The Escape
The long drive from Bangalore to Madanapalle on the local bus had been exhausting. As soon as the bus stopped, the passengers all rushed to get out, tired of sitting on the uncomfortable seats and stuffiness in the bus. They stood patiently as the porters took their bags down from the roof. A pale looking girl, in a creased cotton salwar khameez stood clutching her small bag tightly. Her eyes were sunk and she had dark circles around them. She watched for her small suitcase to be taken down. Pushing back some strands of hair that had escaped from her ponytail her eyes flitted furtively. She wanted nothing more than to escape to a room and lie down and rest her throbbing head. She had not eaten much since day ago. The food package that her masi had packed had remained untouched. As the porter brought her bag down she rushed forwards and grabbed. Muttering quick thanks she set off towards the town, masi had said that her friend's house was not far away. Bani took out the piece of paper with the name and address and showed it to one of the small shopkeeper who pointed towards the end of the street.
Bani stood looking at the door of the small house at end of the street. Taking a deep breath she knocked on the door and waited. After a few seconds she heard the door being unlocked and an elderly lady in a long skirt and blouse with her head covered in a white shawl opened the door. She peered through her glasses at Bani and suddenly her face smiled, "You must be Bani. I almost forgot you were coming today. I was just in the kitchen that is why the door was closed. Come in dear, you must be tired."
Bani stepped into the small room, the room was clean with two small chairs and a small table at one side while near the window was a low cupboard along the wall. Bani set her bags down at a side, "Namaste aunty. Neetu masi sends her greetings to you."
Esme looked at Bani carefully and noted the pale skin and tired eyes. Neetu was right, the girl was in a bad shape but then who would not be if they had gone through what she had. Poor thing had lost all her family except for a young sister in the ordeal. She asked Bani to follow her and she would show Bani her room. At the back of the house, wooden stairs led to a small room upstairs. It was simply furnished, a bed and small cupboard at one side and a small table in one corner. There were two windows that let in plenty of light into the room. Bani set bags down as Esme opened another door which led into a small bathroom. She told Bani to freshen up and then come downstairs for something to bite before resting.
As soon as Esme left, Bani went to the windows to make sure they were closed and then she closed the door and picked up the small table and wedged in against the door. Opening her bag she took out her towel and her pack of toiletries and stepped into the bathroom to wash the grime of the journey off. Moving the table away from the door, Bani went downstairs. She found Esme had laid out plates on the small table and was waiting for her. She asked Bani to sit down and served her vegetable curry and rice she had made for dinner. Over the dinner the conversation was sparse, Bani answering Esme's questions briefly. Once she had finished eating, Bani offered to help with cleaning up only to be told by Esme to go upstairs and rest.
Once again Bani wedged the table against the door and double checked the windows were locked before lying down on the bed. Within few minutes her eyes closed and she fell asleep.
Bani felt herself falling into a deep black abyss, her arms flailed as she tried to clutch onto something. The panic gripped her tight and she felt her chest being crushed. A scream escaped but got caught in her throat and then blackness closed in on her. In an attempt to escape she clutched her chest tightly and gave a jerk to find as she opened her eyes, she was sitting on a bed in a strange room. The light from the bulb hanging on the ceiling lit the room. She looked down at her hand which was partially covering the scar in the middle of her chest. She fingered the scar trying to blot out the memory of how she got it. Stepping gingerly out of the bed she went to the bathroom and washed her face. The watch on her wrist showed it was only one in the morning. She had been woken up by her usual nightmare again. Her clothes were soaked with sweat and she made her bathroom to wash herself down and put on a fresh clean clothes.
She picked up her diary and opened it to the page where she last left off. The diary was one thing that had become her aid, ever since Doctor Sharma had asked her to start to write down how she felt during the day or if something happened that would trigger a panic attack that plagued her. She read the last few lines she had written two nights ago and then picking up her pen she started writing. The scratching noise of the pen on paper as Bani put her thoughts down. Towards dawn her eyes started closing again and she put her diary under the pillow and drifted off to sleep. Couple of hours later, soft knocking on the door aroused her. Getting up quickly, she opened the door and found Esme waiting.
"Good morning Bani. I just wanted to let you know hot water is ready downstairs if you want to shower." Esme smiled and turned, "I will have breakfast ready in half an hour."
Bani brushed her teeth upstairs and then took a change of clothes and went downstairs to have shower. Standing under the warm water Bani fingered the scar in the centre of her chest. It felt smooth and now she could touch it without blacking out or having a panic attack. She quickly got ready and then joined Esme for breakfast. Esme had made toast, eggs and coffee. There were small jars of strawberry and pineapple jam and butter. Bani helped herself to eggs and toast and cup of coffee to which she added about three spoons of sugar. Esme watched Bani eat the breakfast quietly. When her plate was empty she asked, " I am going to go and do some shopping, do you want to come along? I can show you around a little. It's only small village, just one main street."
Bani didn't hesitate to say no, in fact she did not want to be stuck inside, she wanted to be outside and that was one reason why she had travelled here...the opportunity to explore the trails of the hills.
To be continued.................
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