A Haunting !!

        

The land is almost barren and the climate is gloomy and dull..Grey wet rocks are all there is to see..Droopy vines and weeds with no flowers or colors adorn the place..This abandoned world, never been kissed by the sun or its rays, is dark forever..Among this god forsaken place is its only inhabitant..A child of 5..Her once pretty white dress is soiled and dingy. Her once upon a time silky hair is now knotted and dirty.. Her expression is bleak..There is no hope for me says her eyes..If at all she knew how to smile before, she must have forgotten it now, for her mouth is turned down in a permanent frown. Little cuts and scratches on her smooth skin goes unattended.. She stares with hollow eyes and raises her little arm whispering, ‘Help me.. please’..

For the second time that week Mindy woke up shivering and shaking at 2am in the morning.. For the Zillionth time she asks herself..’Who are you little one? Why are you in that horrible place? How can I help you? ‘..But she doesn’t have answers..How many times had she tried to force herself back to sleep just to find out more about the child.. How many times had she stayed awake afraid to go to sleep, fearing the helpless child..All the theories she had come up with for the dream, went nowhere..Nothing made sense..Finally she had learned to live with the little girl..Her own dream companion..Mindy never spoke about the little girl to anyone..It seemed like a breach of privacy doing so..

1 year of dreaming about the child, and I wonder how many more are to come, she sighs getting out of bed..Trying to sleep after the vivid dream would be useless..In her small 2 bed room apartment that she calls home, Mindy puts the kettle for tea..Ginger her golden retriever is awake and is following her every move ..Ginger always knew when she was disturbed..She walks up to Mindy and lays on her feet for a belly rub.. Ginger likes belly rubs and Mindy finds comfort giving those rubs..Treating the dog to her favorite biscuit, she savors her cup of Green tea, hoping it would relax her tense, taunt muscles..

It is 7Am shrieks the alarm clock..Time to hustle and bustle for work..Working as a junior accountant in a posh firm, Mindy cannot afford to be late.. Sitting in the train she cannot get the little girl out of her mind..But all that is put away as soon as she enters her office..The next 9 hours are hectic and mind numbingly busy..By the time the clock hits 8 in the evening, she is tired to the bone..Leaving work she hopes very badly for a dreamless, restful  night..Back in the train and on her 1 hour journey back home, her mind wanders back to the little girl..The dream yesterday was more vivid..She could see the pain and fear in the child’s eyes more clearly this time..The busy day taking a toll on her, she closes her eyes for a short nap. Soon a soft sob wakes her up..She looks around to see where the whimpering was coming from..A seat away from her is a little boy of 6 or 7 with honey blond hair and hazel eyes crying softly..Mindy looks around to see if the child was with a parent or guardian. None being spotted, she looks for the ticket master..The ticket master is nowhere in sight either..The train is almost empty now, and with 30 more minutes for her station to arrive, she walks to the crying child..She manages to sooth the child..His name he says is Kevin..and in the overly crowed station he had missed his mother, but knew that she will be on this train, so had climbed on any available compartment..Mindy’s heart went out to the poor child, as he cuddled with her for comfort and warmth..For a 7 year old, Kevin is smart..He knows the station his mom get off everyday, for he has been traveling with her since he was a toddler..Unfortunately for Mindy it was 4 stops future away from hers ..


As Mindy’s station arrived, finally she finds the ticket master and speaks to him about Kevin..The master being a kindly man, agreed to take care of Kevin and makes sure he find his mother..When Mindy went back to Kevin with the news, his face fell..His eyes filled with tears and his lips trembled in fear..He dint want Mindy to leave..In a very soft voice Mindy explained to him about Ginger and that she would be waiting for her ..Wiping away tears, Kevin put up a brave face and says he would stay with the ticket master, until they find his mom..

With a heavy heart, Mindy got down in her station and waved to Kevin..Eyes brimming with tears Kevin waved back..Making a quick decision, Mindy boarded the train and went back to Kevin, and together they traveled to  Kevin’s station, where his anxious mother waited..Giving Mindy a hug, Kevin ran to his mother and into her arms..The very grateful mother, thanked Mindy more than once, before going home..

The time was 10pm and with no more trains available, Mindy had to take a cab, which she could not afford..But it was fine, for the look on Kevin’s face when she rushed back to him and stayed for the rest of the journey was worth every penny ..Dead tired and worried about Ginger, she rushes to her little apartment to feed and comfort her friend..Dinner being done and safely tucked into her bed, she falls asleep almost immediately...

Her dream companion is back that night..but this time her dream is a little different..Just when the child hold out her hand and asks for help, rather than waking up in a cold sweat, Mindy finds herself reaching out for the child’s hand and holding it tight..Even though the reason for the little one's haunting is still a mystery, at least now Mindy knows what to do..She talks to the child, ‘ it is okay sweetie..your are no longer alone, I am here to help and whenever you are ready to leave there is a bright beautiful, happy world waiting for you..you don't have to be stuck in this world..’..The last thing Mindy remembers before waking up is the lovely smile on the little girls face ..With a dazzling smile of her own, Mindy goes through her very hectic day happily knowing that she had helped the child..There will be no more Haunting..