To take my mind off my predicament and stinging behind, I concentrate on listening… to the piercing calls of a hawk, the sighs of the leaves in the ...reeze, the steady breathing of the horses, my own breathing. I feel thankful for the blanket that cushions my body from the saddle. Become grateful also for the warmth of the cloak I had donned earlier this day, to stave off the slight chill on my way out to the barn. It seems as if we travel for hours and I grow bored and weary. I can tell from. Within a second they were on me, throwing me to the floor. One woman clamped her hand over my mouth silencing me. I kicked and fought but with four against one, I had no chance. My shirt was ripped off me and my arms were tied behind my back. Someone stuffed a rag in my mouth and wrapped tape around my head, securing the gag in my mouth. More rope was wrapped around my bare torso, pinning my arms tightly to my body. My pants were pulled off me and more rope was wrapped around my legs near my. "When did you know? How did you know?" That day we had the picnic after you got out of the hospital," Mary answered. "You mentioned about the stars, and told me yourself... we connected!"I thought about that conversation and shook my head. "No! I was talking about connecting with you after I got hit by the jeep. I had been 'visiting' you." Oh!" said Mary.Holy shit!At least, Mary and I were talking now."Why didn't I realize that before?" I asked."Maybe you never looked before," Mary replied,. Readers may be aware that unlike the new comfy City Buses, the State Transport Buses are poorly maintained, rickety, dim, flickery lights, with small windows & even tight spaces between the rows of seats. Since I caught the bus from the starting stop, I managed to get an aisle seat on the seats reserved for ladies. I was wearing a saree and sleeveless blouse and was lucky to get a seat. Had I not got the seat, standing in the bus would have proved to be a hell of an affair with the saree.