As I lay in bed, the weight of excitement and worry kept sleep at bay. Seeking comfort from my parents after watching horror movies was a habit I'd had since childhood.
Unlike my mother, my father, who was a light sleeper, would stay awake to share bedtime stories that replaced my fears.
It was well past 2 am when I mustered the courage to knock softly on their bedroom door. My father's gentle voice welcomed me in with warmth, saying, "Come in, Kathy." Though my mom remained asleep, my father, sensing my mood from dinner, knew it was me who knocked. Without opening his eyes, he made space for me in their king-sized bed and motioned for me to settle in.
Nestled between them, I felt their comforting presence surround me. My father ran his hands through my hair, silently reassuring me that everything would be alright. Breaking the silence, he teased, "Another horror movie tonight?" With a playful denial, I replied, "No, not tonight," finding solace and reassurance in our shared space
"So, which ghost invaded your room this time?" Papa asked, his tone teasing. I mumbled a quick "no" in response, hoping to avoid any further discussion. My mom stirred awake at the sound of our voices, wrapping her arms around me protectively. "Another ghost, grow up kathy" she said, concern evident in her voice. I shook my head, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. "No, I just couldn't sleep. Please, stop embarrassing me," I pleaded softly.Mom fell back asleep holding me.
My father, ever the comforting presence, offered to tell me a story. Excitedly, I nodded my agreement. He launched into an adventurous tale of a brave kid battling monsters, his voice lulling me into a sense of security. But as the story reached its climax, I couldn't help but ask, "But what if he couldn't defeat the monster?" My father's smile was warm as he replied, "There will be no victory against truth and reality." I wanted to hear the ending, but my father had already drifted off to sleep, his gentle snores filling the room.
The weight of guilt bore down on me as I gazed upon my parents' peaceful sleeping faces. They loved us unconditionally, and the thought of deceiving them gnawed at my conscience. But we had no other choice. With each passing moment, the guilt only intensified, making it unbearable to stay in their presence any longer.
Silently, I rose from the bed. I pulled the blanket over my head and wandered aimlessly around the house. The cool glass of water from the refrigerator provided a brief distraction, but as I returned to my room, the thought of sleep eluded me. I couldn't shake the unease that had settled over me, especially after a brief scare caused by my own shadow
I turned to my brother's room, knocking softly at first. After a mumbled response to come in, which didn't sound like the Karun I knew, I persisted, banging on the door until Karun's voice roared from within, "I said come in, dumbo ! Stop knocking before I come out and kill you." It was the response I had been waiting for, a reassurance that even in the midst of uncertainty, our banter remained unchanged.
I pushed the door open to find Karun frowning at my disheveled appearance.
"You look like a ghost under that blanket," he remarked, and I couldn't help but agree. My hair was a mess, and my tired eyes betrayed my lack of sleep. As I settled onto the bed beside him, I lamented, "I couldn't sleep." Karun echoed my sentiment, acknowledging his own restless night. Despite the silence that hung heavy between us, I knew we shared the same worries.
"So, as we've already decided, we must start in 5 days, right?" I prodded, seeking confirmation from my brother. He nodded in response, his expression serious. "Do you think we will make it alive—"
Before I could finish my question, Karun flicked my forehead, interrupting me with a playful jab. "Of course, we will come back alive. Why don't you want to go to the live concert of the ST band next year?" His words ignited a spark within me, and I nodded eagerly. There was no way I wouldn't attend that concert with my friends. It was a dream since our high-school to attend their concert we even thought of attending their fan-signing event afterwards.
My brother's assurance gave me newfound confidence, and his promise to treat me to anything I desired upon our return only fueled my determination.
After a brief discussion and bickering, silence enveloped us once more. It wasn't that we were oblivious to the risks; we were simply trying to maintain a positive outlook.
"What about Priya?" I asked, breaking the silence. Priya had been my brother's girlfriend since high school. "Will you tell her?" My brother nodded solemnly. "Yeah, I will. If we don't make it back, there should be at least one person to look after our things." His words struck a chord within me, reminding me of our responsibilities to our parents. The thought of not returning home pierced my heart, but neither of us was willing to entertain that possibility. Once again, we pledged to make it out alive before delving into discussions about what to pack. Exhausted, we soon drifted off to sleep, the weight of our decision heavy on our minds.