Chapter- 9

Sameera

I can't believe this. He thinks I am crazy. How could he? As far as I know him he never suspects my abilities. He never judged me even with my past medical records. Only Anwar and my two roommates know of my dream craziness except for my family and my psychiatrist. Yeah, I consulted a psychiatrist for my dreams and nightmares.

These dreams aren't regular, instead, they occur in irregular intervals whenever they wish to pay me a visit at night. Though it is said that dreams have some hidden meaning and relation to reality, the meaning of my dreams have never been easy to decipher. Though some of its aspects are recognizable.

Trust me, even my psychiatrist failed to provide a proper cause for my weird dreams as everytime the meaning would be different and totally unrelated with the previous analysis of the manifest and latent content of the dreams.

Apart from some sleep disorders and dysfunctions, I never showed any major behavioral or psychological abnormalities. Hence, my psychiatrist inferred that my dreams were not exactly related to my unconscious problems, as I had a normal, smooth sailing childhood.

And before she could figure out any other reason for my dreams I stopped attending my sessions.

Frankly, I didn't want to provide her materials for categorising my condition as a new form of mental sickness. I know I am absolutely fine and healthy both physically and psychologically. I have since decided to not pay any attention on the matter.

Raina and Akshita found 6 months ago when my previous roommate moved out and Akshita filled the vacancy. Raina followed along as she wasn't fond of sleeping alone.

My previous roommate never noticed. She used sleep like the dead. But they did as I talk a lot of weird stuff while having one of those dreams and much to my surprise they both paid attention to my blabbering. Though it didn't bother them and they never judged my intellectual or sanity for this.

So did Anwar. He was the first to ever make me talk about it so easily in first meeting, when I fell asleep in the van, after covering a story on field, and started sleep talking.

I was anticipating the next day to be called a freak by my colleagues as the expression on his face after listening my part was screaming out loud that he knew I was crazy, but nothing happened.

He agreed to keep my secret and said,"I have faith in you." Though it wasn't clear as did he have faith in my skills and intellect level or in my biography?

Since the day we have treated each other like real siblings. He was like my mentor and never questioned my intellect. Then why did he not believe me now? Dreams apart, in reality I am never delusional.

Disappointed, I finished some work and collected the essentials for my search. Informing about a field work leave, I left the building and waited for the cab to arrive that I booked. I searched through some history of the place and found some news about presence of dangerous animals and typical tribal people in the freaky forest. Well that's news to me. But the information was already proved to be false. Nothing else found on the topic. You want something done, you gotta do it yourself.

"Sameera, can I have a minute?" Asked a very familiar voice to which I don't want to respond right now. But I wanna listen what he has to say.

So I began, "If you are about to comment on my psychological functioning, then no you can't." I state firmly.

"I won't. I am here to apologize. I should not have said such things. I didn't mean them. I just wanted to stop you and knew the exact point to hit. You are pretty sensitive about it. Please forgive me Sameera. I only want the best for you." He takes my right palm in his hands to state his sincere apology.

But he doesn't exactly seem sorry for his actions, but only his use of words. Which means he still doesn't believe my assumption.

"You don't believe me yet." He takes his hands away and stands still.

Before he could form any words, from his obviously not guilty mouth, I began, "I am not hallucinating, nor did I suffer illusions. You have no idea what I have been through. Watching a girl vanish in the forest echoing of dangerous howls, seeing a wolf on the highest cliff of a waterfall and forgetting the next second, remembering the whole memory I somehow forgot, in a dream, this is beyond crazy, Anwar, but it's as true as the very existence of this earth. You didn't see what I saw. She was practically moving at 20-30 meters per second speed, which is impossible for a 5 or 6 year old."

"You didn't mention any of that yesterday. Are you sure it's not your imagination? Sameera, wolf or not that forest is full of dangerous creatures. I don't want you risking your life for nothing. Please be practical. Let this be. Forget it, Meer."

He was pleading. Every fiber of his body was pleading to me. I took a deep breath to calm down my emotions.

"Bhaijaan, I can take care of myself. I won't enter that freaky forest without safety precautions, now that I know of the dangers lurking there. And now that I think, it will be better if I carry out this search on my own, without involving anyone, including you. I'll be back before evening. See you later. My cab has arrived." Assuring him I got into the cab.

_______________________________________

Standing outside the forest premises, I decide to enter. Looking at the compass, I take a step. Leaves on the trees blow with wind inviting me in. Looking around, searching, listening for howls like the previous day, I keep walking when something, or rather someone touches my shoulder.

"Don't tell me you got lost again."

