The Shout

The cab driver was always grumpy. Nobody knew why. It all started on the day he made an idiotic decision to cut across a bus to get to his next ride as fast as he could flouting the signal. His headache was getting worse as if someone was shouting at him all the time.

The bike rider was going home from the office on his bike. It was 10 30 pm. The signal at the intersection, about 5 km from home, turned green and he was beside a bus. He moved along with the bus. Suddenly, as is their wont, a call taxi idiot cut across the bus and since he was blindsided on his bike, he had to brake all of a sudden and crashed into the cab and fell in front of the bus. Thankfully the bus had started moving just then and was able to brake before his head became a sickening bump.

He got up really pissed off and looked around for the cab. The cab driver was stunned momentarily because of his foolhardiness and had just about recovered his senses. He was trying to flee. The passerby and the fellow traffic sufferers gave chase and blocked the cab. They surrounded it and dragged the driver out and started to give him a good beating. He also joined in and went into the crowd and gave his share.

Satisfied he came out of the crowd and looked around for his bike. Relief! It was parked safely on the side of the road by a good soul. He dusted himself off and went to his bike and attempted to start it. However much he kicked or pushed the start button it just didn’t come to life. There was no reaction from his bike. Frustrated, he looked around for help and there were many who came to his bike. They too tried their best. It just would not start.

They then pushed it to a nearby puncture shop and asked that guy there to take care of it for the night. He was relieved. Someone had called an ambulance just in case. The ambulance arrived and inspected him. In spite of his protestations, they bundled him onto the ambulance. He pushed them and pulled himself away to no avail. Finally, somehow he got out of their clutches and jumped out of the van with anger as he was delayed already and his bike was damaged. He wanted to have a go at the cab driver again. The bike rider found the cab driver and started shouting. But, the cabbie was too weak from all the beatings and just didn’t take notice. Frustrated he turned towards the ambulance to pull someone from the crowd to help him. That’s when he saw his lifeless body being inspected by the doctors and the crowd surrounding it. He started shouting at the cab driver.