ALIENS ( for Blogprint)
ALIENS
Dr Madhvi karol
He could not sleep the whole night; just kept tossing all over his bed; his
eyes felt strained as he made an effort to keep them closed. This was the
third consecutive night but sleep was still eluding him. Any moment LOBO
would be with him; anytime now! This anticipation made him restless and
jittery.
“Manav”, he heard her call, ''Will you please stop tossing on the bed…..I
need to sleep……we have to go to the hospital tomorrow”, Jasmine’s voice was heavy with sleep and suddenly brought him out of his semiconscious state. The clock on the wall showed four in the morning. Another night had gone waste in waiting. He must meet Lobo he thought and turned to fall into a fitful sleep.
“How do you feel today?” the doctor asked smiling while taking in Manav’s
careless attire and unshaven cheeks.
“Oh I feel fine…you know doc…actually, I always felt fine…my parents and my wife!” he shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
“They don’t understand…..you do….don’t you?” He looked at the doctor to feel reassured. “You don’t think I am mad too?”
“Of course not”, Dr Vishwas replied, smiling back to him. This particular
question was asked umpteen times in his daily dealings with mental patients.
“Still, you must take your medicines regularly…..just to make you feel
better….okay? Don’t skip any dose.”
Manav got up from the chair, relieved. He was not mad he knew that from the beginning and then turning to his wife he gave her a cold stare as if to say ‘See I told you nothing was wrong with me’, and walked out ahead of her taking long strides, out stepping her brisk walk that was trying to keep pace with him.
He was in class ten at school when he was caught experimenting with
chemicals. The mixture he was pouring into a glass jar filled with a hot
blue liquid exploded, brightening up everything inside the lab for a
fraction of a second. Everyone came running and gathered around him to
assess the extent of the damage caused. But fortunately he was unhurt and
the lab escaped any major damage too. The lab assistant twisted his ear as
punishment.
“What did you do?’ he asked annoyed.
“It was just an accident”, Manav had replied sheepishly rubbing his fingers
on his now burning ear. Despite repeated questioning he had somehow managed to give vague answers and got away with it. But that was then. Now he was in the process of making an instrument that would defy gravity and the magnetism of the earth and also inventing a screen made up of certain
chemicals that would generate a special light for aliens to travel here. He
wanted to establish contact with aliens and was very positive that rather
than travelling so far he could do it by creating a special instrument that
would facilitate their appearance right here.
While in school and college he attended to work on his experiments. He
befriended the lab technicians to allow him to use the lab after college
hours so that his work could go on unimpeded in the quiet of night. The
next ten years were the most rewarding time for Manav because he was able to successfully establish his own lab and spent most of his time experimenting after office hours. Work was a necessity only to provide money for his experiments.
befriended the lab technicians to allow him to use the lab after college
hours so that his work could go on unimpeded in the quiet of night. The
next ten years were the most rewarding time for Manav because he was able to successfully establish his own lab and spent most of his time experimenting after office hours. Work was a necessity only to provide money for his experiments.
“We have seen a girl for you…….Neha…..that’s her name”, his father
announced, tired of Manav's involvement with the lab which he was sure was just a way to escape responsibilities. Perhaps marriage would bring to him
the needed distraction……perhaps he would get into the mainstream of life
like everyone else.
“I am not ready for marriage yet”, Manav said firmly.
“The girl's father is in US….. in Maryland…..she is a green card holder.”
His father assumed that would be an added attraction for his son.
“It is out of the question……I don’t want to go anywhere else.” Manav looked
at his father incredulously.
” Well then, Jasmine is nice too……….her father owns a big store in Calcutta.
You can join him and earn a lot.”
announced, tired of Manav's involvement with the lab which he was sure was just a way to escape responsibilities. Perhaps marriage would bring to him
the needed distraction……perhaps he would get into the mainstream of life
like everyone else.
“I am not ready for marriage yet”, Manav said firmly.
“The girl's father is in US….. in Maryland…..she is a green card holder.”
His father assumed that would be an added attraction for his son.
“It is out of the question……I don’t want to go anywhere else.” Manav looked
at his father incredulously.
” Well then, Jasmine is nice too……….her father owns a big store in Calcutta.
You can join him and earn a lot.”
How could his father think he would work in a store? If it wasn’t so serious
it would have been hilarious. But his father just turned away after
informing him. Why could people not understand the treasure that was inside
him? What would a few thousand dollars or that stupid store matter against
what he already had? It was a pity they didn’t realize what they were doing
by trying to run his life. A ball of anger rose inside but he swallowed it
in and walked back towards his lab. It was the best place to work out that
anger.
it would have been hilarious. But his father just turned away after
informing him. Why could people not understand the treasure that was inside
him? What would a few thousand dollars or that stupid store matter against
what he already had? It was a pity they didn’t realize what they were doing
by trying to run his life. A ball of anger rose inside but he swallowed it
in and walked back towards his lab. It was the best place to work out that
anger.
