The narrow coach was filled with people on the left and on the right. Kids travelling with their parents, happy and without a care. Unlike Malad, who slumped her heavy shoulders onto the back seat until her head started to bob up and down with the vibrations of the engine. They reverberated through her ears. Her head was filled with them. So heavy, too heavy. She couldn't bear it any longer. She fell onto the triple seat (which was still too small for her) and tucked her knees onto her stomach, sleeping soundly.
Amdo was watching his angel fall asleep. He hated to disappoint her by being so mean but he had to see for himself. If travel sickness really existed and his girlfriend - it was a beautiful possibility - had it (which was not a beautiful possibility), he would either have to leave his job, his life and passion, or he would have to leave her alone. Waiting by the door, day and night, with the kids always asking "where's daddy? He's never there for us!" With a pout on their chubby faces. "He's never there for me too." Would be her sad reply. He couldn't even bear the thought of that scenario. He just wished she could travel with him without it hurting so much. Yes, he had noticed her pale face and dark circles ever since they got on that taxi. Every time she retched, he held his breath, waiting for the evidence to come in its sickly yellow form. The passport to his doomed life. 'Is she really the one for me?' He questioned himself.
Malad woke up with an ever worsening headache. Her head was getting heavier and heavier with each passing moment, and she had already slept for hours. She looked out of the window. The night was darkening. Stars hid behind the cloak of clouds. They couldn't see what was about to happen. Even the moon hid his face, barely visible without the brightness of the righteous sun.
It was about to rain.
Lightening struck on her window as she covered her mouth with one hand. She reached for the toilet at the back of the bus, retching and retching. She forgot to close the door. Everything that she had eaten that day came out. From the croissants of the 5 star hotel, to the chilli chicken from the street corner. Nothing was left in her. The vomit even soaked the headaches away. She came out, light and happy but very hungry.
As she came back to her seat, she found a letter from Amdo, explaining how he saw her vomiting in the toilet and why he left her. A heaviness heavier than the headaches struck deep into her. The emptiness became a void as the pain of her grumbling stomach was overcome by the pain in her heart. She could hardly make out what the other papers were but from the look of them, they were tickets, lots of tickets and money and a phone. If he had seen her vomiting, it shouldn't be long before he left. He could be nearby...
"Halt!" as her cry reverberated through the bus, all faces turned to her stern face full of determination, reminding them of the warriors they had only seen on television. She ran out of the vehicle into the rain, searching for him. Street through street, she ran in the direction where the bus had came from. All eyes turned to her as she flashed past them. The huge houses daunting above her. The trees danced like Indians preparing for a war while lightening martyred their comrades. Hours passed. She passed unfamiliar street after unfamiliar street only to arrive at a dead end. She was more exhausted than ever. She couldn't find him. She slumped onto the floor and instantly fell asleep in the rain and the lightening.