The Best Friend

I slowly parted my eyelids but very quickly shut them back up again. Sunlight streamed into my room through the window over my head. I groaned stretching my limbs and rubbing my tired eyes with my hands. I tried opening my eyes again and managed a squint. It was probably around ten in the morning because my room was bathed in sunlight. I was terribly hung-over but I forced myself to get up, ambled over to the dresser and peered into the mirror. My face was covered in sheen of sweat and my hair stuck out at odd angles. I was wearing a crumpled stripped shirt and black pants from last night and… last night… something was off about last night… but what? I couldn’t remember. My mind began to gather up some images but I hastily shoved them aside. I didn’t want to remember. ‘But why?’ I wondered. Well, I guess, remembering made my head hurt more.

“Krishna di, can you please get me a Disprin?” I called out and went over to the bathroom to freshen up. By the time I came out, Krishna di was waiting for me. At five feet, dressed in a simple saree, the dark complexioned Krishna di was our trusted housekeeper. As long as she was around, I didn’t even feel the need to ask for anything. She knew me so well that all my needs and wants were taken care of, even before I realized. Beyond the simplicity of her being lurked an alert and sharp mind and a caring heart which I knew to be fiercely faithful towards me.

I took the pill and sat down on the edge of my bed, my fingers lightly massaging my forehead.

“Avik dada?”

“Hmm” I said, without looking up.

“Are you alright?” Krishna di asked somewhat timidly. I had never known her to be timid but my throbbing brain passed over this small detail.

“Of course I am, it’s just a headache.”

“No, I mean… Last night…”

My head shot up. A swift feeling akin to that of an electric current went through my spine. There were butterflies in my stomach.

“What about last night?” I asked. Krishna di shifted on her feet.

“You came home late and made quite a scene. You demanded your car be washed right then”, she said, studying me closely.

“I did?” I gulped in spite of myself and then let out a small laugh.

“Oh! Don’t worry; I just had a little too much to drink last night…”

Krishna di looked unconvinced but nodded anyway.

“You bumped your car somewhere.”

I felt beads of sweat making their appearance on my forehead. I casually wiped my hand over it.

“Yes… umm… while parking it.” Krishna di nodded and with a small “hmm” left the room.

She had been working at our house for 10 yrs and had been almost like my local guardian since my parents moved to Hyderabad on business 3 yrs ago. It was a good thing that she didn’t ask anything else. What would I tell her? I drank so much that last night was as good as a blank slate in my mind? Huh! Like she’d believe me.

“Dada-” The sudden noise made me jump, but it was just Krishna di again, standing in the doorway. This time, she looked serious.

‘Does she know?’ I wondered, ‘Maybe I should just ask her… she would never lie to me…’

“What happened?” I asked.

“Rakhi madam called. Said your phone was switched off.” I breathed a sigh of relief.

“She said Rahul dada met with an accident yesterday.”

“What! When?” I stood up. “How is he?” My mind whirled with questions and concern.

“He’s okay now…” Krishna di replied, comforting me. “He’s at Ruby General. Rakhi madam said it will take time but he will be alright.” I nodded and grabbed my phone, gesturing Krishna di to leave.

Rahul was my best friend. My oldest and closet friend; my brother almost. The fact that his life had been in danger and I hadn’t been there to help him made me feel sick. I had never even considered that we would ever be apart. The thought that he was lying in some hospital bed, hurt, scared me to the core. Rakhi di, Rahul’s elder sister had turned to me for help but I had been unavailable. I mentally kicked myself.

Rakhi di picked up on the 3^rd ring. Her voice was a cross between anger and immense relief. “Where the hell were you????” she thundered, “do you know what happened?... Rahul was so serious! I didn’t know what to do! I kept calling you but…”

“Whoa- slow down. I’m very very sorry di. How is he?”

“He’s still unconscious but doctors say he is responding to treatment.” Her voice choked slightly.

“Good. I’ll come over right now. But how did this happen?”

“I don’t know much” she sighed. “The police said that the CCTV cameras couldn’t get a clear image. Apparently, he was crossing the road in front of Desun when an… umm… Alto it seems, hit him.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Wh… when did this happen?”

“Yesterday, around 11 pm”

I broke into cold sweat.  How could it be? Did I really …? NO!

No no no…! It could all just be a coincidence. “Did the police find the car?”

“No”, I could hear anger in her voice, “They are not even sure of the color! Imagine! They said it was either black or deep blue.”

“Hmm okay.” I disconnected the call. Her words echoed in my ears. 

“They don’t know whether it was blue or black.”

“Blue”, I thought, the sick feeling back in my stomach. The car was blue, license plate 7827. The driver was drunk out of his mind.

I felt my stomach churn and rushed to the bathroom. When I came out, I was exhausted. My head felt like it would burst. I could actually feel my chest constricting, a pain originating deep within myself.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Krishna di enter with a cup of coffee. Disregarding her presence, I went over to my bed and collapsed, weeping. She set the cup down on the dresser and hurried over to me. “Sh… whatever happened… it’ll be alright…” she whispered, rubbing comforting circles on my back.

“You don’t know what I did! I hit R…”

“No. You didn’t do anything. You got drunk and stayed at home last night.”

I fell silent at her words. I looked up at her. She was looking at me intently and meaningfully, like she didn’t want to spell out the suggestion. As if the whole suggestion scared even her, but she didn’t have a choice. I thought for a moment.

“But my car is banged up.” She cleared her throat.

“I will wash it myself… and you will tell everyone that you bumped it while parking.”

Not knowing what else to say, I nodded. Krishna di patted my head.

“Good. Now go wash your face and get dressed. You should go to the hospital. Rahul dada needs his best friend.”

road accidents, Friendship, Drunk driving