Bamboo Grove by the Brook

Part 8 - Lost In The Abyss

Nikki was half-awake; her eyes still heavy with the remnants of sleep. The slumber slowly wore off and her eyelids flickered open to an unlit room. The sun was still far below the horizon. Streets were silent except for the occasional whooshing of the passing cars. Their lights were momentarily filling the room. And in that light, she could see her mother sleeping peacefully next to her. Her soft snoring filled the room. Wanjiru was sleeping in a cot next to the wall. She had no idea how long she slept; all she remembered was that when her mother tucked her in it was still daylight. Did she dream? Nikki could not remember clearly. Some bits and pieces were floating in-and-out. In another moment they were gone leaving no bread crumb trail back to them. She tried but could not recall why she felt a disturbing presence in the dream.

Nikki turned on the lamp by the bedside table. The clock showed 4:20; still a couple of hours to sunrise. Her throats were dry and itchy. She sat up on the bed and gulped the glass of water she always kept on the table before going to bed. Nikki tried to remain awake but the effect of the medicine took over and soon she dozed off.

She was walking through a forest path that was enveloped in greyish darkness. It was very cold and she felt a draft on her face. There was a smell that reminded her of dark wintry nights. A hushed silence was interspersed only by the sound of her footfall. She looked up – the top of the trees seemed to disappear behind the clouds. A wind suddenly started blowing bringing with it some faint whispers. Greyish smoky wisps appeared from the branches and the whisper became louder. It was coming from every direction; it was even ringing inside her head. Nikki did not understand the words, however, she felt the voices were beckoning her towards a deep, dark abyss.

She began to run wildly. The twisty tendrils were stretching and elongating. They were thicker now and all around her, snaking her like some ancient, malevolent serpent. Nikki was trying desperately to dispel the tendrils of smoke with both hands. She was feeling breathless, her lungs were threatening to burst; still she kept running. Suddenly the path ended. There was a dark abyss ahead of her. The darkness was kind of hazy. Nikki felt drawn towards it, but she was not moving willingly; it was as if she was being sucked in the direction of the chasm. She tried hard but failed to pull back. The voices grew louder and the smokes became denser till it became one with the darkness of the chasm. And Nikki disappeared in it.

'Nikki, wake up.' Her mother pushed her. 'It is already half-past seven.' There was no response. 'Ray, please come here, quick.'

Nikki's father came running, sensing the alarm in her voice. Wanjiru, who was in the kitchen making pancakes, too ran upstairs.

'I can't wake her up.' Nikki's mother repeated anxiously.

'I think we need to call Martha. It could be the medication.' Her father proceeded to call Dr. Van Niekirk.

'Aunt Richa, look!' Wanjiru exclaimed. She was pointing at the glass of water on the bedside table next to Nikki. 'It was full when I went to bed. Now it is empty. That means she woke up sometimes at night or in the early morning.'

'You are right, Wanjiru. She is not sleeping since yesterday.' Nikki's father agreed.

Wanjiru suddenly removed the blanket and checked Nikki's hand and feet. 'See, Uncle Ray, her feet are moist, so are her clothes.'

A while later there were footsteps on the stairs. Dr. Van Niekirk entered with Nikki's mother. 'Ray, let me check her vitals first.' She sat on the bed and proceeded to check Nikki's pulse, her pupils, and the heartbeat. Finally she turned towards the anxious parents. 'All her vital signs are ok. Pulse is a bit fast but nothing alarming. She has, however, lot of rapid eye movements, which means she is dreaming. Probably she is experiencing a nightmare, which is why the pulse is fast.' Dr. Van Niekirk paused. 'But none of that explains why she is not waking up. I need to run some tests and for that she needs to be shifted to the hospital.'

'Don't be upset, Richa. She'll get well soon.' Martha smiled, trying to mask the anxiety that was gnawing inside her.

All of a sudden, Wanjiru's eyes fell on Nikki's shoulder. 'What on earth is this?' She picked up a small, green leaf that looked like a miniature maple. It was sticking to her damp night-shirt.

'It's the same as that night. Only this time she couldn't find her way back.' Wanjiru mumbled. Tears streaming down her cheek.