The boy on the road

Its more than four years now, maybe five. The sight haunts me even today as I drive past the spot.
years ago, at about 8 10 am as I neared the Mega Mall, I saw a crowd near the pavement. I slowed my car down-trying to see what the commotion was about.
He lay on the road-a fair handsome young lad of about 17-dressed in a read and white striped shirt and blue jeans. His eyes closed, the wind ruffling his thick straight hair- horrified, my eyes went to the pool of blood streaming out from his head.
In an absolute state of shock I drove past-blankly driving right up to my school parking slot. As I mechanically got down- two colleagues who had also passed the boy were talking about it. Dead on the spot-one of them said

I walked slowly upstairs to my classroom.

Three of us working in one of the best schools in the country-well regarded educators -not one of us had stopped to check if we could help.

Even today I wonder-what if there had been the faitnest trace of a pulse.
Whose son was it-had he stepped out to buy milk or bread, to catch a bus. Who was waiting for him at home

For days after that-I scoured the local news-there was no mention of any accident or any fatality. Maybe he had lived

I will never know-his face haunts me till today. I say a prayer every single time I pass that spot. I should have stopped the car that day