Year 2002
It was the time of a rainy day in England during winter. The dark clouds hovered the sky; light showers covered the land and breeze through the trees made it seem pleasant. As if to see light in the dark, streaks of moonlight escaped through the clouds. A frustrated woman was walking on the road dragging her luggage behind. She didn't know if her decision was right or wrong but all she wanted to do was run away from her inevitable nightmare. The road was empty, and she wondered if she would find a cab at this hour of time. She looked at her wristwatch and cursed under her breath; it was quarter past two in the morning. She didn't know if London roads were always this deserted with no sight of humans or was it because she took the wrong way. As she took another turn, she stopped in her tracks to realise that she already walked past this place. Unfortunately, the way she knew was closed for quite a sometime now. Just as she was tracing back, she heard sound of a vehicle as if heavens heard her prayer. She had a bright smile on her face as the car approached in her direction, but the smile on her face turned into an enormous shriek of horror to see a puppy crossing the road and the vehicle was coming in the same direction. Amelia rushed to save the puppy without a second thought, leaving her baggage behind, but it was too late, she presumed, when she saw blood on the road. She held the puppy in her hands and saw a man's shoes. She didn't even want to look at the man who recklessly drove risking the puppy's life.
"Are you blind? How could you not see the puppy? Can't you see there's a speed limit. The roads are empty doesn't mean you carelessly drive without any concern." she yelled, removing her scarf that was around her neck. The man tried to say something but apparently, she was not done yet. "People like you should be punished severely. Do you have any idea that your reckless driving could've killed the dog? Fortunately, it is still fine," she continued. When she heard no reply from the person, she lifted her head but found traces of blood on her left side from where the little creature came by dragging it's paws slowly. It took her few seconds to conclude; the dog was hurt, not because of the car but it was already wounded.
Shit!!
She cursed under her breath. She was embarrassed that she yelled at the man when it wasn't his fault. Then justified her behavior thinking he shouldn't have been driving so fast.
"Looks like it was hurt while coming here which is why it couldn't run," she heard the man speak. Her eyes were tightly closed when she saw his feet approaching her, she doubted if he wanted to hurt her for yelling at him and didn't face him. She tried her best to not show her face, thankfully her face was covered with a hoody due to which the man would not be able to see her face.
"Give the little one to me," the man stretched his arms. She didn't know what else to speak now after pushing the blame upon him when it wasn't his fault. She just yelled at him, but the man didn't even speak a word to explain his innocence, he just stood silently and patiently while she was aiding the dog. He spoke to her only after she tied her scarf around the dog's wound after cleaning it with water, there was a bottle which was in her bag.
She slowly stood up on her feet and gave the puppy to him with her eyes on the road. "What is your station?" The man asked. She could tell that man was young by his tone.
"Umm... To the airport." she replied hesitantly. She should've have lied. He was a stranger and she cannot trust him.
"Get your luggage. I'll drop you at the airport," he didn't but rather stated, not considering her opinion. Shouldn't he ask if she was willing? Amelia thought but again, who would talk softly after being yelled. The man must be kind to ask her even after blaming him.
"I can hail a cab," her words came out quick before she adjusted her hoody forcing her eyes fixed on the road even while she was speaking to him. He was taller than her and it made easier for her to hide her face. But why was she even hiding her face? She doesn't want him to see her embarrassed face, she haven't apologised yet.
"You won't be able to find cabs here. Ms..."
"Amelia," she didn't know why she even said her name.
"We don't want you to miss your flight now, do we?" he reminded her. Amelia could feel the irritation lacing in his voice. She gave a thought, what the man said was true. There won't be any cabs available at this moment. She silently nodded and brought her luggage and sat in his car. The dog was now in a better condition since Amelia aided the dog. She sat in the passenger seat but made sure her face was covered with her hoody. She didn't know how time has passed till they reached the airport. None of them spoke, the man seemed to be least interested to talk to her. She slowly looked at his side and caught the sight of two letters stitched on his collar and immediately turned away when she felt his neck turn to her side. Her fingers played with her pendant while she thought about the two letters she saw on his collar. 'AS', she repeated in her mind. Was does it mean? she asked herself.
Before she could think more, her heart dropped a beat when the car stopped, numerous thoughts ran on her mind. How could she even trust him, she didn't even see his face until now. What if he kidnapped her? But all her thoughts crashed like a wave when she raised her head to see that they have reached the airport. Amelia immediately alighted the car and got her luggage out. She didn't know how to start a conversation with the man. Was she supposed to apologize first and then thank him or thank him first and then apologise. She gripped her luggage to drag it with her but was stopped when she felt her forehead hit something. No, not something but someone. It was the man who gave her lift. She pressed her lips out of embarrassment. She could see his broad shoulder and instantly, she dropped her gaze to her feet, what would he think of her now? "Please take care of the puppy." She paused for a while and said, "Um, sorry for thinking you hurt the puppy…but you shouldn't be driving so fast either. Anyway, thank you for the ride." Amelia said with a short bow, she was thankful that the dog which was in back seat was safe now and then she rushed inside before he could speak to her.