I was on my way back getting to be conscious. But I couldn't breathe properly nor see anything clearly, thanks to the smoke that had conquered this place completely. Where am I? I wanted to yell but Plasters on my mouth made sure that I struggled more to breathe than to yell. Someone had made sure that I had no chance to survive this as they have tied my hands and legs tightly. Who would that person be ? Questions have started raining in, but pushing them all aside my survival instinct began to analyse the surrounding for help. Smoke was gushing in through the only window in that Room which was on the opposite side of the exit. I slowly wriggled myself close to the wall next to the door and somehow managed to stand up without much noise. Before opening the door, I was trying to think through many things out of which why I had been tied here? was getting some partial answer.
Diya, My Crush turned Lover's face came into my mind. The last thing I remember was dancing with her in the pub little before the new year count down began. She was my class mate from school days. I dint have good rapport with her then. She was a personification of rule book then. Ideal in every way possible, but I never felt I had a crush on her then. Obviously the reason was that I was quite opposite from her in every possible way then. we had more arguments than conversations between us which in most situation never had conclusions because both were equally adamant.
Wait a minute, the smoke had covered 70 percent of the room now. I need to act now to have the faintest chance for survival. I used my tied hands in the best way possible to open the door. Lucky that the door opened. I stood for few seconds behind door to check if there is any movement outside. I heard nothing. So I started hopping outside the door. I analysed the place. It looked like a warehouse and I was standing in first floor in front of the stairs. One good thing was that the pillar near me made sure that I could see all the activities around the warehouse from that place without being noticed. I scanned around for human activity but there was none. Before Surprise died down, I started hopping down the stairs as quick as possible as I felt keeping the noise low while jumping down the Steel stairs was tough. Once I reached the ground floor, I hid myself behind an old rusty boiler kept close by. There was not much smoke there so I helped myself to take few deep breathes before looking out for something sharp using which I can untie myself. I slowly hopped from one corner of the building to other in a stealthy manner. After searching for 15 minutes, I came across a Welding machine connected to a Power socket nearby. Looked like someone had just left the place leaving the welding machine there. Using the heat from welding machine, I burnt the rope tied to my legs first. Controlling the trigger was the challenging part of it but somehow I managed to free my legs. But freeing my hands tied to my back was not going to be possible with this. So I decided to find a way out of this building. It Took another 10 minutes for me to get out of the building.
I scanned for everything around the building from a hideous place. There were two ways from the building. One that stretched from left side of the building was big enough even for trucks to commute while the path on the other side was so small enough that only two wheelers could pass through. Rest of the area was densely covered with thorny bushes. I decided to take the smaller route after debating a lot within myself. I walked fast in the direction of sunset. Time must be around 5.30. I did not have much time before it was dark. I need to first untie myself somehow. After walking for ten minutes I came across broken beer bottle. I took one of the sharp piece carefully using my toes and passed it to the hand. I knew I cannot waste time at that place. So I decided that I will keep walking while my hands try to cut through the rope. It was not easy initially. but Once initial cut was created, then it was easy to cut the rope. Meanwhile I had reached a cross path. My reasoning was that since I do not know this place, the best thing I can do is to take the path in the direction of the setting sun. So I continued following the sun which was going farther away from me every second. After tiring effort I had finally untied my hands and removed the plaster from my mouth. after stretching my hands and legs, I continued my walk and finally I could hear vehicles moving in fast pace. I guessed that I should be near a national highway. The very thought gave me fresh hopes. I walked fast and reached the road when it was completely dark. Now I wanted to ask for lift but before that I need to know where I am.I checked for Sign boards on both sides of the road. But no luck. Involuntarily, I started searching my pockets for mobile. All I had in my pocket was my kerchief, a cigarette pack with one last piece left and my wallet. I opened my wallet and took out her passport size photo taken in her teens which I treasured secretly.I couldn't see much in the dark but her face was already hard coded in my permanent memory. Forgetting everything I simply Closed my eyes.
