The Darkest Hour Of the Night

 It was the darkest hour of the night. Radha felt restless. She tried hard to sleep but couldn’t manage to silent her over-active mind. The morning awaited her with piled up work.

She was struggling to pacify the mental commotion, all fragmented and distracted thoughts refused to subside.

Finally, she woke up and went to the kitchen to drink water. While returning to her bedroom she heard the doorbell ring. Surprised and confused, Radha wondered who was there at such an odd hour of the night. Having heard of some recent robbery cases last night, she was little petrified too.

She summoned courage to look through the peep hole of the door. She saw a lady standing outside. The lady looked very worried.

Radha woke up her husband to find what the woman wanted.

When her husband opened the door, the lady standing was in a disturbed state. She said, “Please help, a car outside your house has met with an accident”. She pleaded to help the victims. Radha, her husband along with other neighbours went to the spot.

The car was in a bad state. There were two adults (one probably the driver and other a young man) and one child in the car. All the three passengers were injured and unconscious. They were immediately taken to the nearby hospital and admitted for the desired medical attention. During all these activities everybody forgot about the lady who informed about the accident.

After all the legality and formalities Radha and all others accompanying her returned to their respective homes. It was already morning. Radha’s husband left for office while she decided to stay back. The thoughts of the three victims bothered her. The doctors had said that all the victims required intensive care treatment.

She prayed for the recovery of the three unknown individuals.

It was a long night but now the day seemed longer. Radha waited for the evening so that she could visit the hospital with her husband to find out the condition of three.

However when she couldn’t wait any longer she called up the respective medical authority to find out the condition of the admitted patients. She heaved a sigh of relief when informed that they were recuperating.

The very piece of information of the positive recovery came as a solace to her disquiet mind.

Few days passed by but that night had a strong impact on Radha. She couldn’t forget the lady who had come to inform about the accident. She had not seen her earlier in the locality. There was something strange about the lady that Radha could not comprehend. She occupied Radha’s thoughts. Her mind often got disturbed by several unanswered questions. Who was the lady? How she came to know about the accident? Why she disappeared after informing?

Radha barely knew that her curiosity would soon find answers but only to leave her stumped.

One evening Radha’ s husband called her up to inform that the family that once met with the accident was coming to their house to thank them for their helpful gesture.

Radha got herself busy in preparations that she usually did when some unannounced guests arrived.

The guests reached home, accompanied by Radha’s husband. It was the young man with his nine or probably ten year old boy.

They greeted each other and sat down for conversation. The man introduced himself as Deepak.

“I thank you with all my heart for having helped us that night”, said Deepak.

“Your prompt action saved us”, he further added humbly.

He recounted what had happened that night. 

“We (Deepak, his son, Ashish and the driver) were returning from a marriage party. The driver finding the road empty speeded the car, he lost the control while swerving to avoid a steep cut .The car went to hit the lamp post.”

After listening to Deepak, Radha told them that she was happy that they were safe. She also told him about the lady who had informed about their accident.

While the adults were immersed in conversation, the boy looked quite, just managing to give a feigned smile when expected. His sadness and calmness bothered Radha. It seemed as if something or someone very fundamental to his very existence was absent. She tried to be friendly with him but failed to break his silence.

At that very moment Nisha came, the little girl in the neighbourhood. She often came to Radha’s house when bored of the regular activities at her home. Her entry was made just at the right time. Radha asked Nisha to go to other room and play with Aashish.

When the duo left the room Radha asked about the boy who looked so disturbingly calm.

Radha was touched to know that the boy had lost her mother two years back in an accident. Deepak said that Ashish was very close to his mother and after her death he became reclusive and withdrawn.

Radha felt very sad for the kid. Deepak looked a very sensitive man. While he talked about his wife his eyes became wet. He went on to tell about his wife and how they once had a loving family.

As Deepak spoke his words were laced with sadness.

Radha’s concern and caring attitude had melted Deepak’s heart. He wanted to pour out his emotions that had been buried for long.

He took out his wallet to show his wife’s pic that he always carried with him.

Radha was taken a back after seeing the picture. 

She couldn’t believe her eyes. “But how is this possible”, Exclaimed Radha. Her expressions surprised her husband and Deepak.

“This lady in the picture is the same woman who had come to inform about the accident”, she added. Her words left Deepak stunned.

Had Radha been the only witness, her explanation could have been doubted for a minute, after all a human mind is subjected to make errors. But this was not the case as her husband seconded her tale.

Radha gave the exact description of the lady who was never seen before and after that night.

There was absolute silence in the room for a while. Each mind was stunned by the revelation of the truth that they had just encountered.

It is not easy for the logic-driven mind to accept such experiences.

The lady who was dead for the world still had some unexplainable connections with her family. Her soul was still with her family and acted as a saviour for the same.

The meeting came to an end. Everyone left but with a heavy heart and restless mind. Each one pondered over questions that they knew would never be answered.