Lullaby

by Buddhima soni

 Chapter 4

  Am I DEAD???

  “EHHEEEEE EEEHEEEE” as I opened my eyes to see a horse neighing right nears my ear. I was horrified and I move few steps backward, it was a mystery to see my self sleeping on a heap of hay right next to a beautiful black house. I looked around to clear myself where exactly I was. But I failed since the place was soo dark not even a window caught my view and let a ray of light fall into this place

  But I thought may be I should be in a stable; otherwise I will not end up inside another place with a horse next to me.

  What am I doing inside a stable? I was more confused. My hunger was ruling my tummy and I really wish I could get something to eat for myself to fill up my tummy.

  I didn’t even have a watch to check for the time. Even my phone didn’t work may be after the accident , water must have gone into the Circuits and it has broken .I slowly stood up stretched and touched myself to see what I’m wearing. And I could realize that I’m still in my skinny top and shorts, that I was wearing when me and my friends were going on the safari, before I faced that terrible accident.

  But now the clothes were almost torn and even my skin was visible. But I was little happy to stay alive and end up at least like this even after facing a very bad unexpected tragedy.

  The built black beauty was standing next to me so silent and calm without been terrified and alarmed for the fact that a stranger was in his cage and was sharing it for the last couple of hours

  I felt so tired and I really needed somebody’s help right now. At the same time I didn’t find a reasonable excuse to tell to a person about what exactly happened and how I ended up in a stable.

  Before everything I had to get myself out of this stable. I didn’t want to shout because it will make all the horses mad and furious. So I tried to think of another way. The next thing that came to my mind was to jump out of the wooden gate of the cage, where the horse was trapped inside in the stable. But though I tried to climb it several times was too tall. The height was to prevent the horses from jumping over and running away from the stable. So after tiring few times I gave up on that idea as well.

  So I had no other option but only had to wait until I find another possible way.

  After few minutes I heard a sound of couple of people chatting outside the, I tried hard to listen to what they were whispering about, but I could barely hear them. Then I heard the sound of a door been unlocked. It was the stable door that unlocked and opened. Then a man came into the stable, which looked like a worker, may be to c lean the stable. As soon as the door open bright sun light came into the stable and spread its rays, this was striking and defeating the darkness which was ruling inside the stable. It was a lovely morning.

  Then the worker came closer to the gate of the Cage I was trapped in, which made me terrify and I hid my self behind the horse tiring to keep the horse calm at the same time. I still couldn’t come up with a lie to tell to these people about how I came into this place. Because even I didn’t know the proper reason for all theses weird things to happen

  Then the worker set all the horses free by unlocking there gates. My black beauty that I was covering myself to also ran out of the cage leaving me alone inside it.

  I felt so scared because now I don’t have a way to hide my self. I covered as much as I could behind the hay. but I knew it will not work. Then I saw the worker going out of the stable that brought me a great opportunity to go and get my self out of this place.

  Then I ran and ran and ran tiring not to show up inform of any worker. I felt something strange about the place but I didn’t have time to make my mind concentrate on any other thing than tiring to get myself into a safe place. I was running through a small path which was laid through a grassy land and I stopped to catch my breath near an apple tree on the grassland.

  I sat down under the tree and relaxed for a while. Leaning against the tree I closed my eyes. I tried to put up everything that happened the last couple of days till this moment. I was clueless at the same time I was dehydrated and felt faintish, right now I badly needed something to make my hungry go away and get myself some energy. Then only I thought of looking up to check whether there were any apples on the tree,

  Wow I was soo happy to see the tree was full of apples. Now since I found food I thought of climbing the tree and plucking two or three of them to fill up my tummy and putting some in my pocket as well to eat during the daytime, till I could find someone who could help me to find where I am and give me food and shelter till I find my way back home.

  I climbed up the tree, because my parents had a land which was full of apples as well ,I had some experiences climbing tree with my neighbor, when I was with my parents before coming to university.

  Then I sat on a branch on the tree, which was strong enough to hold me. And plucked few apples and started eating one of them. While eating I looked around the place to find any clue about where I was.

