There had been no night as dark and cold as this. The trees whispered clan destines of nature and there was a howl and a hoot from a far remoteness. The sun had bid farewell long time ago and it was time for the sand man to drop that extra grain of sand into the eyes and cradle us to sleep and the kids to wait for the tooth fairy.
The branches made weird patterns on the wall as though a bat had just been transformed into the blood sucking creature….Mr.Vampire!
I quivered due to a lot of reasons. Virtually due to weather and…… oh! Oh I think I over looked something really vital….ummm… my Assignment!!
I’d been dreaming about the wonders of the world which had been the theme of my forgotten past - my assignment!
I checked the annoying piece of contraption, who never failed to wake me up on time and make that eminent sound of “tick-tock, tick-tock”, it was definitely late and I dropped the idea of completing my assignment in the intimidating obscurity.
My inner influences presaged me to unwind and so did the sand man. I predicted being a defaulter, getting notes to be signed by the parent and worst of all… my mom screaming her voice out. I bet her voice is undoubtedly more vociferous and blaring than any music the rock gods across the world could probably offer.
My eye lids battled and my drawn out eye lashes brushed my cheek…I cuddled beneath the blanket…
“Wake up, wake up!” my mom screamed at me. “Did you see the news…or the papers or at least listen to the radio..?
“Mom, mom just chill alright. I guess you know, I just woke up…and you made me wake up!” I retorted. The answer was quite discourteous I guess, because she gave me this piercing, cat like ogle, which made my insides squirm like the feeling I would sometimes get when I was out of the roller-costar.
“So tell me, what’s up?” I asked with inquisition in the freezing morning air, with disheveled hair, slits for eyes and raw teeth.
“Come and look for yourself dear,” she replied at once and turned her back on me. I wondered for quite sometime… it could not be train derailments, accidents, abduction, murder, political drama or the like. Do u even think my mother will ever be moved by such common phenomenons such as these… well I must admit, she’s a brave woman.
I didn’t want to strain my unique organ, my savior (at times)- the one and only brain, With suspicion.
I ran down the stair case and staggered down in the course. My mom was tuning into all the promising news channels with a remote in one hand and a piece of toast in the another, spreading peanut butter on it. My brother, the little evil manifestation- who acts as though he’s an angel, was flipping through the day’s newspaper…..UPSIDEDOWN!
I shrugged and snatched the paper out of his little hands greased with oil from the toast my mom had seemed to have given him. He gave me a stare which quite resembled my mom’s and little scream also replicating my mom. But as though I cared. It was the usual convention and I was unaffected by it. The paper said ‘special edition on the world going topsy-turvy – starting with…. The wonders……… of the world!!
I just thought for a moment, wasn’t this ‘the’ word …so familiar which had blinded my sanity??!!
However without much delay for a reason(cause it generally never…believe me….never had a reason) I read further and this time it was not with boredom or the thirst for vocabulary as it usually is…but it was out of sheer speculation and interest which had moved….my mother!
On progress with … “Tower Bridge, London, U.K….” “Yes, so what with it I snapped” feeling a tad affliction. My mother never missed a chance to check on me, she feared her ‘little princess’ may get harmed in some way. “Sneha, what’s it? Are you speaking to someone dear?”
I must admit, superfluous protection made me a little uncomfortable. “Umm...Nothing mom...” I said in a rather obvious tone. It was quite obvious from my tone that it was definitely not ‘it’.
Back with the news. “The Tower Bridge, the most famous bascule bridge in the world has ended its fascination to visitors. The bridge is surprisingly shrinking stopping the over sea trade and causing unlikely traffic! My eyes have to be deceiving me! “Mom did you read this?” I hollered despite the furor my brother was causing.
She wasn’t that interested. For a whole minute I thought she had just done this to wake me up and put an editorial comic on the coffee table! But she just said two words “read on...”
“Eiffel Tower, Paris, France …the most visited monument in the world has being shut for tourists for overhaul! The tabloid in France reported that an old French lady snapped her neck trying to spectacle its top! And she sued the government for it…”
Poor old rich lady I thought, but isn’t it a preposterous raison d'être (reason) to sue the government and have the site closed under personal privilege?? This is heights of craziness!!
