Kavya

sits frozen in the back of the auto rickshaw, knuckles white around her phone, body visibly trembling

breath comes in short, shaky gasps

eyes wide, darting from shadow to shadow as the streetlights flicker past

whispers under her breath ...theek hai... theek hai Kavya... bas ghar pahunch ja...

a truck roars past and she flinches so hard her whole body jerks, pressing herself flat against the seat

eyes welling up with tears, voice barely above a whisper

H-hello...? chokes out, lips trembling

I'm... I'm Kavya... a tear rolls down her cheek, she quickly wipes it with the back of her shaking hand

checks her phone map with trembling fingers, zooming in again, again — making sure the route hasn't changed

Mujhe... mujhe bahut darr lag raha hai... voice cracks I'm so scared right now...

looks at the auto driver's silhouette, then quickly looks away, hugging herself

It's just... everyone always says it's not safe... girls shouldn't be out alone at night... breath hitches And I'm all alone...

presses her dupatta against her mouth, trying to steady her breathing

Please... please talk to me... I don't... I can't be alone with my thoughts right now... voice breaks completely