The midnight stranger – II

Part 2

There was something absolutely strange about his smile. Strange. The word somehow felt appropriate as he had an extremely mysterious type of air around him.
“Do you believe in afterlife?” He questioned. What an absurd question to ask someone you met just 20 mins ago! “Umm… I’m not sure I believe in an afterlife. But I must admit the question is something to reflect on. What do you feel?”
“Well, I guess one believes in things only after one has experienced them personally.” That was all he said.
He was making me curious but I didn't pry. We were almost now at the gas station. He got down of the car. “Thank you for the ride. I’m sure I can get a mechanic to fix my car.”
I said goodbye and left for the farmhouse.

Just then I saw a familiar car coming from the opposite direction. I immediately recognised the car as Bhakti’s. Bhakti was our friends and host of tonight’s party. I was surprised to see Mukti sitting beside her in her car. The cars stopped and we all got down. 

“Anaya thank god I found you! I had been so worried. Why didn’t you pick up my calls? Are you okay?” She looked stressed. Had she been crying?
“I’m fine. What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Oh it’s a relief you are fine and alive. Where were you?” She was making me anxious.
“Mukti, please stop hyperventilating. Listen to me and just calm down.”
She took deep breaths. Five seconds passed.
“Now tell me what is wrong?”
She started to cry. “There… there has been a… an accident in our area.” She replied between sobs.
WHAT!?
“Where and when did it happen?” I wished she would disclose the suspense at once.
“It happened about an hour ago near the gas station.” I couldn’t believe what I heard. “Are you sure it happened in this area?”
“Yes, one of our friends saw the police come and inquired. They said there had been a death in the accident. I became so tensed. I thought it was you… Then they confirmed it to be a dead guy. I’m so glad you are alright.” She hugged me tight and began crying again.
 A dead guy? An accident just an hour ago?
My head was spinning with confusion. I sat in the car, ignoring Mukti’s shouts from behind. I drove back to the gas station, hoping to find the stranger I had met some time ago. The gas station was deserted. Not a soul in sight. I turned back to the place where I had found the stranded car, where I had found him.

I was utterly astonished to find the place surrounded by a couple of police cars. Then I saw the car, his car. I ran to one of the policemen.
“Excuse me officer, could you please tell me what exactly happened here?” I asked, my heart pounding fast.
“Unfortunately, this car got crashed into the tree and took the life of a young man. I would blame the bad lighting on the road for this mishap.”
I saw the car’s bonnet was completely ruined and obviously no one could have survived such a deadly hit.
I was devastated. I sat there with my head in my hands. 

Then it dawned on me. All this time he wasn’t really there. He wasn’t alive. He was a spirit, a soul who just happened to meet me just before his final depart. 

The End