ASTRA

CH-3 A New Acquaintance

12:38 p.m., 14th March

I woke up this morning with a heavy head due to the dreams I had been having throughout the night; of children screaming for help, strange creatures running behind me and what not. I can't seem to shake off the thoughts that kept coming in my head about what the old man said.

This place is really intriguing as there is no internet, no roads, not even a hint of this new age I feel as if I have come to the past except for electricity. I came out and sat in my balcony enjoying my morning tea with the beautiful scenery ahead of me, when I noticed something, there was a huge bunch of trees just in front of my house that had attained the shape of a sword. Indeed a marvel of nature. The sky was overcast and black clouds made the sun nearly invisible. I walked down as it was time for a bath. Eventually, I could feel a dark shadow was towering over me. As I stepped closer to the ground floor, darkness increased, I turned my head but there was no one, which was obvious who could be in the entire house except me?

I heard a knock on the door but it wasn't the front door, it was rather the door of the store room, the first thought that came into my head was a little cat that came to my door last night and I fed it milk. The store room has a little ventilator, it must have entered through it, after all it's said that cats are liquid.
As I approached the door there was a loud thud that practically startled me and unconsciously I took a step backwards.
Another thud and the glass flowerpot kept on the stool near the door came crashing down and what was more surprising was that as it broke no water spilled on the floor but it was thick blood like liquid that spread all over the floor, this scene was enough to send chills down my spine, I bent down to check it if it was blood or my mind has actually lost it's senses and as soon as my fingers came in contact with the mysterious liquid there was another sound from behind as if someone lighted a match, I turned my head and saw through the window, a man who was passing by my house as he lighted a cigarette for himself, I tried to calm down my pacing heart and turned back to the previous venture, only to find that there was nothing on the floor.

The flower pot was placed safely at it's place and it took me no time to understand that I have started to procrastinate a lot because of the old man.

I went back to the kitchen to feed my stomach some food so that I could get back in my senses. After a quick supper I went down to have a look at the house. Though, it was my own design but I had no time to come and take a look at the work. I had made the design before even entering the army thinking that I would come and stay at a hilly area after my retirement, who knew that my retirement would approach so early. It is funny that though I had made the design myself, I faintly remember anything about it. As I looked around, I was mentally praising myself for the same. The upper floor had two rooms, a bathroom and a huge balcony, and the ground floor has a kitchen, a dining room, a hall and two bedrooms. The floor is made of concrete is covered with wooden flooring, the walls are painted with dull colours, in the hall there's a fireplace, all the other things are also exactly as I wanted, I must say that the contracter has done a great job.

I don't really have anything to do here so I decided that the little piece of land that is there in front of my house, I should utilise it to grow some vegetables and flowers, however, as soon as I went outside it started raining heavily.

I went back to my bedrooms, I have also always wanted to become an author so I was working on a book from a long time so I guess this place us the best for my writing purpose. There was a ring on the door I stood up and walked down to open and found a man nearly equal to my height all drenched in rain leaning against the door as I opened the door he said, "Oh, hi! I am Naman, actually, it's raining.....I want a shelter for tonight, if you could?"

"Yes, yes, why not; get in."

"Thank you!"

"Do you want me to get something for you? Tea? Coffee?"

"Oh, no, not really, but I desperately need a shower, otherwise I will catch severe cold, can I......?" by this time he had already sneezed twice and I must say he has powerful sneezes.

"Yes, this way, the water must be warm, you can take a bath and you can use the next room here."

"Thanks!"