“Hey! Wait for me. ”
I shouted to my friend while hurriedly gathered the necessary items for the
class. I locked the room and checked the time, there were still 10 minutes
left, with the relief and assurance of reaching class on time, I doubled my
speed to catch the friends.
‘Damn it.’ I cursed
myself. In speedy action I forgot to bring a calculator, without which I
wouldn’t be allowed to enter the class, even if I did, when the tutor finds out
I will be chased out of the class with the scalding scolding. If I go back to
the hostel, there is no way I can make to the class on time, a minute late and
marked absent for a period. ‘Oh! God can’t you make things a little simpler.’
‘Take it easy’ I
tried to calm myself and saw the angry rush of air released from the nostril. A
day was a mess from the beginning. Woke up and found out only half an hour left
to get ready for the class, rushed to the bathroom and forgot to take
toothpaste, raced back to the room to get it. Had to compromise with the god
with a brief prayer and quick offering of water, hope god will forgive me. I
busily replayed the action with the cursing murmur while going back to the
hostel.
Something hard
blocked my way, a stairway to hell (hostel) I realized. My right ankle got
twisted outward, with the realization I tried to firm my grip on the ground,
but in dismay, I fell hard on the ground with the loud bang. ‘Ala!” an
exasperate moan escaped from me, I swallowed a lump of my own saliva to block
the tears which threatened to come out of my eyes.
Saw the blood oozing
from my right palm; which happened in defense to support the whole weight of the body
had landed on the sharp edge rock which didn’t miss the chances to pierce my
palm.
It wasn’t blood on the
palm that claimed my attention, but the constriction of pain in the right ankle.
Sighing out, I tried in vain to get up. ‘You must be kidding; I can’t sprain my
ankle at the moment.’ I muttered to myself. ‘You already did’ my inner voice replied,
adding an irritation.
“Sonam! Come here.” I
shouted desperately as I saw my friend of electrical department who was going
to the boys hostel.
“Why?” he replied bluntly.
“I need your help. I
have sprained my leg.” I shouted.
“Stop kidding. I have
class at 9 and I need to print lab manual.” He shouted back.
“Fine, thank you.” I
replied with the pinch of sarcasm. I again cursed myself for not being serious
all the time. When something serious happened in reality, nobody believes because
I have been joking around all the time.
I pulled weighing
right leg and made my way to the kitchen. I need to meet cook uncle to set it
in the normal position. *sighhhh****
“What happened,
Ashim?” a sweet voice asked me.
“I sprained my leg.”
I pathetically answered to first year girl.
Instantly she lent
her shoulder to support me. With the relief I thanked her.
“Where are you going,
Ashim? Wouldn’t it better if we go to college infirmary?” she asked.
“Hmm… I am going to the
kitchen to meet one of the cook uncles. He kind of takes care of sprain and
fracture cases of college.” I explained sounding little foolish to myself.
“Don’t you have
classes?” I asked with the guilt.
“I had but it is
called off lo.” She replied with the grin.
‘Oh’ I shifted my
weight lightly from her shoulder.
It felt like years
before we reach to the kitchen and she hastily went in search of cook. Cook
uncle came hurriedly wiping his hand in red pattern apron and inspected my ankle
immediately. And said it is a minor one.
I felt the slicing
pain as cook uncle took my ankle in his hand and shook in left and right
direction. I closed my eyes to shun the increasing pain and tighten my fingers
to tight fist ball. I felt the nerves in the neck projecting distinctly
outward as I gritted my teeth to stop from choking from the pain.
“Take it easy and
relax. In a minute, you will be fine.” I heard cook uncle assuring me. My ankle
was gently being inspected, but suddenly he accelerated the speed and twisted
left with full force. A chirping scream escaped from me and felt the wetness on
the cheek.
“It’s done.” Cook uncle
informed me. I reluctantly opened my eyes with the sense of embarrassment still
hanging around and saw first year girl holding my hand. I shifted my gaze to
right and found my cousin and friend Sonam standing in front of me.
“I am really sorry,
Tshering. I thought you were joking.” He sounded sincere.
“It’s ok. Don’t you
guys have classes?” I asked.
“I have practical
class after lunch only.” My cousin replied.
“I have next in 15
minutes.” Sonam answered.
“Thank you Sonam. I
am fine, you can go to class. What about you, sister?” I addressed to beautiful
girl inside and out.
“I too have next
class.” She replied with hesitation.
“Thank you so much
dear. You can go to class.”
“Are you sure, Ashim?”
She asked me with genuine concern.
“Yeah! Absolutely. My
cousin will take me to college infirmary to plaster and to do further checkup. Thank
you.” I answered with the smile.
They went hurriedly,
I thanked cook and we proceeded to infirmary with the snail’s pace. On the way,
I heard the constant ringing of the gong for the next period.
“OHHHH…WAIT…WAIT…WAIT”
we have bell system only in school not in colleges. Suddenly the sound of bell
boomed louder and louder…I instinctively put my both hands in ear to protect my
eardrum from bursting. It grew it irritating with passing seconds compelling me
to open my eyes.
‘What!’ I inspect the
environment in confusion. I was in my bed cuddling in a very odd position with
left thumb nail piercing the right ankle and it was a dawn. An alarm clock on
the mobile again ringed. I stopped it and checked the time. It reads boldly ‘6:05
am’. So ‘I was dreaming!’ I grinned sheepishly.
‘A dream so real’ I
muttered while getting up.
