The Bridge

There is a small bridge near my office which literally connects the areas of Pashan and Baner. On one side of the bridge is my office on the Mumbai Bangalore Expressway which is in Baner and my apartment is located on the road just on the other side of the bridge. That area is Pashan.

I have to cross this bridge every evening and morning to reach office and while coming home. If I don’t then I have to cross the super busy expressway. So I prefer the first option. Deserted and dark this bridge is sinister and the walk from my office gates to this bridge is uphill. I do not have my own vehicle so I walk everyday. There have been times when someone from office has given me a lift home but I prefer not to depend on anyone. You may call me proud for that matter.

I used to be pretty scared of crossing the bridge all alone. So many things can happen. I may be hit by a vehicle; somebody may grab the opportunity of doing just anything. After all I will be a solitary girl taking a risk.

One day I found a fellow traveler on the bridge. Probably another girl like me. As the rain beat upon my face and it was pitch dark, from my torchlight I could make her walking along side. From then onwards every evening used to be the same. I got habituated seeing her but there was only one problem. As soon I crossed the bridge, I crossed the road also and then I used to lose trail of her. Where did she vanish…? I used to wonder often. So there was my sinister companion showing me the way. I soon stopped using my torch because I used to follow her. She was swift to notice any vehicle before I did.

Then, I stopped seeing her around suddenly. There was nothing between us. We never spoke or looked at each other yet I missed her. My solitary journeys across the bridge resumed.

Then one evening I saw her again. There were lights all around that place now and the bridge was illuminated. That day the lights flickered and the bridge was suddenly engulfed in darkness and I was wondering whether I should take out my torch; I saw her. As usual dressed in shades of some light colored fabric. I did not want to lose my chance this time and called out to her..Hello Excuse me!

She did not stop and I increased my pace and was just about to catch her when the lights came back. There was not a trace of her anywhere and I doubted my own vision. I stood there wondering where she had vanished. Then I saw her on the nearby hill. I do not know what gripped me but I went after her. In the darkness on the slippery stones, I trudged along.

Then suddenly I heard the whistle;there were policemen down. I came back and walked till my apartment.