Jessica suspected just as much; Adhha’s colleagues had offered him up as a sacrificial lamb because none of them were willing to face the angry crowd. But the Caucasian’s belligerence got on her nerves. “You need to calm down,” she said.

“Why should I calm down?” the Caucasian challenged. “Do you know how much of my time you have wasted? If I hadn’t sent my car for servicing, I won’t even be on this filthy piece of shit you have the gall to call First-World public transport. First World, my arse!”

“Please calm down,” a fellow commuter in the carriage urged. “We’re all in the same boat. We’ll just have to be patient while they fix the problem.”

“You know why you are all calm and patient? It’s because you’re all sheep. This is a nation of sheep! You trust your government to do everything and make every decision. You can’t even think for yourself. And you don’t know your rights. When you are stuck in a malfunctioning train, you should clamour for action! You don’t just sit back and trust that someone, somewhere, will fix the problem. But I am guessing none of you sheep will understand that.”

Although he was unable to hear the exchange, Adhha could tell from the looks on the commuters that the tension in the carriage had escalated. There was nothing he could do except to raise his voice and plead again, “Please, we are sorry. We are doing our best to fix the problem.”

“Oh, shut up, you bloody parrot!” The Caucasian slapped the glass pane separating them.

All of a sudden, the train doors wheezed and slid open. There was a collective cheer as the commuters felt a draft of fresh air enter the carriage. The Caucasian muttered something under his breath as he threw his attaché case down onto the tracks and made ready to jump. Alarmed, Adhha shouted for him to wait. He had yet to set up the emergency detrainment ramp. But the Caucasian ignored him and made a leap, landing heavily onto the tracks and losing his footing.

“Are you alright?” Adhha rushed forward to help the man up.

Once the Caucasian got back onto his feet, he picked up his attaché case and swung it wildly at Adhha. Adhha gasped and lifted his arms to ward off the assault. The crazed Caucasian made two more ineffective swings before aborting his attack and turning to stumble towards the platform. But he didn’t get very far. Jessica dashed past him and blocked his way with her arms outstretched.

“You apologise to him or I will call the police.”

“Get out of my way!” the Caucasian bellowed and charged at her.

Jessica wanted to shove the brute back, but his swinging attaché case smacked into her shoulder, causing her to lose her balance and fall onto her side. There was a sharp pain at her left ankle where she felt a tendon snap. She could only watch with angry tears as the Caucasian clambered up the stairs and disappeared from the platform.