Once Upon a University Campus

Three, a Good Number

The sky had turned an angry red. The expanse of water in front of Annika was picking up the color from the sky and resembled a big pool of blood. A rogue wave pulled the sand under her feet throwing her off balance. The salty water splashed into her eyes and submerged most of her body. Her hand slipped away from Shivaay's grip. She fumbled for Shivaay who had been by her side all this time. The water rose making it hard for her to breathe. The salt burned her eyes and nose, the currents pulled and tugged. She tried to reach out to something, anything to cling to but all she could find was fist fulls of sand. In panic she tried to hang on to the sand till one more powerful wave almost swept here away. She desperately sought help but none arrived. She tried to call out for Shivaay but found out that her voice was lost. The currents grew stronger and appeared determined to tear her from the loose grip of the sandy shore. For once the current succeeded and Annika surrendered herself to her fate. She could not have fought against the mighty waves. The minute she stopped fighting the currents, she felt a strange sinking peace, of helplessness, of the ultimate inevitability. There was an abrupt jerk and she felt someone grip the edge of her clothes and hold her. "Shivaay" she mumbled as the resolute grip pulled her to safety. She was not sure if she was heard, though she herself could hear herself. She still could not open her burning eye and she stumbled onto a dry patch of sand.

"Shivaay.." She kept mumbling as she rubbed her eyes with her left hand trying to get rid of the salty water. She just could not open her eyes despite all her efforts, as if glue had sealed her eyes shut. She felt her bare hand against her face. Her bracelet had gone missing again. Evil sea had swallowed her precious bracelet.

"Shivaay" she moaned with her eyes shut.

"You forgot us?" A familiar voice, yearning for something whispered. It was unmistakably familiar, and feminine.

"She will never forget us." Yet another familiar but masculine voice declared and she felt a warm hand patting her.

"She forgot who we are, she forgot who she is. I am taking my things with me" The first voice declared.

"She will never forget who we are or who she is" the masculine voice tenderly declared.

"Papa" Annika whimpered. "Mama ?"

There was no answer. She badly wanted to open her eyes but they were sealed shut.

"Papa.... Mama" She grew restless and fumbled all around her trying to hold them for the one extra minute but they were not there anymore. Anguish grew deeper. "Papa.. Papa... don't go ... not again.. Papa.. Papa.." Annika screamed. The echo of the loud scream was lost in the crash of the wild waves.

The next moment, Annika found herself sitting on the bed bewildered, sweating profusely and clutching the sheets as if her life depended on it. She looked around and found an equally bewildered Shivaay next to her. She checked her hand, the bracelet was very much there. She felt the sheets and the bed around her. No, it was not sand. She felt her face, there was not a trace of water or grains of sand. No, her eyes were not shut tight with glue either.

"Sweetheart!" Shivaay gasped holding his heart " You scared me" Shivaay drew a deep breath.

"Uh?" Annika still looked a little lost.Her throat was parched and she still could not find her voice.

Shivaay poured himself a cup of water and then poured another for Annika.

"Rough day. Must have been a nightmare." Shivaay hypothesized..

It took Annika a few minutes to recover and remember where she was. After watching the sun set, they were back at the resort. While Annika took a shower, Shivaay had gone out on some work. He was still gone after she was done with her shower. The last she remembered was waiting for Shivaay.