I am a special educator and a therapist.
This incident is from the time when I was about 20–21 years old.
At that time, I was living in Patna and pursuing my studies. I had completed my graduation final-year examination and was waiting for the results.
Sadly, if this had not happened, today I would probably be doing a government job or running a business, just like my friends. If this incident had not occurred in my life, things would have been very different.
Now let me explain how I got trapped in certain situations and wasted ten years of my life—so that you can learn what should not be done.
I had a friend named Rajesh, who is now a government employee. In those days, he was interested in buying a plot in his district and asked for my help. At that time, he was earning around ₹10,000–12,000 per month from a private job. He was married and very keen on buying land.
He suggested that we buy the plot together on a 50:50 partnership basis.
I showed interest in the plot. Using my small savings and by selling a gold pendant that my aunt (bua) had gifted me during my janeu ceremony, I arranged ₹75,000.
At that time, I and my maternal cousin (my uncle's son) who lived in Patna first went to my maternal grandmother's house, because my maternal grandfather had ₹4,000–5,000 of my money. That amount had been given as rent by my cousin Raushan, who was living in Patna.
After collecting the money from my grandmother, I, Shivam, and Raushan took my uncle's bike and went to our district where we were supposed to buy the property.
We reached the registration office—me and my friend. The documents were prepared. Then all of us gathered there along with the plot owner, some of his people, and the agent who was arranging the deal.
The plot was registered in my name and in Rajesh's wife's name. After that, we had a meal together.
In our area, it is a kind of tradition that when someone buys a plot, they have to give a party—food, drinks, and sweets.
So, after the plot registration, out of happiness, I gave a party to all my friends.
At the party, my friends ate non-vegetarian food and drank alcohol.
After drinking alcohol, I could not go home, so I left for my maternal grandparents' house along with my cousin.
We were traveling on a bike when Shivam insisted that he should ride the bike. He barely knew how to ride properly, yet he stubbornly demanded to ride. He did not agree for almost half an hour. Fearing that we would get late, I finally handed the bike over to him.
He started riding the bike. I was sitting behind him, and behind me was his cousin brother, Raushan, who was my other uncle's son.
The accident—
Just as we were about to leave the town, at a turn on the road, a truck coming from behind