...waking up from the sleep was always difficult for me but this time it felt very uneasy. I didn't remember if I had a bad dream or was I just too tired. Slowly I tried to move the fingers, everything felt sore, may be I was about to fall sick. Oh I could not afford to get sick. With difficulty, I opened my eyes. It felt so bright. I slowly got up from the bed. The surroundings looked familiar but no it wasn't my home. I tried to peep through the window. The street outside, yes I knew this one, since forever. It was my grand-mom's home and this street I have played in all during my childhood days. Suddenly somebody opened the door. I turned and saw her standing there, firm. I knew her. She was a friend. I asked her how did I get here. She did not answer, just asked me to go to bed again. She seemed upset to see me walking around. But no I didn't want to be here. I could sense there was something wrong. I had to go, I was feeling sick here. I struggled against her to move out of the room. I was feeling so weak. There were all kind of voices I could hear. Just then I saw him there, coming towards me. She let me go to him. I hugged him, it seemed so long since I met him. I hurriedly started telling him that she was keeping me here, that she was being mean to me, and I thought she was a friend.
"yes she is, she is taking care of you since all these years when you were asleep" was all that he said to me. I could not believe a word.....!!
.........and I woke up from the sleep once again. This time for real. Yes, I could believe what he told me. I never realized she was indeed taking care of me since all these years. Life has always put us together in different places. She has always been nice to me. She has always been just a friend, never a special friend, never a best friend, but unlike some, her friendship never came with an expiry date,. It was indeed forever. Sometimes dreams teach lessons...!
