I heard footsteps from somewhere nearby.
Where was it coming from? Wait, they are my feet!
Why am I running?
I slowed myself down to a trot and looked around. It was a completely deserted road and I had never seen it before.
Suddenly, I heard tires squealing near me as a car pulled over and a man got out of it.
I turned to look at his face.
Crap! I was running from him!
I bolted into the next street that i saw. Several thoughts flashed across my head at that moment.
My life hadn’t been this dramatic from the start. I had a simple but unsatisfactory life with a routine job. I earned enough to break-even every month. Eventually, I grew tired of the rut that i was in. I could not see the point in slaving away for eight hours a day for a miniscule salary. I was tired of going through the same routine everyday without any motivation. I was even ready to forego my financial security and quit my job.
Just before the day I was about to resign, I talked to this guy from work. The guy who had always seemed content with his job even though he was in my same position.
But everything would be alright now, once I cross this street. I had the documents they needed and they would give me the money that I deserve.
Finally! I see light. Wait. Who is the guy following me?
The answer for it was waiting at the other side. Because someone immediately rammed into me as I exited the alley. As I blacked out all I could think about was,
I wish there was an easier way to make money.
******
PING!
What is this now?!
I had a mail from someone. Mail? Oh... Just a dream?
The mail was about some new order confirmation worth a million dollars. I stared at the e-mail for a long time without feeling elation and moved my cursor to archive it.
PING!
"Good job people!"
My father had replied, appreciating everyone for their work. I scowled at the screen and shook my head.
Being the son of a wealthy, hardworking businessman and working for him is a tough job. You tend to get credit for work that you didn't do. You are haunted everyday by the guilt because of that. You are never in a position where you can realise what you are truly capable off. And to add to that-
PING!
I read the mail and a sense of frustration filled my head. As I was saying, add to that your girlfriend dumps you through email because you do not have time for her.
Something popped in my head,
"Kumar, stop the car."
"sir? I am not supposed to..."
"OH just.."
I pushed the door open and jumped from the still moving vehicle and ran. I could hear the whole convoy stop behind me.
They treat me like some king. I hate it!
Suddenly, I was jolted by a sharp pain near my neck and the light around me faded. I have enemies?
I felt someone touch my hands.
Woah! Where am I?
I looked around and there was a girl sitting opposite to me. It was a restaurant, a fancy one in fact. The girl smiled and gave me a concerned look.
Oh shit! Did I zone out during a date? Think of a good reply common!
"Are you okay? You seem stressed!" she asked with concern.
"stressed? Me? No! "
"then?"
Ughh, i can not tell her I was dreaming with my eyes open! Let me try smiling.
I smiled, she frowned.
Okay plan B.
"Okay, now i am stressed because I don't know how to get out of this situation without telling you that I was too preoccupied to listen to you"
I braced myself for another drink on my face. It had already happened thrice today. What else would you expect? The room was filled with single and desperate thirty year olds.
Everyone wanted to settle down and get married when they were thirty. But me? I had other plans, many other plans..
"okay, you are kinda freaking me out now. Maybe I should-"
"I was thinking." I interrupted her.
"Ohh! About?"
" well, I was thinking about how certain choices I've made in my life have brought me to this current situation. I was also thinking about the consequences if those choices had been different."
She stared at me for a moment and I could see a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"And?" she asked
Her eyes, gosh! They were beautiful!
I explained my thoughts to her.
"Am I really THAT boring for you to zone out like that?"
Why do i feel like she is feigning it?
"oh no! Its just me, my mind wanders a lot . You are the most interesting person that I've met so far in this place."
She started.
"Why do you say so?"
I grinned, " For starters, I have never met a girl so interested in my mindless ravings!"
She leaned back on her chair and smiled, "Mindless and imaginative! You should write stories!"
I am getting comfortable with her. Weird.
"But i would say you are worrying about unnecessary things. Look at the present. You are in a nice restaurant, music in the background and sitting with the only girl over here who has not thrown the drink at your face yet." she winked.
I looked down at my shirt to see wet spots in it.
"Oops, its still noticeable" I looked up at her with embarrassment.
She smiled.
This is going to be interesting...
Someone tapped on my shoulder.
I turned and sirens started blaring all around me.
*-----*
The boy woke up with a start.
As per routine, he snoozed the alarm for some more time and went back to sleep hoping he can be in the dream again.
He couldn't.
