Survive or not

Everyone was sitting in a giant circle around a small coffee table with a glass bowl on it, filled with green slips. Vedika somehow ended up between Rocky and Heer who were both extremely excited for the game. Aditya was sitting exactly in front of her.

"Okay I believe we all know the rules of this game so let's begin." Maahi announced, holding a plush duck and signed for the person behind music system to start.

Some unknown rhythm started playing on the system as Maahi passed the duck to someone named Tyler, sitting to her left.

There were more than 20 people playing and it took almost a minute for the duck to reach Vedika. She lifted her hand to pass it to Rocky when the hall went quiet.

She couldn't believe she was the first one to get the dare.

"Yes Vedika, go ahead and pull out the slip, see what you got." Sahid said. Vedika slowly got up from her chair and approached the table with cautious steps.

The hall was full of bright lights, which were reflected through the glass of the table. She bended over to pick out a slip.

"It says, 'blindfold seeking' what does that mean?" Vedika asked even though she had the clear idea what it means.

"It mean you have to wear the blindfold and catch all of us." Heer said as everyone else started laughing, they knew it wasn't going to be easy.

"But how will I do that? It's so many of you." Vedika complained as Heer pulled her to the side, away from circle.

"Once everyone take their place, no one will move and you just have to walk around touch each and everyone." Said Heer.

Vedika turned to glance at Aditya nervously.

"Vedika was not well just yesterday so I don't think she should do this." Aditya said.

"Don't worry Aditya your girlfriend will be fine." Jaz joked.

"Aww he's worried about her." One of the other cricketers said, who's name, Vedika still wasn't able to get.

"No that's not what I - "

"Its okay Aditya." Natlie said and continued to call Vedika, "Vedika if you are about to crash in something, we'll inform you."

To this, Vedika nodded and gave a reassuring smile to Aditya.

She knew what Aditya was thinking, she was one and a half months pregnant and more prone to injuries in case.

Heer tied a red scarf on her eyes and made her twirl several times.

"Vedika you can come and find us after counting to 10."

"Okay." Heer left to join the others as a sudden hustle started on all sides.

"Ten....nine.....eight...." Vedika started counting and after ending with one, she walked in a random direction.

"Go on Vedika." A voice came from her left. She kept walking.

"Vedika there is a chair three steps ahead." Someone said.

Suddenly Vedika felt the lights around go off, the focus of light on her eyes, coming through the scarf was now gone.

"What happened? Why did the lights go out." The commotion inside the hall had started. Vedika removed her blindfold but it made no difference. The surrounding was pitch black.

"What happened?" She asked. Suddenly she felt a hand grab her waist.

"Aditya?" She called but there was no answer, everyone was busy looking for their children under the flash light of their mobile phone.

"Who's that? Aditya don't try to scare me."

"Hello Vedu." Cold dreadful voice filled her ear.

It was Aman's voice, her body went stiff as as she struggled to speak.

Before she could say something, lights filled the room. With ragged breathing, she looked around but there was no trace of Aman.

Where did he disappear? She thought to herself.

"Vedika, are you okay?" Aditya came running to her and started checking for any injuries. Everyone was now busy with themselves and has dispersed.

"Aman." Vedika said and he stopped.

"What?"

"Aman was here. He was just here."

Aditya looked around but he too saw no one.

"I'll go out and check. Wait here."

"No Aditya please don't leave me. I can't, I can't do this. Let's go home."

"But we need to inform the security and the police too."

"Let's go together then." Vedika said and walked off in direction of exit, dragging Aditya with her.

---

"No mam there was no intruder. Not from this side of bar." The security guard was saying.

"Are you sure? I mean you might have gone for a break or something."

"There's always someone on the door. I'm sorry."

"Aditya I can't go back. We should leave."

"Okay I'll message Ray on way. Let's take a cab or taxi."

Walking out on the road, soon a taxi came to stop in front of them and without waiting a second both of them got in.

Vedika was still shaking from amalgam of cold and fear.

Aditya slowly took off his coat and wrapped it around Vedika.

"Better?" He asked.

"Thanks. Do you trust me Aditya?" Aditya was somehow both surprised and confused with this question.

"Of course I trust you Vedika. Why would you ask that?"

"Because I doubt myself Aditya. Was I hallucinating Aman? Was he even there?"

It was late of the night and there were not many vehicles on the bridge. They have pulled up the windows to protect from cold air but it did nothing for shaking Vedika and now Aditya did not know how to respond to her.

Suddenly they felt the bright light shine directly in their eyes from the front glass.

"Wha—" before any of them could squeez out any word, the truck coming from opposite direction crashed straight into them with above average speed, throwing them off into the air. The whole world took a 360 turn for them as their taxi went flying back several roll on the bridge.

Everything and everyone was spinning for those present in the car. That was the moment of utter helplessness when none of them could help each other. Moments before it all came to stop, the only thoughts Vedika had was, 'her baby wasn't going to survive this.'

As a tear rolled off her cheek, her eyes landed on Aditya who's eyes were mirroring the horrors of her thoughts.

At that moment she just wanted safety for the alive, for Aditya and hopefully the driver. And with a loud thud, everything went dark.