The Bad Dream!

In sleep, I dream! We dream! Every living being dreams! But when we wake up, the dreams sleep!

Well, there are actually some dreams, which are immortal. They repeat everyday, like our memories do. My name is Karuda. I had one such dream and it was all BAD!

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It was 7.30 in the morning! I was in a deep sleep and I could hardly hear the alarm beep. But my hand was already searching for the snooze and BLOOP! It was all silent for a moment and I woke up. As I was stretching myself to find my glasses, the hands of my clock agreed that it’s already half past eight. One hour in one moment. My everyday story. OMG! I screamed as I jumped out of my bed. That wasn't a normal day. I had to rush immediately to attend a meeting at 9.15. I was all ready by 8.41. Never in my life had I known a man could tailor himself in 11 minutes. I started locking my door, pushing the sandwich into my mouth and then suddenly all the drama stopped.

My Mom’s standing beside me. What’s she doing here? She’s fixing a sticker on my door. The sticker, with a big picture of əʊm (ॐ)read, “Asatoma Sad gamaya, Tamasoma Jyotir gamaya, Mrytyorma amrutam gamaya, Om shanti shanti shanti.”

She stretched her hand entreating my commitment and told me-“We should always be grateful to God who gave us everything. For the day and everything you do in it, stop for a moment, thank him and pray before you start it.” I tried to promise her and she just disappeared. Oh wait! I looked around and it was just some sort of illusion. The incident happened over a year ago, when she left me alone here and I have been experiencing it almost daily. Today, I thought I should go back inside, pray for a minute and come back. But, my smart watch was already prioritizing things, reminding me that I was running late. Ma, I am Sorry! I am making an excuse even this morning. But I need to move now.

Walking down the stairs, I was feeling bad inside. Just as I reached the basement, I saw many people. There were children rushing to their schools, their parents to work, few old men returning from their walk and an old lady with a gentle smile on her face and a basket full of sunflowers. She must, probably be returning from a temple, I thought. Amidst all of them, was an old man, in uniform, saluting everyone passing by! EVERY SINGLE ONE! Irrespective of their age. Who’s he? OH! The Watchman! He was almost seventy. But, it was his duty and he was sincerely performing it. No one wished him back, but he never stopped. As I reached the gate, he repeated the same gesture, standing strong. It all happened in a minute and before I thought I should wish him back, I was too late and I already reached the main road. I looked back and felt sorry. I convinced my heart. “Dear old man! I’m sorry.” Making excuses is always easy and to that list, I just added another.

It was almost 9. I reached the bus stop and I was waiting for the 9’O 5 bus. The bus stop was very young, fresh and colourful. The bus never came on time. I knew it wouldn't come today either. For a moment, I felt the seconds hand was moving slower than the minute’s. Then I saw this lady, very young lady, holding her baby in one hand and imploring through the other. She’s a beggar. She knew, these adroit, clever, well-mannered, debonair clans would never try to help her, but she wasn't losing hope, her hand wasn't getting tired. No one was even trying to support her. Rather, they were looking at her in disgust. I thought I shouldn't be ignorant. I offered her a fifty rupee note while she reached me. To my surprise, she didn't accept and she humbly requested in a puny voice-“Saar! Naaku Paisalu vaddu! Tinadaaniki edanna ichi kaastha sahayam cheyyandi saar. meeku punyam untundi” (Sir, I don’t need money. Please help me get some food. You will be blessed)

I was moved. I was completely touched. How genuine her request was? How did these people even spurn it? I thought I should get her some food, at least for her baby. I looked around. There wasn't any hotel or a store. I started walking back and POMP! A loud horn. The Bus! Oh God! Blemished timing! Please don’t do this to her. If I miss this bus, I need to wait for twenty more minutes. I was helpless and I thought that should be her curse. I just gave her the money and I left. As I sat in the bus, there were many questions. Unanswered. Why didn't she accept my money? Isn't anyone giving her food even for the money, by the way she looked? Does she have energy, patience to go and buy? God knows! She was ugly in her looks, poor in her attire. But her request was sincere. I wished someone should help her. Excuse number four and I convinced my self. “I am sorry young lady!” and I moved on.

