As the Crow Flies

There’s a saying in English:

“As the crow flies.”

It means a straight path—unbending and direct. Apparently, crows love to fly in straight lines. They aren’t troubled by bends or barriers, not like us earth-bound beings facing obstacles at every turn. And unlike airplanes, crows aren’t bound by strict navigation systems.

In practice, this idiom often shows up when talking about routes—be it literal or metaphorical. But walking or living as the crow flies, my friend, is not an easy job at all. Sure, you know a straight line will get you to your destination faster, but can you really glide across homes, crowds, fences, and ponds just because you want to follow a straight line? Can you thumb your nose at every twist and turn in life and embrace the simplicity of the straight path?

It’s a familiar question. And its answer isn’t unknown. A simple life is delightful—but becoming simple is a terribly hard thing. And yet, sometimes, miracles happen. Like a sudden spring that paints black tar roads in fiery hues of Palash flowers. Then, and only then, the path becomes like that of the crow—straight and unhindered.

What’s that? Things are getting too tangled? Alright then, no more delay—let’s begin the story.

                  ***************

That day, Prabir was getting ready for office, as usual. He was caught in a whirlpool of tasks and thoughts. In the middle of this rush, his phone rang. He clicked his tongue in annoyance. Unknown number.

He picked it up, irritation evident in his voice:

“Hello? Who’s speaking?”

No response.

“Ugh!” He was about to hang up—when a low, grating, mechanical sound came through.

Then, a hoarse whisper:

“Prabir! Son, don’t go out today! Today is… different. Stay home.”

Who on earth calls to say nonsense like that during busy office hours? He was just about to snap back when the line went dead.

No time to waste. There was an urgent group meeting at work—being late could be disastrous.

He grabbed his car keys and left. But something unsettling had lodged in his mind.

Who had called? What were they trying to say?

The voice… it sounded familiar. But he couldn’t quite place it. His mind grew absent. A faint melody seemed to rise near his ears—first just a murmur, then clearer:

“Life’s no longer straight and narrow / Laughter today is just borrowed / I survived—but barely so…”

It was true. Life was tangled in needless complexity. Work, more work, and more work. Always running. No time to pause, to notice the magic in the ordinary.

Chasing deadlines and targets had left him drained.

Stuck in traffic, he reflected on all this—until suddenly, his senses snapped back.

The world around him had changed, as if by magic. No traffic jam ahead. No bustling crowd on the sidewalks. No weekday chaos. And he wasn’t even driving—but the car was speeding ahead on a silent, unknown road, straight as an arrow. Was this possible? Or a nightmare?

He pinched himself.

“Ow!”

Nope, he was wide awake.

Then, like a flash of lightning, he remembered—

That voice earlier? It had been his uncle Hari. Uncle Hari, who had died five years ago from a terminal illness!

A chill ran down his spine. Was danger approaching? He tried desperately to control the car—but it was no use. He had no control. No one around. Even if there were, who could stop this possessed vehicle? Still, by instinct, he screamed:

“Help! Help me! Please, for God’s sake—help!”

Just then, he noticed a young woman sitting beside him.

Masked.

Her eyes caught his attention—intense, magnetic. Even amid this chaos, they captivated him. Her gaze held sorrow. A deep, distant sadness. She reached out to the steering wheel. With a mere touch, almost magically, the car slowed a little. Still racing forward, but calmer now.

Prabir, voice shaking, asked:

“Y-you… how did you get here?”

She stared at him, wide-eyed, sharp-toned:

“What do you mean how? You were the one yelling your lungs out—Help me! Help me!

And now that I’ve come, instead of saying thank you, you’re interrogating me?”

She pulled down her mask. Her face clouded with a storm of hurt.

Prabir cleared his throat awkwardly:

“Sorry, sorry! You’re right. I forgot myself completely. The way this morning’s been going—my head’s about to explode. Anyway, thank you. Thank you so much.”

She stayed quiet, lips pursed. Then said in a choked voice:

“Forget it. You’re only thanking me because I pointed it out. Otherwise you wouldn’t have.”

Then came the downpour. Rain matched her heavy sighs as she went on:

“I always try to help people. Always. But people… they misunderstand me. They say awful things behind my back. Smile to my face, then betray me.I don’t need anyone. I have no friends.”

Prabir was in a proper fix now. The haunted road. The possessed car. And now, this mysteriously appearing girl filled with sorrow and magic. But it was true—if she hadn’t slowed the car, he might have had a heart attack by now. Her sadness touched him.

Gently, he said:

“Hey… don’t be sad. We’re friends now.”

He extended his right hand for a handshake. She looked at it suspiciously. Then wiped her eyes and took his hand. A soft smile spread across her lips.

“You seem like a good person. That’s why I came when you called for help. Okay, then—we’re friends from today.”

The car was now cruising gently along the straight road.

Another change:

Earlier, the road was flanked only by thorny shrubs. Now, silk cotton and gulmohar trees lined the path, ablaze with red flowers. Even the black tar seemed to blush with their hue.

Prabir hesitated a bit, then asked:

“Yes. Definitely—we’re friends. But tell me something. What is happening to me? The car is driving itself. You showed up out of nowhere. How did you hear my call for help? And how did you enter this locked car?”

The girl laughed, like a waterfall—clear and musical.

Then said:

“You really don’t know? Well, just like crows fly—Sometimes, humans get to travel that way too. Not everyone. But some. On very special days. Like today—you got the chance. As for how I knew? And how I entered the car? We can do that. Such things aren’t difficult for us.”

Her voice had regained its sweetness—but her words were strange.

Prabir stammered, “N-now w-who’re we?”

She replied, quietly, seriously:

“I’ve never told anyone this. I won’t again. We are the forms of consciousness—the Chaitan-rupis. Those for whom rainbows rise even in deserts. We are they. Keep this secret. You can’t trust everyone like you. Usually I lock my heart in a vault. Too many spoil it. Not everyone’s like you.”

Prabir didn’t fully understand. He just laughed awkwardly and scratched his head.

After that, they passed time chatting. Prabir lost track of how long. Then, suddenly, the car stopped. Grotesque figures—half-human, half-beast—stood blocking their path.

They circled the car, leering and making obscene gestures at Prabir and his mysterious companion.

Yes, Anamika—that’s what Prabir had decided to call her in his mind. Maybe she isn’t ordinary and somewhat uncanny. But she is good. 

The grotesque cheers of those hideous humanoid figures had nearly deafened the two of them. Anamika had been quite composed until now. But suddenly, she seemed to shrink inward. Tiny tears streamed down her cheeks. Prabir’s heart ached too, but his jaw tightened with resolve. He held Anamika close with both arms. 

A few words escaped his lips.

“Don’t be sad at all, Anamika. Why should you let people who hold no place in your life, good or bad, hurt you? Don’t let them make you sad. Just imagine you’re watching a film. They’re all acting. So don’t let it get to you.”

The girl wiped her eyes and softly said,

“Anamika… what a beautiful name! I really like it. And now I’m no longer sad. Because you’re here—as my friend.”

The car had started moving again, gathering speed. Those grotesque human-like figures had been flung far behind. A few tried to chase after the car—but failed to catch up.

In a tone of mock regret, Prabir said to Anamika,

“Looks like I’ve lost my job!”

Anamika replied,

“You’ll find another. But if you hadn’t come this strange way—like a crow in flight—we’d have never met. What would’ve happened then?”

Prabir gave a soft smile and nodded in agreement. As the crimson glow of the setting sun stained the horizon, his lips gently touched Anamika’s forehead.

The car kept gliding forward in a soothing rhythm—straight and steady. Just like a crow flies!