That Night Of My Life

I can’t forget that night in my entire life, that was the long weekend, I planned to go to my native and chill with family, as usual, I took out my car and started at 10’clock night from Bangalore. It’s around 8 hours drive, I took all precautions such as full flask of tea to keep me awake at night. I played my favorite music and started my drive. It’s around 11.30 I took a short break had some sandwiches, tea and started driving again. It’s around 1 pm I was at the entrance of the Ghat section, stopped and took 2nd break. 

In the Ghat section, I was driving slowly, I was enjoying the calm, silent forest weather along with my favorite music, I was enjoying my drive in that Ghat section. Someone started honking from backside car, I slowed down and gave him way, suddenly another car came from another side, this guy lost his control and both the cars collide badly, even touched my car lightly, both cars were damaged badly, it was the 1st time I experienced such a bad accident so closely. Shockingly went and checked both the car drivers, one opposite side guy had few minor injuries, other guy is bleeding badly, after seeing the blood my mind was completely blank, gave some water and somehow took them out of the driver seat, figuring out how to react I called 108 and waited till it arrived. By that time one guy asked me to inform his friend about the accident, I called and informed, luckily he didn't lose consciousness due to bleeding. We exchanged our numbers, Ramesh asked me to take out 1 small bag from the dashboard and keep it safely and hand it over to his family or friends in the hospital.

I was thinking to go to the hospital and wait till someone from their family reaches the hospital. Ambulance came and took them to hospital, both the cars were not in working condition, I checked my car, it had few dents I tried starting gave some trouble to start at the beginning and after trying many times it started. Ufff, bit relaxed, but I can hear some sort of sound from my car, it was just 70 km away from my native, I thought it’s better to reach home, check my car condition and visit the hospital later. I drove towards my native. Around at 4.30 am, my car stopped, only good thing was I almost reached and it was nearby some village. Somehow I found one elderly person, explained him the situation and told him I will come with mechanic later in the day, by then please keep an eye on the car. That person agreed and guided me towards bus stop.

After waiting for an hour or so I got a bus towards my native. The same accident scenes were running in my mind. After a 15-20 min, I saw few cars coming from another side at very high speed one after other, initially I ignored but after seeing more than 10 cars back to back, got little scared. Still, 1 hour of journey left in the bus, slowly I went into sleep, after some time I heard some shouting, got scarred and got up, a gang of 10 people got into the bus, they were looking like rowdies, 1st of all, there were only few people in the bus, it was scary to travel in that bus as I was only lady in that bus. At the same time my mom called as it was late compared to regular travel time my mom called to check where did I reach. I don’t want to explain complete story at that time, just told car gave some trouble on the way so coming in a bus, almost reached just half an hour way, good part is she didn't enquire much and told that my uncle has gone to pick his friend that way, check with him and come along with him. I was literally scarred to travel in that bus anymore, I just got down at the next stop and called my uncle and left with him home. On the way, I explained the whole story to my uncle. 

After reaching home got fresh up, explained the complete story to my parents, after listening completely my mom took promise no more night drive, post seeing that accident so closely even I reached at same point. My dad told take some nap now and go to the hospital in the evening as visiting hours of that hospital is from 4-6. I also thought that is a better idea and quickly check their condition by calling them. Ramesh friend picked up the call, I asked about their condition, he mentioned both of them are out of danger so I told that I will visit in the evening.

I tried sleeping for a long time, the same scene was running in mind again and again, don’t I even know when slept. My mom came and woke me up for breakfast. Post breakfast I and my brother went to get my car. Finally everything sorted out by lunchtime, took a nice nap post-lunch and headed towards the hospital. 

In hospital I searched for these people, Ganesh was shifted to the ward and looks quite ok and Ramesh is still in ICU under observation. Met a few friends and relatives of both them, explained the complete story. One of Ramesh’s friend was very curious about the details, he started asking what and all were there in the car and all kinds of stuff, suddenly I remembered about the bag which he gave me to hand over to his family which I left in my home only. Just before I mentioned that Police arrived for the inquiry, asked me about the complete scene, I narrated the complete story and mentioned the bag and informed while coming tomorrow will hand it over. After all the enquiry got over me and my brother left for the home.

I planned this trip to chill out in home but everything got screwed, this night disturbed me a lot. Accident, Hospital, Police etc were all strange experiences for me. It took 2-3 days to sleep without nightmare. After 3 days of holiday post all hospital police enquiry completed and I returned back to Bangalore. This time definitely day journey.

Even in Bangalore while driving to office the same accident scenes used to run in my mind quite often. After a few days of the incident I got a call from Ramesh who was in ICU, he was shifted to the ward, had some fractures in the leg and getting recovered. He enquired about the bag, did I opened it, there is some important stuff missing in it. I told him that I didn’t even open it and just handed over to the police as is. He thanked me for the help and disconnected the call. Post that I kept getting some random calls from unknown numbers asking about the bag. I even reported it to the police.

Almost a month later, a police inspector called me and asked me to come and meet. I visited that weekend. Inspector explained to me my escape story, which shook me completely. 

Inspector told me that Ramesh was working for one smuggling gang and the bag he asked me to keep had smuggled diamonds in it. Just before the accident, Ramesh gets a call saying opposite gang is chasing him for the diamond, so he was driving in such a speed to escape. Post accident they get to know that bag is given to some lady so they were searching for the car driven by a lady. Immediately I thanked god for breaking down my car. For a while I revisited that night, I was able to connect the dots now, that gang of people on the bus, so many random calls enquiring for bag. Suddenly realized how I got escaped much time. My heart stopped for a while when I thought about the bus scene, my mom call, and my instinct decision not to explain the complete story and getting down immediately, forgetting the bag in home while visiting the hospital which helped police in turn. I thanked God for all and left the station. Inspector mentioned that they have arrested the complete gang and no further problems expected from them. 

After reaching home I explained everything to my parents, my mom asked me to go visit temple and thank God for safeguarding. I will never forget that night in my entire life.