Drink Up

By Siranjeevee

The Real Dream

It’s all black, there's no one here. I remember the days when I used to be afraid of the dark, now again it's all the same, the fear.. it’s all over me but it's new and even more terrifying. A ear numbing sound came from the other direction, there was no path to follow I just went with the sound. It led me to the living room, it was raining outside and there he was.. my father sweating and angry. He was a 6 foot tall middle aged man wearing his favorite striped blue t-shirt. I saw myself standing opposite to him with all the hate in the world saying, “I don't want you, just leave me.. you are a disgrace.. just.. just die already. We are here cause of you”. We started fighting, pulling each other’s faces, it was ugly. I took the helmet lying near me and smashed it in his face, two of his teeth came off, he was bleeding, his eyes were coated with tears, he didn't let it go past the border. Then he gave up and sat down, his face that day is still clear to me, it was as if he lost all the hope he had, he just couldn't run anymore, he wanted to relax.

When I approached him, a bright blue light hit me in the face and I woke up. It was very bright outside, my room looked like hell, I realized I was late again as I saw the clock hitting 9. I hurried and threw myself into the bathroom and was cutting it close as always. My mom shouted, “Eat it or you are not stepping out”. I was on the edge and reverted back, “Ma, do you have any sense, you could have woken me early but you chose not to, I have been late everyday, I can't waste my time eating or even giving you an explanation. Just get out of my way”. She didn't say anything to that. I asked, “ Where is the water bottle I asked you to buy”. She pointed to the table in the corner of the room where the bottle was kept and there was my sister studying for her 12th board exams.

I looked at the bottle and said, “Ma, what is this how can I take this, it has got all this cute little flowers over it. It is too feminine, I can't take this to work. Please get something plain in black or blue”. “Ok will get it today”, she said.

She then grunted with pain and sat down, it was her back again, she had a severe injury in her back months ago and is still recovering from it. I still don't know where she gets the power to do all the chores in the house, helping and supporting us but I have never spoken about it to her. It's been years since I have had a casual conversation with her, I just couldn't. I asked my sister, “Do you still want to be doctor?”, “Yeah of course.. a doctor, yes” she replied. I just nodded and went out, I kicked my shoes gently just to kindly ask the mosquitoes living inside to vacate the premises.

By Siranjeevee