Friday, August 7, 2009

Chop Suey

I woke up.
I couldn't open my eyes. But it was dark. I could feel it.
I shuffled slightly where I sat. My arms wouldn't move. It was as though the heavy darkness was weighing it down. Not that I wanted to move them anyway.
There isn't a thing you can do in this 5x5 room I have been locked up in.
I tried opening my eyes, gave up the futile attempt. Its the same outside.

Suddenly, I was standing. I swayed my arms around, searching. Nothing. It looked like I was standing on solid ground. I carefully put my leg forward, and suddenly pulled it back. There was nothing.
I was on the precipice.
Brilliant light pierced my eyes. It was as though someone had switched on the floodlights of a stadium at the middle of the night.
I was indeed on the edge of a cliff. It wasn't a free fall though. The cliff curved into something between the shape of a 'C' and a 'U', the shape of a crescent moon. The surface was smooth as marble. There was heavy mist in the air, I could barely make out the end of the curve. Everything else looked smudged. Just when I was wondering what should I be doing here I realized, I had something under my right foot.
Oh look, a skateboard.
I put my left leg on the skateboard, gave myself a push using my right foot, and let myself go. The frosty wind rushed to my face. I could barely open my eyes. I still tried to open them. Bad idea. Tears started streaming out due to the sheer force of the wind. They trickled down my cheek making a cold path.
I let myself go.
I was stretching my arms like Jesus Christ. I reached the edge, and due to the momentum, I was projected into the chilly air. I thought my heart would give away, judging by the frequency and the loudness of the beats. I closed my eyes and just sunk into the joy of flying. So free, so liberating.
'To fly like a bird in the open skies..', someone had said.
I landed. I was all dark again. I was on top of the cliff again. I must have traced a circular trajectory.
Oh look, a skateboard under my right foot.

I was in the dark room again.
I sniffed. The room smelled of rust, my own sweat, my own guilt.
Slowly, I found something wrong with the air. I was breathing deeply, but I still seemed to want more.
Oh damn.
I pushed my eyes open. The fear seemed to give me strength. I looked around. There was no opening in this godforsaken place. I was suffocating. My hands still wouldn't move. Sigh.

I woke up.
Clear sunshine was streaming into my face, making a beautiful golden hue all around. The air was warm, smelled of fresh rain falling on the earth. Looks like I was out of my 5x5 box after all.
I can, I thought. If I try.

Did I really wake up?
I don't know.

"I have to believe in a world outside my own mind. I have to believe my actions still have meaning. I have to believe when my eyes are closed, the world is still here."

10 comments:

Merin Mandanna said...

:-o
I think I want to read it again.
And again.

Nakul PS said...

just brilliant... nothing conclusive..nothing predictable... leaving the readers on the edge...

Test said...

Very thrilling to read!! always my mind said-"What happens next"!!
Nice writeup!

Unknown said...

verrry nice....... but vague!! :)

Vinay Hegde said...

Awesome post!

I love the way you have brought out the contrast: our inner mind and the outer atmosphere, and the sensations that follow. A lot of food for thought, this. :)

And, signing off with immortal lines from Memento. Stud! ;) :)

Vinay Hegde said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
sudarshan said...

*bows*
*bows*
*bows*
*bows*
*bows*

More in bank for you next post,I am too tired for now. :)
Write something for the less intelligent species too :)

Chaitanya said...

Merin, Nakki, Pranav, Pri, Anna, Sud

Thank you so much :)

Akilesh said...

Hey an excellent one....:)

Unknown said...

Nice. Felt like I was in the dream too. Mark of an upcoming author.