Stranger

The state transport bus was literally empty except for 2 more passengers. I wondered how safe it was for me as a girl but I don't have any other options.

It was one hour after the journey, and I was feeling sleepy. The pleasant cool breeze turned into dusty storm suddenly.

Roads were empty except our bus and it was almost noon but the storm made it look like evening.

And there came one moment when it was difficult to see anything through the dust.

The bus stopped and driver informed us that it will be risky for all of us if he drives among this natural chaos.

The other two passengers, who were two men in their 40s looked at me and discussed something in whisper.

I felt numb. Were they good people? What if they kidnap me?

I laughed at me on the kidnap thought. I have nothing that they can loot.

"Hello miss! Do you need any help?" one of them asked me. They sounded nice or may be I am being too naive.

"No, not really. I would wait in the bus untill the storm stops." I said looking out the window.

"Don't worry! We have no plan of harm. 10 kilometres from here is our seafood storage where we were heading. We have called for help and a vehicle is sent towards us."

One of them said without anything to read between the lines.

"So, in case you are brave enough to believe on some stranger rather than the storm, you can join us. You can wait there till the storm stops and then take a bus from there."

Another man said. He spoke for the first time with a extremely smooth and cold voice yet I could feel the humour in his words.

I looked at him for the first time diverting my gaze from outside the window.

He was tall, and a very handsome face. His eyes were dancing in mischief but they were reflecting honesty.

My insides wanted to trust him like it has known him forever.

Suddenly his gaze changed, it became dark. As if he was trying to look away from me and I felt hurt. May be he didn't like the way I look.

I was so dusky, almost like chocolate syrup. My parents weren't able to find a groom for me because of my colour.

"Earth to you miss! Do you want to come?"

The other man startled me.

"Huh??" I looked blankly at the other man but he looked away at last. I looked down.

"I don't know!" I blurted. I was lost, where I didn't know but I was blank.

"Okay, let's wait till our car comes, till then you think. We will ask you before we leave!" The handsome man said in a dismissal tone.

I felt hurt. I was wondering if he was regretting his decision of asking me to come with them.

I looked outside, it was worse now. The bus was standing at the edge of the road and there was a big open field. I started feeling hopelessly alone, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes.

How can some stranger hurt me to the edge of crying? He didn't even say anything rude!

I wanted to go with him, wherever he takes me, and it scared me. It's not that I haven't seen handsome men before, or have I really met anyone as handsome as him? I doubted, while tears flowed down my cheeks to my neck.

I almost jumped when his fingers wiped the tears from my neck. I turned back to see him sitting beside me. His face was inches away from me and I could feel his warm breath on my face.

I shifted away.

"Don't worry girl. I will keep you safe." saying this he got up and went towards the door of the bus.

I looked outside and saw the other man was already standing out in the storm.

I realised that for that moment of closeness we were alone in the passenger's side.

There were headlights in distance.