Slumber (a short story)

Slumber

‘You know something strange happened to me yesterday,’ he said to his friend. ‘What?’ his friend asked, keeping aside his phone, with which he was preoccupied with.

‘Well yesterday morning, I took my office bus as usual. It was running a little late, which is quite normal. The colleagues whom I see each day at the stop too boarded the bus along with me. The bus was quite packed, more than usual. I looked around for a seat, got one and sat.’

‘Was it a window seat?’ the friend asked.

‘No,’ he replied firmly. ‘I don’t like to sit beside the window. Dust, pollution, you know.’

Continuing his story he said, ‘so then I got settled, drank some water as per my habit. I saw the group of young boys and girls, frolicking and cracking jokes and patting each other candidly. They quite regularly board this bus. It is a very jovial group, but I don’t like the chaos they make.’

‘I hadn’t slept the night before and tiredness crept into my eyes. I don’t usually take a nap in the bus, but since the journey is about 2 hours, I thought it was a good idea to rest.’

‘The bus was pacing fast as there seemed less traffic than usual that day. I saw out of the window. Those underwear advertising hoardings that I see every day appeared. I find them awkward. The guy next to me was wearing dark glasses, which I found unusual as it was cloudy that day. He had placed his bag on his lap. On top of his bag he had placed his left palm, and had put his elbow next to it. His index finger pressed against his lips. It looked like he was in deep thought. But he also had his earphones on, so I think he might be engrossed in some audio book or some thought inducing music.’

‘My eyes began to heavily droop. Sleep was overtaking me; still my eyes were set outside the window, even as the bus sped fast, as if the driver was on some mission. I saw two cars coming out of a crematorium. Suddenly the thought of death and dead people struck me. I felt bad for those people in those cars. Then I thought about circle of life.’

‘My mind was going blank as overcoming sleep was almost impossible to me. The last thing I remember what I saw before my eyes shut down, was traffic signals, which surprisingly green each time; quite unusual for this time of the day. I could hear the laughing from the chaotic jovial group, faintly. It was airy. The thinker guy beside me was still deep in thought, looking outside. Then…I went dark. I felt completely comatose. I felt dog-tired. I felt as if I hadn’t slept for many days and I was covering up this huge sleep deficit. I was lost in sleep. But I was still feeling the wind gushing on my face. I did feel the bus was in motion, thanks to the potholes.’

‘I was in my siesta, but a strange feeling overcame me. Our bus has pretty good suspension, but as the bus sped more, the jerks became lesser. I suddenly didn’t feel a thing. Not even the blanket of gushing wind on my face. Feeling recharged, I opened my eyes, but the strong sunlight hurt my eyes and I closed them immediately. Then slowly I opened my eyes.’

‘I looked straight at the right seat ahead of me. It was empty. I remember, a girl from the chaotic jovial group occupying it. Hurriedly, I saw to my left. The thinker was nowhere to be found. I looked to my right. No one. I got up from my seat and to my amazement the bus was empty and still. My heart stared beating faster. Composing myself, quick thoughts came to me. It must have slept till the end and everybody must have got out of the bus and gone to office, but no one must have woken me up. I have seen that happen with some people in the bus, but why would anyone have not woke me up till now? Quickly I started getting down from the bus, with my back pack.’

‘What followed next was bizarre to me. The bus had stood still. There was no sign of the driver. Outside the entrance door of the bus I saw overgrown grass. I was looking at a land covered with thick grass and dense trees and leafy plants around me. I was in shock. Then I touched the bus, to get a grip of reality. I indeed feel the coldness of the metal. But still I saw the grassy land lay ahead of me. Ants and insects started creeping on my feet which was unprotected as I was wearing sandals. I ran towards the back of the bus and looked around. It looked as if I was alone with the bus in a jungle.’

‘I took out my cell phone which had no network coverage. I asked myself, what should I do now? Should I shout? Call out for help? What was happening to me? I got inside the bus again. It was still empty. I was puzzled and my mind was shattered. The only option was to keep walking and getting out of this place. But this thing was unexplainable. Why would I be stranded in a jungle with a bus. Where was everyone? Had there been an accident? These thoughts came to me as I took on a direction and kept walking.’

‘I kept walking on for some 15 minutes and my heart was pounding at a faster rate. Suddenly out of nowhere, I saw a short fence. It too was covered with grass as the path throughout. Then to add to the list of strange events happening to me that day, I saw people sneaking through that fence, which had an opening, deliberately made my some to break into. A bald guy with a back pack was making his move to sneak in. In a flash I caught him and asked where were all these people going? He coldly replied to me, the name of my office!’ I was aghast. My office! How could that be? In this jungle? I thought it was probably better not to question anyone now and I quickly sneaked in with others and followed them.’

‘The trail of about 3 minutes ended. I saw my office building; the exact same building which I go into every day. I turned opposite, to see the jungle from where I came from. I went to my desk in a state of shock. There were the regular people whom I work with on the floor.’

‘So, this is what happened to me yesterday. It’s completely unexplainable isn’t it?,’ he asked his friend. Strangely now, there was no one in front of him.

Mangesh Nadkarni, 15-08-14