  Al I could see was vast land covered with grass and there were seed beds of different flowers grown and were so picturesque and I could see many horses running around the grassy land grazing and feeding their baby horses.

  My first perception was the aroma of the natural flowers. I could feel the soft breeze coming from the horizon. It brought me a wonderful emotion that I can feel still. Also I could see a small lake there are many trees and grasses that have grown around the lake and .Of course, a few rivers flow into the lake, but many springs also make this lake.

  Lots of fish and birds were living there. I don't know what kinds of fish lives there, but I could recognize some birds.

  Kingfishers are beautiful blue birds. They look like emeralds. They fly like a flash when they catch a fish. Many birds float and swim. Some flock, and others are alone.

  The view was so pleasing and relaxing. But I miss my home. I couldn’t be here forever. So I thought of finding my way home somehow. Then as I turned around and tried to get down slowly from the tree I saw a cottage from far behind me. I felt a relief inside my mind, thinking at least those people will help me.

  Then I got down and walked through the grass to the cottage, which was tickling my legs. A small path leads me there. There was a small fence up to my knees. I jumped over the fence because I didn't see anyone outside the cottage. So I thought of going near it and knocking on the door and asking someone for help.

  The cottage is built in a British style. It was built with stone, bricks, and wood. The foundation has stone, the walls have bricks, and the roof was built with wood

  Around the house there are trees. They are big and very old. They look very green. They were giving beautiful shade. When I walk under the trees, I see a green pasture with many cows on it, and beyond these cows I see the horizon. I feel a great sensation of freedom.

  The surrounding of the cottage was also a plot of roses of various colors. there were attractive butterflies coming to collect there daily food from these flowers and bees were buzzing and flying towards the flowers to get their essentials from them to make honey before the butterflies own the flowers. And different vegetables and fruits were grown as well. Who ever who lived here was so eco friendly and loves flowers I assumed.

  As I got closer to the cottage I could hear a lady singing a soft song .when I got closer and closer I could hear a baby crying and that lady singing a lullaby to make that baby go to sleep.

  “Sleep my little one,

  My loved one,

  As I rock and sing to you,

  As the bright moon and sun watches you,

  O're us

  O’re your little crib... “She sang in a soft and sweet pitch.

  And that made that baby stop crying and as the lullaby ended the baby felt a sleep...

  I was standing near the door of the cottage and listening to the lullaby and it felt so familiar to me. But it really didn’t make any sense. May be my mom also sang me to sleep with the same lullaby. Recalling my small times brought a small smile to my face. All these sensations that I feel g
ives me an impression of happiness.

  Then I knocked on the door

  Though I hear the lady talking and sound of kids. No one came for the door

  “Hello …………..is anyone home?” I questioned standing near the door outside

  Still no one answered. May be they were too busy with their house work and didn’t here me. So I thought of checking whether the door was looked... then I turned the door lock and the door open. It wasn’t locked. I knew it wasn’t a good idea to go into a house when the owners were already inside but I had no option when they didn’t answer the door when I tapped

  Then as I walked in first thing I saw was a living room there, and a beautiful fireplace. it is big and built of stone. It has in the front a grate of gilt color. The furniture looked like that they were made of oak. All the pieces of furniture have a good finish. The table, chairs, coffee table, and the piano are the same style. Moreover, the cottage has many windows that illuminate inside. I like its style.

  “Hello….” I thought of questioning again since I’m in an unknown place

  “Can anybody hear me” I said

  No body answered and then I heard the lady’s voice from far. so I followed the voice to where she was, then a beautiful young lady with blackish brown hair and dark blue eyes just like mine, where standing in the kitchen and was cooking a meal. This smell fills the whole cottage; there were lasagna, bread, chocolate chip cookies and many more on the table. There is also a dining room. In the dining room there is a table and four chairs. The place is pretty, and everything is clean.

  She didn’t see me because I was standing behind her looking here and there seen the beauty of this small cottage like house

  “Hey there …. Can you help me to find out where I am? I’m lost!” I admitted.