“The Colosseum, Rome, Italy……” I clogged in the lines and took a lungful of air. Since early days I’d always fancied to be in Italy. And the desire so deep and special still tranquils me out of earth!
“The Colosseum considered an architectural wonder has been from entry. As the board gleams, ‘entry restricted’, the visitors enlighten their experiences of having hearing eerie sounds of cheering and gladiatorial combats! The squandering celebrations could only be heard and not seen.” Well if it wasn’t for the last line I would have thought Gladiator was being shot there….. or Troy!
“This is heights! I thought good triumphed over evil! Oh well I think this is yet another script for the Scooby- Doo movie!” “You know something?” my mom enquired of me, “speaking to your self is a bad habit and moreover your brother is trying to study please don’t disturb him honey.” She notified from the kitchen.
Where was my brother even studying or at least well trying to? Isn’t he on MY computer, playing games and listening to my music?? Meddling with My own possessions??! I was really indolent to have a mêlée with him at sunup. I would probably think of revenge and its adversities when he screws the only bit of exquisite contraption.
Back to the ludicrous tabloid, “Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany…. This triumphal arch, the symbol of its division and reunification has been restricted from entry the tabloid reported. The Goddess of peace. Driving a four-horse chariot in triumph has ostensibly been dappled in motion! One could in fact hear her exceptional mirth.”
Probably she predicted this news and was laughing about it, my mind reflected. Or how do u think such uncanny stuff will ever take place? Either it was just for media attraction or for the fact that they had the ‘right’ to write and publish what they wanted. Or practically even because that they’d been up all night writing this with their exhausted minds!
“Taj Mahal, Agra, India…” “Ok, now if there was any nonsensical thing about this, I sure am going to sue the paper for this perpetual, humorous offence!!
“The world acclaimed mausoleum of love built for the king’s beloved wife….” Oh how sad, I can’t have such a testament… the site values already have disquieting rates!
“Has reportedly heard warnings and laughter of a woman in wee hours of darkness! They couldn’t see a thing, but all they could smell was…. Rose?! It’s a known factorial that the queen loved roses and so did her beloved and she initiated rose products. And now the suspicion is, if the queen has risen from her costly grave?! And no wonder the king does too!”
These people are paranoid and well…. Totally confused without a doubt!
“The Parthenon, Athens, Greece…” “This sacred geometrical monument of the Greek civilization, and the enduring wisdom of its resident deity, goddess Athens is being considered haunted….! Transparent, mobile things have been spotted in eerie movement.
I can probably say only one thing, “lol”!!
Probably Steven Spielberg wanted an ‘editorial script’ for his next movie, which was exigent to stars such as Tom Cruise and also exclusive of similar topics of aliens and extra terrestrial life!
“The Great Pyramid, Giza, Egypt…” “This most patent and enduring symbol of ancient Egyptian culture is not only a tomb, but an embassy for the ostentatious mummies!
My Instantaneous rejoinder was quite predictable, “eeks!!”
“Locals say that, the pyramid hasn’t been open but the sounds of rejoicing and approval seem fascinating and ….scary!
So, now who’s Cleopatra? Courtney Cox?! ….or who’s Tutankhamen? Tom Felton?! And what about Nefretiti? Or Ramses? Probably the director will take the interest in forming the cast…why should I??
A sudden chill ran down my spine “is the world getting engulfed in the darkness of evil manifestation or what?!
“Statue of Liberty, New York, U.S.A.” “The most recognizable icon of liberty was reportedly seen yawning and adjusting her crown and flowing robes. The sight has been marked as spectacular!”
I know truth is better and false is sweet but how can I believe a false statement which is bitter and the truth, which is definitely sweet?
“St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, Russia” “This Cathedral of protection of the mother God, is a carnival painted of painted onion domes. Going anywhere near it…. Will result in involuntary crying and you cannot get away without a napkin!”
“Notre-Dame, Paris, France” “ one of the master pieces of European Gothic architecture has reportedly heard of automatic bell swaying and a portrayal of an amazing display of colors at dawn!”
Strange is not the word...
