The 28 years old stands by the little girl, waiting for the rescue team to come and take her away from the airport, his eyes lost in the horizon, his mind left back at home. After twenty years of service in the DIA, it still wakes him up late at night.
If only Amir knew! But you can never know these sorts of things, can you?
Just when the seventeen year old was putting on his jacket , all pumped up to be ready for the Friday afternoon with friends, his sister came and stood by the side of the table. Amina said softly- 'Bhaiya, I need a ride to the Priestly Hall, I have a concert to play in.'
Amir closed his eyes in frustration,- "Oh amina, I'm tired of these concerts of yours! Itna important hai to take a bus na!! Why do I always have to cancel my plans for you? I'm too busy tonight!! " He took his cap and ran out of the house, not wanting to confront any other conversation...
He was not too far away from the spot where the bus exploded into flames that evening, making his way to a bunch of foreign girls sitting at the corner of the bar, with a few beers in his hands. The huge distorting sound had left him unable to hear anything for a while. It took him less than four hours to run back home and put into conclusion that she was indeed riding that particular bus. The exploition was so big that there was nothing left to identify other than her teeth.
And when papa came home, he said nothing to amir, nothing at all except something for him to remember that his sister was a prodigy pianist at the age of twelve.
"Oh Amina, if only I knew what I know now!! I should have never let you take that public bus that night."