A Night of Joy Turns Tragic: A Heartfelt Reminder to Drive Safely and Cherish Loved Ones

I want to share an incident, not because you all want to know about it, but because I feel compelled to. On October 7, 2023, during an evening get-together with my friends, we were a group of five. Around 11 PM, we decided to head out for drinks—a well-deserved break after a week of hard work. Our destination was a hill station near our home, and we reached there by 1 AM. The night unfolded with laughter and camaraderie as we continued drinking until 3 or 4 AM. However, fate took an unexpected turn. One of my friends received a call from his family; his brother needed to go to their native place urgently. We decided to drop him off and then head home. Exhausted but determined, we set off. As we approached our neighborhood, there were speed bumps ahead. Riding on my friend’s bike, we suddenly collided with a KSRTC bus. The impact left me and my friend unconscious, while the other friend remained conscious. Our other friends, following behind us, witnessed the accident and immediately rushed to our aid. Two of them went to fetch an ambulance. Meanwhile, my friend’s brother, who had accompanied us, hailed an auto-rickshaw and took my injured friend to the nearby hospital. Eventually, they reached the same place where I lay unconscious, and both of them rushed me to the hospital as well. The next day, we received devastating news: the friend whom we had taken to the hospital did not survive. This incident serves as a stark reminder—drive safely, cherish your loved ones, and never take a moment for granted.

I want to share this experience with you all to remind you that life is too short and hard. Don’t lose your friends over silly reasons; not everyone is blessed with friendships in this generation. Just live your life happily and joyfully with your friends, as you never know how long they will be with you. Cherish the time you have together and be happy.