That Night...

There was nobody at home but me. It was night and they were yet to return. I was fighting off sleep and trying to keep myself awake.

The phone rang once and by the time I picked up the landline, the line went dead.

I glanced at the clock, for it was late. Just as I glanced up, the clock struck 12'. I glanced at the clock and then at the door.

"Why on earth were they so late? Why was the mobile not reachable?"

I glanced back at the book but the silence seemed to resound too loudly. Not liking the silence around me, I decided to put on the TV.

I switched it on ,only to find a blank screen. The silence seemed to mock at time. I began to remember the horror movies   I had seen. An unexplainable fear began to assail me.

I began chanting all prayers that I knew in my head and headed for the kitchen to grab a bottle of water.

I stepped into the  kitchen and grabbed the door of the fridge. I pulled hard but the door refused to open. It seemed as though someone was pulling it from inside.

Shaken, I quickly left the fridge and made my way back.

On the way, my glance fell on the mirror and my reflection in it. I looked different and something seemed to be changing . I could feel a figure looming behind me. It seemed to slowly creep forward.

I made a dash back into the kitchen. There was a puddle of water on the floor. I slipped, fell and hit my head on the floor.

Thud.

With my hand on my head and with a groan, I groggily opened my eyes.

It was a dream. I had fallen off the sofa. Shaken by the dream, I sat back on the sofa and tried to calm my racing heart.

The phone rang and I rushed to pick it up, hoping they were on the way. But by the time I reached there, the line went dead.

I returned and just as I glanced at the clock, and  the clock struck 12'....

De'javu or was it?

Randomness

I gazed across the room in despair,  I wanted something that I could never get...The feeling of being closed in was becoming something I couldn't shake off…

My frustration grew as waves of despair rolled through me...I didn't know what to do, where to turn and what would be…I was helpless and bound…bound not by ropes but by words and trust...

I heard footsteps echoing down the corridor...the voice grew closer… I had to control...and compose myself...and not let the tears that threaten to flow , escape…

Moments passed and I struggled to think of something pleasant...I closed my eyes and fixed a smile on my face as I  walked across to greet that voice...I hoped that my face did not betray my thoughts as I struggled to keep my voice steady and hands from wavering.

I had to present  a cheerful facade. He was not to suspect that I was upset. I had to get him away from here where even the walls would hear what I had to say to him. I had to tell him, of what I had learnt, of what I suspected, the treachery…

I tried to move toward him naturally and waved toward him as if nothing were amiss. He seemed flustered and was running toward me. I strained to make out what he was saying but now I could hear footsteps behind me as well.

I felt a sudden jolt and something heavy hit me...I tried to turn but the hold I had on myself was slipping… The blackness seemed welcoming and I let myself sink into oblivion...

The day...

The day dawns bright and clear - with smiles and sparkles and happiness and cheer.
Work to do and things to finish - the smile sets forth to complete these with a relish

Targets to reach and miles to go, the day flies by with a smile on show
The day goes by and the smile wonders why?
Why are the challenges just piling by
The smile disappears and the sparkle dims, desperation and tiredness creeps from within.

Hope comes out and cheers ahead, the smile which faltered shows her head.
Time stretches as the smile and sorrow fight, who is the winner and whose is the worst plight
Smile and sorrow both side by side, as they fight for their time in the night

The evening draws to a close and the night looms ahead, but it seems as though the smile has gone abed.
Where is the smile, the sparkle beheld? No one knows where it has fled.

As night draws near, the sparkle is dead. The one sought for is gone abed.
With the smile and the sparkle out of the way, comes desperation and tears charging ahead.

Things that seemed bright and sunny seem drab and dreary.
The challenges that cowered in front of the smile, now rain upon with a vengeance that has no guile.
Tears filled eyes and a sorrowful face, beckons all those horrid dreams to face.

As things seem to take a turn for worse, as they say - the eyes get closed to await the next day.
The night goes by and dawn draws clear - again with the smile in front and the sparkle in the rear.