The bus was slowly getting crowded and all the seats were getting filled. “Fourth stop from here is my office and it would take about 15 minutes.” In the next stop, an old man boarded and his friend followed. They were too old to withstand the speeds and jerks but no one’s looking at them. I thought I should offer him my seat. “But, where will his friend sit? Or, am I thinking too much? No one around is caring. Even, the two old men seem to be happy. It’s fine. I will just get down in five minutes. They can occupy it then.” I resumed my playlist. And suddenly, in the next stop, almost twenty people boarded. The bus was heavily occupied. I could sense his distress now and I thought I shouldn't wait. My grandfather too would have wanted to sit if some one offered him a seat. I got up, strode a couple of inches and signed to him. He smiled and I was happy. He came all the way in between the riff-raff. But where’s my seat? It was occupied. This fat, plump faced dunce! He sat as soon as I got up and it was clear he was trying to ignore us. What amused me was-“How did this fat boar even fit in so narrow a space?” I turned to the old man and I said sorry! He smiled and said “Thanks!” As I got down the bus, I saw the old man standing. Yet again, I convinced myself-“I should have let you sit when you entered. I am sorry old man.”

I rushed to my desk and no one’s there. Oh gosh! The meeting started. I was peeping in through the door, being hesitant to open and my manager, on seeing me, asked me to come in. It was all about budget and schedule proposals. He was demonstrating something that’s impossible. No one’s opposing either. We knew we could definitely run out of time and budget if we adhere to this. For almost 5 hours, it was boring. Some slept and some silently wept. But, we all clapped as he finished. In the lunch, I told him it is not possible and what I got? A strident reply- “It’s all about false promises. Learn it!”

Oh! Is he asking me to learn something wrong? No. He is asking me to learn what we do. But are we doing something wrong? Yes! May be! Being faithless and disloyal is wrong. Then why weren't anyone opposing? They are afraid. Alas! No one listens to them. Then what should I do? Always Do what you think is right.

Am I on this earth? Where’s obedience? Where’s respect? Where’s humanity? Where’s loyalty? Where’s truth? We are leading on a bad path and the bad part is we know it. I was feeling tired and sick as I left the office. Tired of thinking and sick with feeling. I could hardly remember anything from then. On my way, I got some apples for the watchman, but he already left. I threw one to a dog on the street which was groaning and I reached home. I had some milk and an apple. I locked the door and quickly I was helping myself on bed to fall asleep! And I slept!

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When we sleep, the dreams wake up. The power of an imagination, the power of a dream, the power of a human brain is remarkably phenomenal. When we sleep, the dreams wake up and they have the potential to transform into anyone or anything.

Hello World! I, the dream of my master, woke up. Let me open the door and show you my master’s room. Oh! My master didn't sleep. He is awake. He is writing something. Whatever! He should have fallen asleep by now.

Go to sleep! Goooooooooo! (I was screaming) I am not moving. Tears are rolling down my eyes. Why is my master crying? I don’t know, but go to sleep! I will be alive only if you sleep.

Wait! I am already alive! How was I born? How was I born when my master is still awake? Ain't I your dream? You’re awake master and I, definitely am not your dream. Then who am I? Am I your conscience? Yes, I am. I am your conscience. WHOA!!! This wasn't a dream, master. You just revisited your day and I witnessed it as you wrote everything. Whoa!!!

But Master, why are you crying? What did you write? Show me. Oh! You wrote Tee, hech, ee- The; Dee, ay, vie- Day; DoubleU, ay, ess- Was; Ay, el, el- all; Bee, ay, dee- Bad! The day was all bad! The day was all bad! The day was all bad! Yes Master, Our day was all bad. When I wanted to help everyone out there, you convinced me and you just said a sorry. Now, let me convince you. I am sorry master! I am helpless. We should weep for our acts. We don’t deserve any sympathy. I am sorry Master! ___________________________________________________________

A dream is never immortal. If it is, it isn't a dream at all. It is our sub conscious. It is a mere reflection of our thoughts.

I often experience many such incidents and I always repent of what I did. I know, many of my fellow beings too undergo such circs. I want us all to react before all our days go BAD! Bad dreams are harmless. But, bad actions are definitely not.

My grand father once told me, “The good things we do always keep us positive. They give us strong sleep and for the next day, they are the pathfinders to our success. And it’s obvious the cycle goes round and we call it Karma. So, if you’re not feeling good, actually, you are not doing any good. Think about it.”

A sincere attempt to make my people think!

Man is a social animal and only we should help each other.

There are many people, poor, needy, helpless and disabled, in our society.

I am not asking you to hunt them and help them. But when you get a chance to, please don’t ignore them.

After all, we are all children of the same planet and we are all related to each other!

Protect Human! Help Human! Be Human