"I don't love you Riya. No, I don't. You were just another bubble in my storm."

Silently as ever, her heart broke again.

He was the moon of her sky
He made her stars twinkle
On the stage of her life
His magic he had sprinkled

But none of it mattered. He doesn't love me. He just used me to satisfy his needs. I was just a doll in his puppet show.

The revelation hit her hard. It was as if a bullet had penetrative her skull and cleared all her thoughts in one shot. As soon as she heard the words, she turned around and walked off. She could hear his voice from behind, maybe trying to console her, but she never looked back.

The man didn't deserve a second glance.

She turned a couple of corners. Finally, when she was sure that he wasn't following, her barrier broke. Tears streamed down as the emotions took a toll. She may be a tough nut to crack on most occasions, but on the inside, she was just a baby whose heart was broken tonight.

The day could never have been better than this, she thought to herself.

That heartless guy had selected the perfect day to shatter her. This was supposed to be a special day in her life. In two hours, she would turn eighteen. She'd officially be an adult. And guess what, she already got her birthday gift.

A broken heart!

No. That baby Riya is gone today. Finished. It'd be an adult Riya who'd emerge from this fire.

With her strength resolved, she picked up herself and started for the bus-stop. She was still a block away when a little red dot came into view. It got bigger and bigger as it came near.

No, I can't miss this. It's the last bus home.

Riya ran at full speed towards the bus. But an old lady blocked her path. She was walking as if all the time in this world was just for her. In the furious race, she was a punctured car.

This irritated an already frustrated Riya.

"Get aside you idiot," she shouted while pushing the granny aside.

Riya saw the old lady kiss some gravel. A tiny part of her heart longed for that granny. It wanted to go and help her to her feet. But a majority of her heart longed for home. For the comfort of her bed. For the embrace of her parents.

Going by the popular vote, she ignored the old lady and again started for the bus. But fate wasn't on her side. At least not today. Her left leg got stuck in the lady's cane. And the next step she took, she too tasted the same gravel.

Just two hours for her birthday, she should have been with her friends. With him. Dancing, celebrating, holding him in a hug. But here she was, sprawled on a road, watching the last bus to her new life go away from her.

Her heart was broken, her mood was shattered, and now, she was stuck with an old lady in the middle of a night.

***

"Not every bus leads to your dreams. Sometimes, it's the one you miss that gives you the most pleasure."