The fisherman...

As all stories go....A long long time ago.....

There was once a fisherman. He seemed to be overly fond of fish. He was already a big fisherman in his locality but he wanted to become better known for his prowess. So he set out on the seven seas, made friends with creatures like the mermaids and the such.

They advised him, "Set out towards the south. You will get many riches and your fame will grow." The fisherman took these words to heart and he began making preparations to set out. But he was confused about the destination. South could mean anything.

By then, unknown to him the mermaids had passed word about him and his prowess to her friends in the south. As word passed from ear to ear, a village head decided that he would like the fisherman to be a part of their village.  Soon representatives from the village approached the fisherman and promised him riches. The only thing he had to do was to tell everyone that he was a part of the village and fish for them. They promised him that he could select people who would help him in this big mission entrusted to him.

Swayed by the promises of the riches and the big name he would have, he agreed. He traveled to the south seas and settled with the villagers. As promised, he began to get the riches every month. But he found that he had to many a things for the village in return for these riches or else he would get berated.

Almost an year had gone by since the fisherman joined the villagers. But the fisherman did not have any friends. The people in the south, in the new village did not understand him. The representatives who had come to meet him earlier now ignored him though he had the same status as them. The others made fun of him behind his back.

Things did not seem too great for the fisherman. But he wanted to stay here awhile. He wanted to prove his mettle if nothing else. He moves and still moves stoically forward.

He thought to himself,"Let them say what they want. Let them do what they want. I will prove my worth. I will give what I can and take what I may. And then....Then I will leave this place and move on to bigger...better things...."


And so the story ends...At least for now...Don't rage at me now. Like I said, I am waiting for the story to complete. But this story teller feels that the northern winds will blow and our fisherman will pack up his bags and leave...leave for good....from a place where no one understand him and does not talk to him to a place where he would fit in much much more....So until further progress on this...Adieu...

Moments...

She entered the room, trying to make as little noise as possible. As she eased herself through the door, she heard the cacophony of voices. She looked around trying to spot her friend and her spot at the center.

She headed towards her seat slowly, letting the voices wash over her. She kept her bag on the table and sat down with a sigh and looked around.

The din seemed to resound as moments passed by. She looked around in vain for a familiar face and she saw him. She quickly bent down her head not wanting anybody to observe her glance. She slowly looked up trying to see his face.

As she looked across the room, he looked up and their eyes met..She couldn't tear her eyes away...Neither could he...The sounds in the room dimmed...It was as if the world had stopped...Nothing existed other than them...Understanding dawned....They smiled and quickly glanced away as though nothing happened...

Darkness

I could hear a sound. It seemed to come from afar but it seemed to be coming closer and closer. The shrill sound filled me with an urgency. It was imperative that I get up. As the sound became louder and closer, I seemed to jump up from the bed.

My legs gave away beneath me and I toppled. I tried to hold on to the chair closest to me. The sound was coming from a device kept on a table. I leaned on to the chair for support and tried to move closer to the device. My legs gave way a second time and I stumbled and fell. I lay there on the floor waiting for the moments to pass.

The sound became inconsequential considering my failed attempts to reach it. Moments trickled by and the sense of urgency returned. I had to get to the sound and put it off. I decided that it was going to me my last attempt, if I failed now, I would face the consequences. 

I lunged, for the final time, towards the device. I grabbed it. It was a phone, unlike the ones I had seen. I tried to shut off the noise. Once the noise was stopped, I tried to examine it. I had never seen the likes of this device. 

For the first time since the bell rang, I looked around. Unfamiliar surroundings and darkness seemed to stare at me from all sides. Panic seemed to set in. I turned around looking for a way to escape. 

"Where was I? How did I get here?"

Questions swarmed in my head. I spotted a door in a corner and took of. I grabbed the handle, all the while praying that it would open. I turned the handle and heard a click. The door was locked. I shook the door. I had to get out of here

I remembered the phone like device I had left on the table. I returned but.....