Despite all his protests Jasmine came bang into his life. He had to give in
to his mother’s pleadings and buckets of tears. They just wouldn’t stop till
he said ‘yes’.
Only a couple of days before Jasmine came into his life he had finally
caught ‘Lobo’ on his screen. A faint impression in the beginning which
slowly cleared with time in the form of a pulsating light, vibrating all
over and may be smiling at him. He had successfully contacted life from
another planet in the galaxy.
“What is your name?”, he asked with bated breath, drenched in sweat with
excitement, and heard a vibration that slowly spread through his heart, his
spine, down till the last toe. A strange sensation engulfed him making him
shiver with an unknown pleasure. The waves of vibrations gave an impression as if saying Lobo… Lobo. He had no recollection of the time spent in that
state but when he got up it was already dark. The screen was blank, only an
occasional beep could be heard. “Lobo…Lobo…” he shouted and looked around but apart from the beep he could see or hear nothing. His parents were alarmed at his state when he reached home. He couldn’t eat, sleep or attend office for days.
Afraid of his own state he allowed himself to be married and tried to relate
to the people around with a fake smile. ‘They are my parents……and she is my wife’ he tried to remind himself but his heart was not in it. He could only
look at them with detachment. Not that he didn’t try to mingle and get
connected once again but the contact with Lobo was so overwhelming that he felt cut off from everyone around. Alarmed his parents took him to a
psychiatrist who prescribed medicines.
“Do you hear voices? Do you see things too?” The doctor asked all knowingly.
“Yes I do……they are from another planet…they will take me away some day” he confided in him.
“Don’t worry….take these medicines”, the doctor smiled knowingly.
“Schizophrenia” he announced to his parents. His already pregnant wife was
furious with them for keeping her in the dark about his mental state. She
wanted out.
“Forgive us… but if you leave, he will get worse….for the sake of your
child…please stay” they pleaded with her. Oh how she had dreamt of having a husband who would bring her happiness, who would be so proud to own the store with her! After all she was the only daughter of her parents. They
just wanted her to live happily and in peace.
“Do you intend to come to Calcutta with me or not? You promised…your parents promised……you can’t go back on it now.”
to the people around with a fake smile. ‘They are my parents……and she is my wife’ he tried to remind himself but his heart was not in it. He could only
look at them with detachment. Not that he didn’t try to mingle and get
connected once again but the contact with Lobo was so overwhelming that he felt cut off from everyone around. Alarmed his parents took him to a
psychiatrist who prescribed medicines.
“Do you hear voices? Do you see things too?” The doctor asked all knowingly.
“Yes I do……they are from another planet…they will take me away some day” he confided in him.
“Don’t worry….take these medicines”, the doctor smiled knowingly.
“Schizophrenia” he announced to his parents. His already pregnant wife was
furious with them for keeping her in the dark about his mental state. She
wanted out.
“Forgive us… but if you leave, he will get worse….for the sake of your
child…please stay” they pleaded with her. Oh how she had dreamt of having a husband who would bring her happiness, who would be so proud to own the store with her! After all she was the only daughter of her parents. They
just wanted her to live happily and in peace.
“Do you intend to come to Calcutta with me or not? You promised…your parents promised……you can’t go back on it now.”
She was saying something to him but Manav only saw her moving lips. Perhaps she was shouting he thought but his mind was somewhere else. His parents were pleading with her again but she left anyway to rethink her marriage.
“Crazy people!" he thought. All their life they have only bothered about
earning, accumulating money and things , eating and sleeping and whatever
time is left, they fight. Crazy people! And they want me to get into this
madness". He chuckled at their stupidity.
As soon as Jasmine left, Manav came back to his lab hugely relieved because
now he had a chance to work with the Lobo unhindered. They came as
transparent mass of vibrating, liquid light filling his life with a nameless
bliss. The Lobos came and caressed him and he loved every moment spent with them.
For him the world and its relations had no meaning. If you have a precious
stone what would you do with an ordinary one? Everyday he would get into an animated state where thoughts had no meaning; the world itself had no
meaning. He transgressed to a much higher plane from where coming back to this mortal world was getting difficult everyday. He pleaded with the Lobos
to take him away with them. There was nothing here that could match the
bliss he had been experiencing day in and day out for the last two months.
Now staying away from Lobos was just unthinkable. But they said there was
still time before he could move on with them. His body still posed an
obstruction.
First he saw the blood shot eyes and then the contour of a familiar person.
Jasmine was standing at the door.
“How can you spoil my life like this……..what nonsense have you got in here?”
her blistering attack took him by surprise. It was more than two months
since she had left and he had made no attempt to bring her back. Rather he
had just forgotten about her.
“They are my friends Jasmine….from another planet….please try to
understand.” He pleaded with her.
