Tuesday, August 21, 2007

आफ्टर DARK

PART 1


I walk down the long dark narrow corridor of the prison, with my heart in my throat. I could hear the beating of my heart, rocking so hard like it wants to pop out of its hollow cavity. I have phobia for darkness, so I hate my country for putting me through this fear every night. The same fear is what I feel now, but added to it are the ferocious eyes that peep from the mini cells. They study me in silence, nodding their head like “Oh, this is good for breakfast!”

Like a prey being watch by its predator, I walk down gently as silence engulfs the whole prison corridor. It rules the night with the distance light giving little hope.
Where I am coming from I do not know, neither where I am going. My legs, arms and whole body are cold and I could feel no blood in my system, but fear. I try being a man to control this irrational fear, but a step from behind puzzle me. The step moves closer and closer, yet I couldn’t turn to check what or who it is.

“Be strong” I said to myself then I stop abruptly. By my left is an inmate starring at me from his cage, looking frail and sick like an AIDS patient. His looks get me more puzzles. He shakes his head in pity and it dawn on me that am a walking corpse meant to be slaughtered.

Alas, the steps get even closer. I get motionless, stiff and scare to the bone. Suddenly, the step cease directly behind me. The heavy breathing of whatever is standing behind me sinks my courage. Only cowards die twice, I rather die once than not to know what it is.


Fast and furious, I turn around, but a flash of light is all I could remember. My legs hold my body no more. My eyes go dim. Faces of inmate bending over me in their white prisoners’ uniform fade away gently as I collapse to the floor and pass out.

PART 2


I woke up with a start, scared at what my eyes could not see. Not because it’s dark here but too bright. A big bright light is shown down on me that I could hardly see the faces bending over me. This must be heaven, I thought. Angelic faces beaming down at me in their spotless white robe. Oh! I don’t want to come here yet! I cry silently with a dry voice.

My eyes catch a blue and red pen hang on one the pretty ladies breast pocket and a small cap-like object on their head. Then I realize they could be nurses and not angels, though so pretty with a reassuring smile spread across their faces. I concluded am in a hospital.
Blur vision. Tight lips. I search for words, but could not find any. Whatever that had hit me, must have hit me really bad that my head hurt and heavy like am carrying an elephant.

I have to leave here as fast as possible, I said to myself. Then I try to raise my hands, but the stitches and drip won’t let me. I manage to say a word like where am I?”But the headache won’t let me. I manage to raise my legs, but the POP won’t let me Then, I manage raising my head, but the bandage won’t let me. All I could do is to stare. Stare like a zombie lost in a desert.

Close to my bed side, one of the ladies in white raises something up which I could hardly see. Some seconds later she’s over me, injecting it into my left hand. I close my eyes in pain and gently I go, back to wherever I had been before.

(What happen next to me is hard to believe, just stay in touch for Part 3)