The Mysterious Encounter on the Winter Road

It was winter of 1984. I was waiting for my classes in therapeutic school to begin. I had gone vacationing to a slope station, almost 250 miles from my hometown. My mother was with me, and I was driving my car myself. After staying there for around three days, we decided to return home. We set out in the late evening hours.

My mother had spent her youth in that locale and knew an easy route to our hometown. Upon her recommendation, I took that route. However, it did not prove to be a great idea as it was nearly midnight when we came to a part of the street that was single and barely used by anyone. It was cold outside, and the street was edged by thick bushes on both sides. So thick were the bushes that no one seemed to enter them without getting harmed. My mother fell asleep on the front seat, while I was driving very cautiously. All of a sudden, I saw a man coming out of the bushes, nearly naked and raising his thumb as if he needed a lift. However, I did not stop, and the car zoomed by him.

However, a realization came to my mind instantly. It was so cold outside in January, but the man I just saw was wearing only a little lungi (a sort of loin cloth worn by town folks in my country). Moreover, the bushes on the sides were so thick that no one could go in or out of them effortlessly or without getting harmed. I quickly looked in the rearview mirror and saw the center of the street in flames. Despite my claims of being brave, I was shuddering and drove the car over the ton. My mother woke up, and I told her what happened. I was unable to find a coherent explanation for the scene. Perhaps somebody reading this can Thank you for your time.