It was a Friday like any other Friday.
I had wrapped up all my work and sent mails to my superiors updating them on the
day’s status. Everything was done and dusted by 730 pm. It was going according
to plan. But, as they say ‘Man proposes. God disposes’. I never knew that the
day would transpire into such a very eventful evening. The
drive to my home was satisfactory and enjoyable. Usually, I had to wade through
the ocean of traffic. As it was Onam, the roads were punctuated with clusters
of vehicles here and there. So far so good, I was right on schedule. The plan was to catch up with my friend after
a long time and watch “The Man from UNCLE” in Sathyam. I had a hurried dinner
at home and started by 915pm taking into consideration the Anna Salai traffic
and the metro work that was supposed to be happening there. After a minor
traffic hiccup in Velachery, I geared up on my gearless vehicle to be on time
to meet my friend. Criss crossing and traversing the myriad cars, buses, two
wheelers apart from the unprintable swearing and scolding by the auto wallahs,
I finally reached the Aalayamman Temple signal. I heaved a sigh of relief that
I could reach the theatre atleast before 1020pm. I never knew at that time that God was
silently laughing from above and eagerly anticipating the exciting happening to
happen. As soon as the signal turned green, I was flying like a F1 driver. All
of a sudden, out of the blue, an old man came riding on his cycle on the wrong
side of the road just few metres in front of me. It took me by complete surprise.
To make matters worse and complicate the situation further, the old man was literally
shaking his handle bar giving me mixed and confused signals whether he wanted
to ride to my right or left. The only possible solution for me in order to
avoid hitting him was to apply the brakes and then observe whether he had made
up his mind to go in a particular direction on the wrong side of the road. The brakes
were applied. As luck would have turned out, at that rushing speed of 75kmph, I
skidded when my brakes were applied. The night and absence of road light caused
me to not to see the sand that were scattered on the road. My Angelina Jolie
flew in one direction and I fell on the opposite side thus creating a big thud.
All I could see were hazy things and the loud horns that were screaming at me
from behind. I realized that my specs were not in their normal position but
lying around somewhere in the rubble. Two gentle gentlemen lifted me and helped
me to a nearby safe enclosure. The gentlemen were asking me whether they would
like me to take to a nearby hospital and I answered them that the abrasions and
lacerations needed to be washed up first as the sand was hiding and occupying
the injured area. I was actually surprised at myself that despite the serious
accident that I was able to think clearly. They bade me goodbye after asking me
to go the doctor and have a TT. I was thinking furiously, forgetting the pain,
as to how I was able to remain calm and think clearly when any sane person
would have fainted at the sight of blood dripping and flowing across the elbow
and leg. Finally, it hit me - MEDITATION. Meditation really helped me at that
point of time to see things as they were without panicking or getting scared.
Cleaning up my wounds with minimal water so as not to infect and aggravate the
wound, I made way for Sathyam to meet my friend in the same blood dripped and scratched
body condition. I parked my vehicle in the premises with great difficulty as it
was then the pain started to kick up and shoot in my hand. After exchanging pleasantries
to my shocked friend on seeing my condition, I noticed the time – it was exactly
1020pm. I had lost complete track of time and was actually surprised to know
that I was still on time as per the plan despite the herculean change of plan
by God. Seeing my state, we went immediately to the Sathyam emergency ward to
get the first aid so that I can visit the clinic and get a TT later after the
movie got over. When the loud and
shrieking DTS effects ritual were completed during the first aid, we thoroughly
enjoyed the wry spy comedy very much despite my friend jokingly complained that
I smelled heavily of Dettol during the course of the film. After laughing out
to our heart’s content, we made our way to the nearest nearby hospital for the
TT injection and a professional clean up of the sustained injuries. Once when
the doctorial formalities where completed after waking up the entire hospital,
I mumbled my sincere apologies to them for waking them up at such an hour of
night. Finally, after our “See you soon” were exchanged, I drove back
unhurriedly to my home. I felt someone was looking from above while I was
driving. Casting away my hyperactive imagination cells, without much ado, I quietly
scrambled to my bed without waking or telling my mom that I was badly injured
in that wee hours. I thought that instead of giving her the shock then, she can
herself discover on seeing my condition when she wakes up the following
morning. Thinking thus, I started to go to sleep when I heard someone was
laughing uncontrollably and hysterically. Startled by the boisterous roar of
laughter, I wondered who it can be so sadistic to laugh at my sad plight. Then,
I realized that my hyperactive brain cells were once again playing and pulling tricks
on me. Asking them to be quiet for some time, I was about to go to sleep, when
I started to hear a ‘Jal Jal’ sound outside. The windows started to rattle on
its own accord and the dogs started to bark incessantly. I knew this time it
was real. Something was out there
lurking behind the windows and watching me. Now, I realized that it was the
same thing that was watching me when I was driving back home. Despite my severe
pain, I gently climbed down my bed to check out this mysterious I-do-not-know-what-it-is.
I opened the window very slowly. The dogs had stopped their barking. There was a heavy stillness in the air. I felt the eerie silence to be very haunting. It was
there looking right at my soul and giving me the same hysterical laugh.
......to be continued & concluded.....
No comments:
Post a Comment