It was a rainy day in hyderabad's rural outer skirt area. Heavy rain was pouring down since last 2 days. It was indeed very difficult to drive in these condition. He slowed down his car a little. In such a scary rainy nights, He had to be careful. The last thing He wanted was to had an accident or a breakdown. He was in hurry to reach his home. Voices of windscreen wipers were the only voice he could here. He stared out into glow of headlights. The rain sounded like a noise interference as it battered the car.
Through the rain, He spotted a figure at the side of the road. A man was standing in T-shirt & Jeans & had his thumb out asking for a lift. There was no way he could found lift easily on that road which was not much used as the road was in the middle of the forest.
"Why do anyone want to be on this road at this night time?" he thought, pulled over his car & asked him to come in.
He came & shut the door quickly. He was relieved to get out of the rain. He was in his mid twenties. He was a handsome guy with a beard.
"Scary night, Isn't It?" The driver started to have a conversation after seeing that this guy didn't say anything since he entered the car.
"Yes...Yes... It is." he was interrupted from his thoughts.
The driver continued driving his car in the strom. The passanger kept looking behind in the darkness. Driver looked at him.
"You alright??"
The guy simply nodded in yes. They drove silently for a few time. Driver started his favourite radio channel & its voice took away the silence of the car. They started listening to the radio and their own thoughts as they moved on.
"Where are you headed?" Driver asked.
"North." He just signelled the direction by his hand.
"Are you visiting someone or leave alone here?"
"Just living on my own. new in town." He replied.
The driver felt weird. The guy wasn't saying much about himself. Driver adjusted his tie nervously. The Guy looked Driver's suit & tie. He looked more outdated himself in T-shirt & Jeans than this businessman who was in his thirties.
"Do you work around here?" The Guy asked to the Driver.
"Yes." The driver continued: "I was stuck late in the office today. You can understand."
"No, not really."
Again there was silence.
The talk show on radio continued as they drove few kilometers through wind & rain. The guy was just staring at the road whole time.
"No music?" He asked to the driver suddenly.
"What?"
"Is there no music we could listen to?"
"I - I am not much into music. I love talk shows."
The guy stared him for few seconds & then spoke.:
"I like listening to the music. It calms me down."
The driver said nothing. After some time,There was a news coming on radio. the reporter tried to remain professional as she read that announcement.
"We are getting reports that A man has just escaped from Psychiatric facility. He said to be a psychopath & have history of doing many murders.
The Guy quickly put finger on button & changed the channel. POP music started playing.
The driver stared at the guy without saying a word. strange man.
"I hate the news. It's so depressing, It brings me down. There is never a good news,right?" The guy said. He smiled awekwardly. The driver didn't speak anything.
"Don't worry. I am probably not the killer." The guy said as He saw driver's fearful expression.
"No?" said the driver. "I mean, No, ofcourse you are not."
They drove on,listening to crappy pop music. The rain was heavier now.
"What do you do for living?" Asked the driver.
The guy was quiet for few moments then said: "I am a Writer."
"Really? Intresting, Have you had any books already published?"
"No, as of now I am undiscovered artist."
"I am sure you will make it. best of luck for your first book. Are you working on it?"
"Ya, A novel.."
"About..?"
"It's about a brutal psycho serial killer."
The driver didn't speak anything. He changed the radio station back to news. He must be cursing himself for giving a ride to a stranger.
"Where can I drop you?" the driver asked finally. The guy said nothing. The driver looked towards that side. The guy had his eyes closed. Either he waa sleeping or just pretended that.
They droved almost for an hour. Strom was still going on. The guy looked out of window, the driver drived carefully in silence.
Another bulletin came on the radio....
"We are getting detailed news about the escaped person. The killer's name is 'Surya kumar'. He escaped from shreeji psychiatric Institute earlier in the evening after killing a doctor & 2 security guards. He is extremely dangerous & completely unpredictable. He escaped by changing his hospital uniform to a suit of one of the staff. He stoled a car from there & drove off."
The guy turned towards the driver & asked:
"What did you say your name was?"
"My name is Surya." Driver said.
The guy was in shock. Surya laughed.
The headlight of passing Car glinted off the knife covered with blood in Surya's hand & a already slitted throat of The Guy....
l