The device wasn't there. I had kept it here but it had disappeared. I looked around for the sight of another person. The silence seemed ominous. It seemed as though I was cornered. I dashed back to the door and tried another time. This time the door swung open easily. I peered out into the darkness wondering whether to make a run for it.

I dashed across across and immediately saw a opening on my right. As I reached the opening, hands grabbed me. Panic set in and I couldn't breathe. I struggled and tried to fight my way out. As the struggles grew, so did the panic and the darkness grew around me. It came in from all sides and stifled me. It seemed pointless to struggle and I gave in as a wave of dizziness swept over me. The darkness beckoned me and it seemed easier to give it all up. As another wave of dizziness swept over me, I let myself sink and let the darkness claim me...

Noises in my room

I can hear noises in the room, in my bedroom. It is unnerving. I am sure it's not the sound of anybody I know. It sounds like a group of people talking from someplace quite far away.

Has it been a while since I lay down to sleep? Have any guests come home, this late at night? Even then, why would they come to my room and talk.

I strain my ears. Laughter floats to where I lay. I can hear glasses clinking, people laughing and chattering. Now I am sure that it's nobody I know and that whoever they are, they are in my room!!!

Do I dare open my eyes? Or should I just shut them tighter? 

The voices don't go away. I press my eyelids together praying that whatever it is, it goes away soon. Praying that somebody comes and puts the light on in this room. 

I am waiting...Time passes, the voices fade away...I thank god and open my eyes just a crack.

There is nobody in the room. It is pitch dark. I strain my ears to hear the last of those eerie sounds but I can't hear anymore.

Was it my imagination or were there people in the room? I guess I'll never know and I am not too sure I want to know either. 

I pray fervently and close my eyes, this time to sleep and to see pleasant dreams.

The waves...

“It was just the day before…..”

“What was just the day before?” asked Selvan, my husband.

I wanted to continue but I couldn’t as the memory of the last few days flashed through my mind I could feel the tears welling up wanting to burst out as if from a dam. I continued drawing Arya closer to myself.

“It was just the day before yesterday that, we of the Sreesakthi group met. Like usual all of us collected Rs.50 each to deposit in the bank. Today we were to decide when the next meeting would be and where it would be held. And yesterday I saw four or five of them, their bodies being washed away with the torrents of the gigantic waves. Now I don’t know who all are left amongst us. I don’t know if god has spared them like he spared us”. I sobbed not able to control myself.

It was yesterday that the tsunami struck. My husband saw the sea rising. Twice the waves rose a bit. Seeing this he got worried. We did not know what to do.  We rushed to our relative’s house where we knew that their children were alone. We picked up the four children from there and rushed back home. Arya had gone out to play and was in our neighbor’s house. They came and dropped her off. I was worried, really worried. The only thought of relief to me was that my son was at my mother’s house. They would have moved to a safer place. They would be safer than us.

 My husband grabbed Arya and hoisted her onto his shoulders. I grabbed three of the kids and mother caught hold of the fourth kid. We held onto the bars of the windows waiting for the worst to happen. Then a huge, tremendous wave came upon us. The waves did not bear upon us with much force because of the surrounding houses. We held on tightly to the bars.

 As the waves receded we were relieved to see that all of us were alive though shaken up. Many bodies floated past us, faces of some that we knew and others that we knew not. We did not know where to turn, where to look. We could not leave the bars but had to hold on, hold on till the water receded. We waded out as the water receded. 

Due to our luck and god’s grace we found shelter in a school where we rested for some time. We tried to dry ourselves but did not succeed much. We sat there for some time when people came running toward us. They told us the worst news. They told us that the tsunami warnings had been issued and that it may strike again. We were asked to move… move to a safer place. We were evacuated from there and brought over here, to this camp at Shraiyakkad.

How many days will I have to stay over here, I wonder? Will we be safe again? When can we go back to our house? As the night goes by, all I can do is wonder…