  She didn’t even turn around hearing my voice; instead she went on continuing her cooking. I was clueless and didn’t know what to do. Are they deaf? How come they don’t even notice me talking and coming into their house? I questioned myself. This is a mystery for me.

  Then I went close to her and touched her shoulder and tried to take her attention to me but she didn’t even feel that.

  What is exactly happening? I can’t be invisible. My head was spinning circles. I walked around the house here and there tiring to figure out something that will give me a clue about where I was. As I was walking in the cottage which wasn’t small from the inside, without my knowledge I ended up in a corridor which leads me to two rooms. In one room the doors were open, but even though it was bad, I peeped into one room. It was a bed room... In this room there is a night table next to the bed, a TV, mirror a radio, and a closet. Also, the room has a wall of wood and a window. As I walked in and opened the blinds, I could see outside to the garden, May be this is the bedroom of that lady and her husbands. I could see many beautiful pictures framed of them placed on a table near the bed

  There was another small table in the other side of the room near a window. And there were several files on that table. I didn’t bother to go through the files. But then a journal caught my eyes on top of the table. I didn’t know why, but I really wanted to read the journal.

  As I took the journal to my hand it had a black cover with the name written George Mark Sylvester written on it. May be it’s the journal of her husbands

  Then as I turned the book over, it says on the first page 1804.

  1804! That was years ago... even before I was born…I was so curious now so I went on reading and it I turned to a page in year 1809. That was the year I was born. I thought of reading it because I felt like something is written in it to help me solve this mystery. Though I read a couple of pages couldn’t find a proper clue. But all I could see was a paragraph in the yar1809 the year I was born… saying

  “My lovely baby girl was born…. She is our treasure and she will save our kind… my baby Rosaline. I love you my sweetheart. You are one of my biggest treasures.”

  That didn’t make much sense to me about saving their kind and other things that were written. So I went on turning pages and reading. But, after year 1810 January 15 he hasn’t written any thing…

  I had so many doubts in my head and none of them had a solution or an explanation. Then I thought walking out of the house because I felt so sacred and guilty to read others journals ...“OHPZZZZZZZZZZ” a small playful boy of an age about 5 years, came running from behind me and went right through my body which shocked and froze me.

  What…….what is happening……. This cant be……I…..I can’t be…….DEAD!

  Unless I’m a ghost they can’t run through my body…………AM I DEAD????? Nooooo it can’t be true...

  I was clueless. And shivering inside. I felt faintish and didn’t know what to do. Then I saw a mirror in the room and ran in front of the mirror to look at my reflection and to proof myself that I’m not dead… but when I stood in front of the mirror, I COULDN’T see my reflection. I could see the reflection of everything else behind me but NOT MY REFLECTION!

  I was horrified and started panicking and sweating. Tears started coming out of my eyes and slowly running through my cheeks.

  This can’t be happening… I can’t be dead... I started crying

  Then through the mirror I saw a calendar hung on the wall from behind me. I turned around and looked at it with amazement.

  It says 1810…1810???? Am I in the past? Have I traveled back in the past? Nooooo way.

  I was feeling drowsy and I fell on to the floor unconsciously…

  “Baby…. Open your eyes sweetheart…Adriana….” I heard a voice of a lady

  “Nooooo... I’m not dead …I’M NOT DEAD” I shouted and opened my eyes with a shock and my heart beating so fast...

  “Baby no you’re not dead. You’re alive! mom is with you” she said then only I realized hat it was my mom standing next to me with tears in her eyes.

  “Mom… where…where am I?” I question still in a shock

  “Don’t worry baby you’ll be fine... you met with an accident and our friends and Alex brought you to this hospital at Dubai... you were in a coma for 3 days. We came to see you as soon as we got the news…” and my mom started crying.

  So I was DREAMING about been invisible and dead and getting lost in a place of nowhere in the past?

  Phew… I felt a relief inside of me, knowing I’m safe with my parents. But felt something strange about what I dreamt