Where was it coming from? Wait, they are my feet!
Why am I running?
I slowed myself down to a trot and looked around. It was a completely deserted road and I had never seen it before.
Suddenly, I heard tires squealing near me as a car pulled over and a man got out of it.
I turned to look at his face.
Crap! I was running from him!
I bolted into the next street that i saw. Several thoughts flashed across my head at that moment.
My life hadn’t been this dramatic from the start. I had a simple but unsatisfactory life with a routine job. I earned enough to break-even every month. Eventually, I grew tired of the rut that i was in. I could not see the point in slaving away for eight hours a day for a miniscule salary. I was tired of going through the same routine everyday without any motivation. I was even ready to forego my financial security and quit my job.
Just before the day I was about to resign, I talked to this guy from work. The guy who had always seemed content with his job even though he was in my same position.
But everything would be alright now, once I cross this street. I had the documents they needed and they would give me the money that I deserve.
Finally! I see light. Wait. Who is the guy following me?
The answer for it was waiting at the other side. Because someone immediately rammed into me as I exited the alley. As I blacked out all I could think about was,
I wish there was an easier way to make money.
******
PING!
What is this now?!
I had a mail from someone. Mail? Oh... Just a dream?
The mail was about some new order confirmation worth a million dollars. I stared at the e-mail for a long time without feeling elation and moved my cursor to archive it.
PING!
"Good job people!"
My father had replied, appreciating everyone for their work. I scowled at the screen and shook my head.
Being the son of a wealthy, hardworking businessman and working for him is a tough job. You tend to get credit for work that you didn't do. You are haunted everyday by the guilt because of that. You are never in a position where you can realise what you are truly capable off. And to add to that-
PING!
I read the mail and a sense of frustration filled my head. As I was saying, add to that your girlfriend dumps you through email because you do not have time for her.
Something popped in my head,
"Kumar, stop the car."
"sir? I am not supposed to..."
"OH just.."
I pushed the door open and jumped from the still moving vehicle and ran. I could hear the whole convoy stop behind me.
They treat me like some king. I hate it!
Suddenly, I was jolted by a sharp pain near my neck and the light around me faded. I have enemies?
*****
"you look lost, what happened?"I felt someone touch my hands.
Woah! Where am I?
I looked around and there was a girl sitting opposite to me. It was a restaurant, a fancy one in fact. The girl smiled and gave me a concerned look.
Oh shit! Did I zone out during a date? Think of a good reply common!
"Are you okay? You seem stressed!" she asked with concern.
"stressed? Me? No! "
"then?"
Ughh, i can not tell her I was dreaming with my eyes open! Let me try smiling.
I smiled, she frowned.
Okay plan B.
"Okay, now i am stressed because I don't know how to get out of this situation without telling you that I was too preoccupied to listen to you"
I braced myself for another drink on my face. It had already happened thrice today. What else would you expect? The room was filled with single and desperate thirty year olds.
Everyone wanted to settle down and get married when they were thirty. But me? I had other plans, many other plans..
"okay, you are kinda freaking me out now. Maybe I should-"
"I was thinking." I interrupted her.
"Ohh! About?"
" well, I was thinking about how certain choices I've made in my life have brought me to this current situation. I was also thinking about the consequences if those choices had been different."
She stared at me for a moment and I could see a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"And?" she asked
Her eyes, gosh! They were beautiful!
I explained my thoughts to her.
"Am I really THAT boring for you to zone out like that?"
Why do i feel like she is feigning it?
"oh no! Its just me, my mind wanders a lot . You are the most interesting person that I've met so far in this place."
She started.
"Why do you say so?"
I grinned, " For starters, I have never met a girl so interested in my mindless ravings!"
She leaned back on her chair and smiled, "Mindless and imaginative! You should write stories!"
I am getting comfortable with her. Weird.
"But i would say you are worrying about unnecessary things. Look at the present. You are in a nice restaurant, music in the background and sitting with the only girl over here who has not thrown the drink at your face yet." she winked.
I looked down at my shirt to see wet spots in it.
"Oops, its still noticeable" I looked up at her with embarrassment.
She smiled.
This is going to be interesting...
Someone tapped on my shoulder.
I turned and sirens started blaring all around me.
*-----*
The boy woke up with a start.
As per routine, he snoozed the alarm for some more time and went back to sleep hoping he can be in the dream again.
He couldn't.
