Long Lost Face

I met him the first time on the road. I was crossing the road and he walked past me from the opposite direction. I noticed his face but he didn't notice mine because he was on the phone. The next time he noticed me as I was frantically searching for my purse in the bus. It was not pick-pocketed. I had forgotten to take it from my table. I had to get down at the next stop. Even he didn't help me. Then the third time we both noticed each other. We were sweating and sitting inside an air-conditioned room waiting to be called for an interview. He smiled at me and I returned the smile. He reminded me of the bus incident. I just smiled a little as I was nervous. Then they called my name. I went inside and they roasted me alive with rapid fire questions. One question was to imagine myself as the company chief and what would I then do to an interviewee like me. I told them that I would never ask such silly questions. When I got out of the room he was not there. I found him near the coffee machine but I chose not to speak. The moment he turned his face towards me I doubled my pace and rushed towards the door. Everything was so disgusting inside that office. I was not in a situation to talk to anyone. I didn't get the job nor did he because the one who got the job was one of my old friends. I wandered jobless for a few more months. I never met him afterwards. He was like a character in a dream. I never saw the same dream again. I got a job. I got married. While riding in an autorickshaw or walking along the road I search the many faces that pass by. If I ever saw him I could say a 'hello' or a 'hi' or just smile at him. But no. He is nowhere. I won't find him anymore because I killed him. Yesterday night my car ran over a man and it was so dark and no one was around. I was so frightened and I got out of my car. I walked towards the man writhing on the road. I looked at him. It was him. His eyes begged me for help. I was afraid of the blood. I kept looking at him till he died in front of me. I drove past his body only to find his gory picture in today's newspaper. No more 'hi' or 'hello' or smile.