“You are crazy….you are mad…. you need treatment” she shouted because she saw no one in there except those funny instruments.
Before Manav could react she started picking up and throwing down whatever came to her hands. In no time all his instruments lay shattered over the
floor. They shone and blinked in pieces, bathing the room in pale blue
light. The anger rose from the pit of his stomach and hit his head. He
lunged for her but before he could reach her she retreated through the door
and ran out into the street shouting;
“He’s mad! He‘s mad! Crazy!”
now he had a chance to work with the Lobo unhindered. They came as
transparent mass of vibrating, liquid light filling his life with a nameless
bliss. The Lobos came and caressed him and he loved every moment spent with them.
For him the world and its relations had no meaning. If you have a precious
stone what would you do with an ordinary one? Everyday he would get into an animated state where thoughts had no meaning; the world itself had no
meaning. He transgressed to a much higher plane from where coming back to this mortal world was getting difficult everyday. He pleaded with the Lobos
to take him away with them. There was nothing here that could match the
bliss he had been experiencing day in and day out for the last two months.
Now staying away from Lobos was just unthinkable. But they said there was
still time before he could move on with them. His body still posed an
obstruction.
First he saw the blood shot eyes and then the contour of a familiar person.
Jasmine was standing at the door.
“How can you spoil my life like this……..what nonsense have you got in here?”
her blistering attack took him by surprise. It was more than two months
since she had left and he had made no attempt to bring her back. Rather he
had just forgotten about her.
“They are my friends Jasmine….from another planet….please try to
understand.” He pleaded with her.
“You are crazy….you are mad…. you need treatment” she shouted because she saw no one in there except those funny instruments.
Before Manav could react she started picking up and throwing down whatever came to her hands. In no time all his instruments lay shattered over the
floor. They shone and blinked in pieces, bathing the room in pale blue
light. The anger rose from the pit of his stomach and hit his head. He
lunged for her but before he could reach her she retreated through the door
and ran out into the street shouting;
“He’s mad! He‘s mad! Crazy!”
Manav ran behind and caught up with her. She tried to pull herself away but
was held with great force. And then his hands reached her throat and
pressed. People around came running, hearing her cries that had turned to
croaking. Their attempt to pull him away from her, failed. Suddenly he felt
familiar vibrations and quiet caressing making him loosen his grip. The
touch was so powerful; it made him chuckle and then he burst out into a loud
laughter. Just now it downed on him that he could meet his friends without
his instruments. Jasmine’s visit turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He
forgot his anger towards her and now looked lovingly at her. Then he took
her hand and kissed it ever so delicately frightening the wits out of her.
Just a moment ago he was about to kill her and here now he was laughing and kissing her. It was the most bizarre behavior. Jasmine jerked away and ran towards her car and sped away.
The doctor who was called gave him injections to make him sleep. “He needs
to be hospitalized.”
For the next three years Manav kept shuttling in and out of hospitals. His
pleas that he was as sane as anyone else fell on deaf ears.
One day the Lobos gave him a crystal. “You can now contact us with
this…anytime ….anyplace.” That day onwards his life was totally dedicated to
that wonderful bliss that people called madness. If his mother forced him to
eat, he would as if under great compulsion. His health deteriorated but
there was a strange shine in his eyes that seemed to penetrate and look
beyond this world.
“Madman….madman” his wife would shout and cry but he remained oblivious,
unapproachable. His two year old daughter was the only person he liked to
talk to. She didn’t demand anything just played with him with equal abandon.
Then one night it happened. While sleeping she turned and saw her husband
standing on the floor a couple of feet from the bed, glowing with a strange
light. Then he slowly started floating and rising towards the ceiling.
Before she could react he went through the ceiling and disappeared.
Stupefied she just looked on, not believing what she had witnessed just now.
So very mesmerized was she that she couldn’t even move. No sound came out of her throat either. When Manav went through the ceiling she got up and tried to shout but her voice failed her too. Jasmine ran out and started banging at the door of her in laws’ room. “He is gone…..through the ceiling….he won’t come back I saw him. Through the ceiling” she kept crying, repeating
and gesturing to make it clear to them but no one believed her. She was
talking nonsense. The doctor came and gave her injections.
“Delusions!” he remarked, gave his diagnosis and prescribed medicines.
Manav’s parents started their search for their son thinking that he left
them to be on his own and do whatever he liked. Jasmines parents took her
away to have her treated properly.
She can’t help it though…keeps looking at the ceiling at night. Small
children laugh at her and call her ‘madwoman’.
Manav’s parents started their search for their son thinking that he left
them to be on his own and do whatever he liked. Jasmines parents took her
away to have her treated properly.
She can’t help it though…keeps looking at the ceiling at night. Small
children laugh at her and call her ‘madwoman’.
Dr Madhvi Karol
Copyright@Madhvi-k.sulekha.com
2007
© Dr Madhvi., all rights reserved.
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