บท 32: I have to check on my brother first

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Jayne and Ronnie turned back in the direction of the sound in a quick reflex action. What they saw before them was the most horrific scene ever.

A bomb was planted there by a few separatists since it was a prime shopping area of the city and many people would come.

X city borders the country and insurgency in the state happens between the separatists and the government. Thousands of people have died during the fight between the insurgents and the government as well as thousands of innocent civilians who have died as a result of being targeted by the various armed groups.

It was once such fight. The entire scene of the shopping area changed within seconds. The shocking part was, the bomb fell right over Da Nuru's shop. A huge mountain of fire and smoke erupted from there and the vision became very blurry.

People around stayed reasonably calm but there were a few very scared people mostly the outsiders and tourists, calling out the names of their family and friends panicking and running around.

Ronnie and Jayne were frozen to their spot. They were petrified to see the scene unfold before them. The subordinate officer came running to them. He was shouting, "Sir, it's not safe here. Please get in the Jeep. We need to leave from this place as soon as possible."

Jayne was the first to react. "Brother Nuru! No! I can't leave. I have to check on my brother first." She was about to run towards the shop.

Ronnie pulled her back. With a stern voice he ordered her, "Jayne, get inside the Jeep. It's really not safe for us here." He caught her in his embrace tightly while protecting her and was trying to drag her into the Jeep.

Before Jayne could respond, sounds of police jeeps and ambulances could be heard. Due to the floods, most of the resources were diverted to the heavily affected districts. The capital city was comparatively less affected. Hence they had kept just the minimum number of resources on standby at some important spots of the city.

The police immediately sealed the area and prevented anybody to leave or enter the area. The fire engine came in next to extinguish the fire there. The fire started decreasing slowly and the vision started getting better. What they saw was more horrific than they could imagine.

They could see dead bodies scattered all around. Most of them were bleeding profusely. The less injured people were panicking and running around for help.

Jayne saw a woman a few feet away from them. Her chest area was bleeding. Her hands were gone. Next to her was a small kid crying. It had sustained a few injuries. The medical team lifted the woman's body along with the child and transported it to the ambulance.

Next they ran towards an old man who was next to the woman. His legs were hurt. He couldn't get up. The medical team helped him up and put him on the stretcher and took him to the ambulance.

Another woman came running to them right after that. "Ma'am and Sir did you see my kid?" She was crying out loudly.

Ronnie softly said, "Ma'am your carrying your kid right in your arms. Please calm down."

"It's my other kid. Not her. My daughter is here but my son is missing." She wailed out and ran further in search of her son.