Preity awoke late in the morning, for today was not a school day. As she lay there in bed, her mind embracing a new day, relief surged slowly through her body down to her toes with a tingling sensation. She was free for now from all the hard work and long hours of studying for exams.

She rose from her bed and looked at the small Murti on her bedside table of the Hindu Goddess, Mother Saraswati, to whom she said a silent prayer, and her strong belief in herself had set the tone and pace for success in her studies.

She took a leisurely bath and went downstairs, where a full breakfast awaited her, for on school days, she always ate something light.

Her mother had already left for work, the hardworking woman she was, taking on life’s challenges as the sole provider for her family. Preity’s father had died by accident when she was just a young girl and her brother, a toddler. Such a tragic loss could have broken her mother, but prayers and faith had given her strength to continue living for her children.

And today, Preity knew, would be quite rewarding for her sacrifices because the CSEC exam results would be announced. She was confident she had done well but not sure how well, so when the results were announced that a girl from a top city school had topped the country, Preity was stunned to hear it was her. It took a long moment to sink in that her performance was so outstanding and tears of joy spilt from her eyes. Congratulatory messages from friends inundated her phone and she responded to as many as she could as she waited anxiously for her mother to come home from work. The hour in the afternoon seemed to take forever to arrive but finally, she heard the gate then the door opening.

“Hey, mom,” she greeted her mother with a calm smile, trying not to give anything away.
The mother looking calm also asked, “Well?”

“Well,” Preity answered, then she laughed with joy and ran to her mother, hugging her.
There was no need for words, the mother had heard the news and embraced her daughter, the tiredness of a hard day’s work gone from her body and she said, “Thank you, Dear Lord.”
The happiness of that moment wrote a song in their hearts. From a life of struggles, the mother, through selfless sacrifices, had helped her daughter build a stairway to reach for the stars. Today, the CSEC results showed how far she had ascended, hoping no obstacles would step in her way to greater educational pursuits, for no one knows what tomorrow brings.

She had become a star for her school and her country, admired and applauded for her excellent achievement. Preity was modest in her thanks, the simple girl she was, and tried her best to please all her friends who sent invitations to her for the summer holidays. Today she was going with three of her girlfriends from her class, who also gained excellent results, to the theatre and she kissed her mother goodbye for the show was at 1 pm, and her mother would be home from work until 4 pm.

“Love you!” she called, waving to her until the bus drove away, and she continued exploring the multiple features on her new smartphone. It was a gift from her mother, who had been secretly saving to buy her something special for her success.

Preity had been surprised and thrilled when she opened the gift, “This is so awesome!”
At the movie theatre, she and the girls had just exited the lobby after the show when Dravid pulled up in a brand-new Infinity car.
“Oh my gosh!” all the girls exclaimed at once, “That is so cool.”

Dravid, from the same city school, had topped the country in CAPE, and coming from a rich family, the car, as promised by his father, was his gift.
“Who wants to go for a ride?” he asked, proud of his car.

All the girls wanted to but everyone except Preity had long distances to reach home. She was somewhat uncertain though Dravid was a good friend.
“I’m not sure, I have to reach back home before dark.”

“It’s just a short drive,” he said, “You won’t be late. I’ll drive you home.”
She got in, thrilled that she was sitting in a fancy car, and he smiled at her, “How does it feel?”
“Great,” she said, showing him her phone, “We both got cool gifts.”

He drove a little way towards the highway, stopping by a roadside snackette for refreshments, and drove a little while more until Preity said, “I think we should go back now.”
“Okay,” Dravid agreed as he waited on a break in the traffic to turn when his phone rang.
“It’s my father,” he said, putting it on speaker as he paid attention to traffic.

“Hey, Dad.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m a little way up the highway. Why?”

“I’m still in Essequibo and your brother just called that his Wrangler has broken down and he needs a ride home.”
“Oh…” Dravid paused for a brief moment, then said in an uncertain tone, “I don’t think I can, I have a friend with me and I have to take her home now.”
“I am occupied here in closing a business deal so I don’t have the time to call anyone else.”

There was an edge of frustration in the father’s voice, then when he said, “I haven’t seen him for several months, it touched Dravid with a measure of guilt, and he sighed and said, “Okay, I will.”
“Thank you, son,” the father said and ended the call.

Dravid wasn’t quite pleased and he said to Preity, “I’ll take you home now then I’ll have to drive back to pick him up.”
“How far is he?” she asked.
“Not sure, about twenty to thirty minutes away.”

Preity thought for a moment, knowing it would be a lot of driving for Dravid to take her home in the opposite direction and then back to the highway, and for his sake, she said, “I guess you can do that.”

“Are you sure? He’s not a nice person and he may say something rude to you.”
“I’ll take my chances with that.”
Dravid smiled and touched her hand, “You’re such a nice person.”

In a little over twenty minutes, they reached his brother who was looking very impatient.
“What took you so long, nerd?” he asked angrily, getting into the car with his friend.
“I had to drive carefully,” Dravid answered in defence.

“You’re such a wuss,” his brother said insultingly, slapping him playfully but hard behind his head.
Now Preity understood why Dravid was reluctant to pick him up.

They were driving for just five minutes when Brian instructed Dravid to pull over.
“Why do I have to stop?”
“Just shut up and stop, will you?”

Brian brought a few bottles of beer from a roadside bar, much to Dravid’s annoyance.
“You can’t drink in the car,” he said firmly.
“Why? I’m not driving.”

“Yeah but I’m not comfortable with that and my friend isn’t either.”
“Why? Is she a church girl?”
He and his friend broke into laughter and Preity touched Dravid’s hand, shaking her head slightly to signal no to answer his brother.

Less than five minutes along the roadway, Brian called again for the car to stop. This time Dravid erupted angrily, “What the hell for now?!”
Brian came out of the car and, opening the door of the driver’s side, he hauled Dravid out roughly.
“Where are you going, to a funeral? Get in the back and let me show you what this baby can do.”

“No!” Dravid retaliated, pushing him, “You’re not driving my car to wreck it as you did to yours!”
The two brothers almost came to blows and Preity held onto Dravid’s arm as his brother got behind the wheel, ordering them to get in. He revved the car, spun it around, and went back up the highway.

“What are you doing?!” Dravid shouted, “I have to take her home before it’s dark!”
“Relax, loser,” Brian said, drinking his beer, “I’m just taking it for a spin.”

Preity held onto Dravid’s hand, looking scared, “I don’t like this.”
The car was going dangerously speed, taking sharp turns that caused Preity to scream. She thought of calling her mother but before she could, the car sped around another turn on a lonely stretch of road and this time, she screamed in horror.

To be continued…