I recognize the voice and turn back to find its source. Officer Arav stood there, waiting for my reply, his eyebrows quirked up.

"What are you doing here?" I counter with a question.

He chuckled and spoke, "I asked first, but never mind, I know you won't answer before I do. I am investigating the murder case of yesterday. Your turn."

"I am here investigating on the slum case." Hope he doesn't ask further.

"I thought the case was crystal clear to you." Ah, how can he let this go. He is a police officer after all.

For a moment I thought of hiding the real reason of my arrival. But then I remembered his special ability to extract the truth out of my mouth. Lying to him isn't a good idea. I must ask him someday how he does that.

"It wasn't until this morning that I remembered seeing a wolf of similar characteristics, that the slum couple mentioned, above the waterfall cliff yesterday. Hence, I am here for further investigation. And I expect you to not meddle in my business." Okay now that was harsh. It is the after effect of my previous argument.

"Now that was harsh." He said instantly as my train of thought ended. Can he read my mind?

Well obviously he can't, it's a normal response to my harsh words.

"Anyways, I can't allow you in. The investigation is still in progress. So no one can enter into the forest premises, including the media. We can't risk embezzlement of any evidences. I'll let you know of our findings if you require any for your news. You may leave." he stated bluntly. Who's harsh now?

"Look officer, I don't require your murder case findings. I mean I do, but not yet. I saw a huge, dangerous wolf last day near waterfall and the little girl I mentioned to you is still not found. I need to go in and get proof of that wolf's presence. Or else the slum residents could be in prospective danger."

With a look of confusion he quirked up his right eyebrow and asked, "I saw no wolf yesterday. I hope you remember I was there too. And if you did, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I somehow forgot about seeing it and just realized it this morning." His eyebrow quirked up, his face holding a questioning expression, not believing my words.

"This seems insanely weird, I know, but I am only stating what I saw and I am sure of what I saw. Please Arav believe me. It was a black, furry wolf at least 4-5 feet in height. It can cause mayhem in the long run if it really did manage get into human civilization in the slum and attacked that man the night before yesterday. My colleagues think I am acting out due to the jungle safari, but I am not. I just need some pictures and recordings to prove this. Let me go." I explained. Mostly pleaded.

"If what you are saying is true, we will search for it. But you can't go in. It could be dangerous. I promise I will search the area and let you know if I find anything. I'll contact the forest department. But you can't go on another jungle safari, at least not today. Please go back. It's not safe now." He stated like explaining a difficult mathematical sum in an easy manner.

"But it's urgent. Wasting time will only sever our chances of success. And what if that wolf decides to have a dinner party with his pack in the nearby slum. Do you really want to risk innocent civilians? Not that they are very innocent, but they still are innocent up to an extent, and ignorant too." They obviously are.

"Please don't delay this. Let me come with you-" and before further discussions he went into his angry young cop mode and started at me.

"You are not crossing this yellow tape line Ms. Desai, end of discussion. Go home or office or wherever you want except for the woods."

"But....." I tried to object, much to my failure.

He said, "I will do an investigation with my team today and inform you by tomorrow morning. If I don't contact you by tomorrow, then come find me at the police station. Now leave."

He ordered like he is my boss and I am his employee. Anyways there is nothing I can do, today. It's better if I leave and find other sources of information. I nod and turn back. But then I realized something and turned to him.

"I am not repeating myself, Sameera." He confirmed his statement as a warning for me to not argue on this further.

I gave a faint smile and said, "I understood. I am not gonna convince you to let me tag along. But how are you supposed to inform me. Via telepathy? You don't have my number, nor do I have yours."

Realizing this, his expressions changed from angry young cop to a nervous teenager who has been caught staring at his crush.

Seriously Sameera. where does this unusual comparison come from, huh? My inner self asks me.

Well, what can I say, that's the first thing that came to my mind seeing his embarrassed state.

After a minute or so, with an awkward smile, he gave me his phone number. I gave him mine in return. We waved each other a goodbye and went on our separate ways.

But then he came behind me and said, "I will walk you out of here." He insisted on walking me towards the cab. Why is everyone these days treating me like a 12 year old?

Not everyone, Sameera. It's just Anwar and this generous officer. I answered myself.

"But my cab already left. I will have to book another cab. It will take time. You should leave first." I tried to send him away so I could get back on my mission.

He nodded and said, "Fine let's take a taxi. There's a taxi stop nearby. Come."

I was rendered speechless. So I just followed him and he settled me in a taxi. He instructed and paid the driver to take me straight to my office, to make sure I won't try sneaking into the forest for the next 24 hours.

Bossy.

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