The hot summer wind blew a lot of dust with it, which went into my eyes. I was unable to open my eyes to see ahead for a few minutes and when I was finally able to open my eyes, I saw bizarre surroundings. Heck, was I teleported to some drowned world, just like the level V of the video game TMNT(Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)? The hot summer day changed to a black, moonless cold night. The only visible thing in the pitch dark was the grey lifeless road beneath my feet. It was an empty space, perhaps a vacuum of thoughts. A place, which was was devoid of any dear sound, any dear soul and any dear light. It was definitely an incoherent site.
I was puzzled. I trembled, the palpitation of my heart went high and then higher. I could not see anything, neither could I hear; not even the echo of my own yell. The brain repelled every single thought that dared to be in cahoots. The numb surrounding induced its numbness upon me. Everything was still. And glued, even the time. I stretched my hands down to feel the road. Yes, yes this road goes ahead!!! The only ray of hope, rather road of hope, just hailed in. My feet callously moved in the dark, upon the feel of the hard cemented road. I had no idea where I was going, I simply kept on moving into nothingness. My heartbeats sometimes sank and sometimes went up exactly like the sine-curve. Eyes were tired of not being able to see, ears wanted to hear and lips were eager to talk. But, nothing, I could do nothing, I could not help myself; something I always hate, –helplessness. I moved on and on to the endless path till my feet were tired of walking. I did not want to stop because I was afraid; of the black colored night and of nothingness.
I was restless; scurrying through the road to get out of that world. It was scary. …Then something struck my right leg, perhaps a big piece of rock. I lost my balance and fell flat on the road; baffled. This was the worst thing that happened at the horrendous moment. I was astonished once again, I could not understand anything. All I felt was pain on my palms and elbow; they were hurt. I could not see my wounds in the dark, but the pain made me feel their presence. I collected myself back and sat on the road. After a moment, something warm and sticky touched my right knee. I quickly checked my knee with my fingers, something liquid.. sticky.. I kept on guessing about the thing because I could not see it, until my knee started to hurt. It was bleeding, badly. And I could do nothing about it, could not even give a dear eye to it. My knee was wounded so badly that I could not stand on my feet. For the first time on that inauspicious day, I cried. I lost my courage, my self-confidence. I screamed, cursed the dark and then my own poor self. But, there was nobody to hear. Tears did not seem to stop, I kept on crying. I called for my God and yelled a thousand questions to him; why can’t he rescue me, why am I here, why is he punishing me, what big sin have I committed…., just help me! I pleaded. Then the answer dashed within my heart, ‘God helps those who help themselves.’
I wiped my tears then and slowly stood on the road. My knee was still hurting but I did not want to stay there any longer so I started walking at snails pace. Every minute was as long as the river Nile, every bit of pain was as deep as the Pacific and the dark was as solemn as the deserts of Sahara. I kept on moving ahead in the horrible nothingness, desperately. This was my ‘struggle for existence’ –- the survival of the fittest. I had to prove my fitness. And now, I wanted to win. My pace towards the end increased, neglecting all the injuries. The desperation to come out of it multiplied. I dragged my hurt leg and maintained a good pace. But to where?! I was headed to nowhere! It was only black night everywhere… my thoughts were doomed once again. I slowed down a bit but continued to walk all hopeless, tired, thirsty….
‘Wake up girl, it’s 9:20 already’ Mum? I was overwhelmed with happiness to hear her. Then suddenly I realized it was a nightmare. Happiness poured through my eyes. I sat up and held my mother tightly. She sat in front of me and smiled. “Bad dream?” She asked. “Yeah” I whispered with wet eyes. “It’s over now.” She patted on my head after I released her. “yes.. I am glad it has ended.”
