The Red Light

Ishan had slogged through a grueling day at work, the kind that drains not just energy but spirit. By the time he reached home, the clock had already struck midnight. He barely managed to eat, collapsed into bed, and drifted into a restless sleep.

The next morning, despite the fatigue still clinging to his bones, he got ready on time and slid into his car, determined to power through another day. But as he drove, the exhaustion blurred his focus. His eyes were open, but his mind was fogged—half-attentive, half-aware.

At an intersection, the traffic light turned red. Ishan, distracted and dazed, rolled through it without registering the violation. He glanced in the rearview mirror—no honks, no screeching tires. No harm done, he thought, brushing it off.

Minutes later, flashing lights appeared behind him. A police cruiser. He pulled over, confused but cooperative. The officer stepped out, stern-faced, and ordered Ishan to exit the vehicle.

“Sir, I know I broke the light,” Ishan said, palms raised in apology. “It was a mistake. I was tired. I’m ready to pay the fine.”

The officer’s expression didn’t soften. “Mr. Verma,” he said quietly, “the red light you ran caused a collision between a school bus and a truck. Five children died on the spot.”

The words hit like a sledgehammer. Ishan’s knees buckled. His breath caught. The world around him spun into silence.

He collapsed to the ground, tears streaming, whispering, “No… no… I didn’t know…”

But the damage was done. One moment of fatigue. One lapse in attention. And five lives lost forever.

The red light wasn’t just a signal. It was a line he never meant to cross.