“The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy” “a campanile or bell tower which has a characteristic lean will reportedly collapse on touching it and hence entry will further be restricted”
“Well how can a great building such as this collapse on touching it?? Probably a case for the detective bureau to undertake…” “This is the last time I’m going to ask you to stop speaking to yourself!!” my mama harked back at me. I was ready to back fire but just felt ‘strange’ so stopped with a ….. “Ok!”
“The Blue mosque, Istanbul, Turkey” “this is a prominent landmark of Istanbul, with six golden minarets. According to the onlookers, birds in flight in the sky were pecking at the expensive metal to make their nests!! …they too have realized the value of gold...Hehe”
Weird affairs……the question now is to “believe or not to believe?!”
I’m sure the director would love the script and it would fetch him millions or being more practical….the person must have been bitten by Scooby! And that must have driven him out of his mind!
The trance began to fail and something icy cold ran down my spine. I experienced chills and a warmth glow on my visage…… Drops of perspiration were speckled on my face…..
“Wake up sis, good morning….. Cock-a-doodle-doo!” my brother alleged in my ear.
“How many times have I got to tell u…. not to play with water…in the morning and especially with me…? How dare you… you….” I vacillated
“I …I …what?? A ghost? A wonder? Your brother...? Oh ya unfortunately I am!”
“Oh don’t give me that crap….. Wait…. What about the wonders of world going topsy-turvy…and….and…”I tailed off, I usually do when I’m in a bit of a ‘wondering’ mood.
“Chillax sis…. You must’ve had a dream…rather an informative nightmare…! For further information, mum’s gone out and that spells... freedom in all its senses!! The fridge has a sticky, yellow note on it which says she’ll be going shopping afterwards, which sounds like she’ll be late…..and…”
“Whoa wait….it doesn’t sound like she’ll be late…. It spells like she’ll be late.”
“Ya, right and... today is Sunday if you had been worrying about something and sadly you cannot step out of the house and neither can I, because you are required to baby-sit me… and clean the dishes…..”
“Oh man, why does this thing befall me?”
“Anyways, you can wonder and dream about all you want later, I just came to remind you that today is MY computer day and so I need my C.D back at all costs with the interest”
“I thought I told you my friends were coming over and it was all mine today and remember, you had to return my C.D with the interest, premium and the guarantee it was in a functioning condition and by the way…. You had to clean the dishes as well, because the other day I was grounded I had to instead of you….!”
“Oh god, is there anything else mademoiselle Maxime..? Can’t I ever blind fold you at least once...? Ah yes there is…….. If I tell…”
“you better shut up and yes there’s nothing you can ever do to blind me off my senses and yes do this for now… I’ll tell you if there’s anything more.”
“Great expectations sis…”
“Pardon me? But is there anything wrong?” I asked with a squirm.
“Nothing…just asked if you have read the book ‘Great Expectations’?”
“Oh well I have! So just get along with your work.” I short listed in a telegraphic language.
I saw him storming out of the room as a last resort. There was nothing else he could possibly do…definitely not argue or bet with me because he would incontrovertibly face failure. I felt sorry for him….
That was the bro-sis fight grapple we customarily have a propensity to.
“Wow! So that was all a dream…sorry nightmare! Hope that’s all absurd…..”
The brat… was just behind the door, and he just entered abruptly.
“Ehm! Can I have an explanation please?” my brother requested demandingly tapping a foot.
“Should I tell it to you, of all the people? Oh well probably for this once, it’s a long tale……” I said clearing my throat with a million dollar smile.
A smile which would have been worth a take on the screen…for the perfect script of course! Well that was the only thing I was willing to give for a cost of…. Let’s just say...”Oh where’s my manager or my PA please call on him please….” How does that sound sophisticated ha? Well I feel sick when people do that!
Well coming back to the cost, it would be worth of probably a hundred million dollars but I sure am not that gluttonous so I’ll just make it….. Nothing! Stretch it, curve it, or just let it increase in size, because a smile is one thing which always looks nice…
This is yet another special poem, My first ever publication in the TOI - Times Of India(NIE - Student edition.), Winning me vouchers to Strand Book stall.
