BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The series of blasts caused all of us to fall back in our seats. A piece of shrapnel flew from somewhere and dug itself in my left hand , causing me to cry out with pain. The song stopped mid-way and everyone started running for their lives. Seemed like the funeral had ended early.
His body was still to be buried. The crooked smile on his face remained, his eyes closed like he had no worries in the world. He looked like a toddler in a deep slumber. But his cold limbs and pale face gave him away..just by a bit.
The blasts resumed, and everywhere people were running for their lives. The deafening sound of the blast took away my ability to think. My bodyguards, Wayne and Doug, started making way between the crowds, pulling me to safety.
I could sense the fear and urgency in every ones breaths as we headed to safety. I could just hear them thinking 'What will happen to my family if I don't make out of this alive?". They had people who cared for them, who looked out for them , people who loved them. What will happen to the kid when he returns from school to find his parents dead instead of the smiling face of his mother?
But I needn't worry about all that , I had no one to go back to. No one would care if I didn't turn up home tonight....or ever , for that matter. The only person who i mattered to and who mattered to me was lying on the shore, for all the world to assume that he was sleeping. "But you can't fool me', i thought bitterly and before i could stop myself, tears started spilling from my eyes.
The bombings had now stopped. These outbursts were common at Muslim funerals, or any Muslim gatherings for that matter, after the twin towers blast. People had stopped attending parties hosted by Muslims. It wasn't surprising though, the huge number of people that attended today..zahaan's charm made people unable to resist him, even after he was long gone.
As I was being ushered to my car I realised I hadn't said my last goodbye to him. But I couldn't bear to go back and see him in such a helpless state, it was more than what I could tolerate.
But I had to see him...for one last time....it was now or never.
Just as Doug was about to start the car , I opened the door and ran , as fast as my fragile legs and my hand , which hurt like hell ,
could take me.
I could hear them after me , asking me to stop , but they knew it was in vain.
THUD.
I felt something pierce through my chest..and a pain unlike any other seared through my body. I wanted to shout but no voice came out. I was engulfed into darkness and felt a strong hand picking me up after what seemed like an eternity. And then I blacked out.
