weak?
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