It was now a day since Victoria unceremoniously left the studio. She had scamped out onto the streets in such a hurry that I couldn't catch up with her. I was left in a puzzle, wondering.
Who was that man on the other end of the line?
Where had Belindah and Caroline gone to? Why did they decide to leave without Vicky? Had they not said they were only going for a cup of coffee in a nearby cafe.
It seemed I would never get the answers to these questions as I was to find out soon.
I went to work as usual. My concentration levels were so low on that day. I kept on trying Vicky's phone with no success. The service provider kept reminding me that the subscriber was not available on line. I did not stop even though my hopes kept dwindling. I tried all day looking for her or her friends all to no avail.
I went home looking sulky and stressed. I refused to rake supper that night. I don't k ow for how long I had lain on the bed awake. But Islept afterwards.
We were lying down on a green patch of grasses in that beautiful valley near the great Ritibe River.
Both Vicky and I had discovered that we had a liking for nature and especially being in a quite secluded place, listening to the sounds of a flowing river or bird's sounds in a forest. So we had chosen this spot which i had identified long time ago. We laid there holding hands and laughing cheerfully as we enjoyed the cool breeze.
Suddenly we heard very loud crushing and rushing sound that caused the earth to tremor. I stood up as fast as I could and looked around. I could not see anything but the sound persisted.
"Vicky! Let us run!"
But she was not there! Vicky had suddenly disappeared while I looked around for the noise. But where had she gone? I had not seen her getting up from the ground. She was still lying on her back when I stood up. Frantically I started running up the slopes looking for her. She was nowhere to be seen.
A thought came to me that she could have run downhill into the river. "Oh no!" I said as I rushed downslopes too. When I got to the river banks my instincts told me to look downstream.
I saw her. Or thought I did. But I caught a glimpse of a pink piece of clothing - the same as the one Vicky worn that day- going downstream and suddenly sinking under the currents.
I shouted hoarsely and started running towards where she had sunk. "Vicky!! Vicky!!Vicky!!"
Reaching the spot I decided that I would jump into the river and try to save her. Just then the rumbling sound reached me from the upstream. I looked and there was a huge mountain of water coming downwards toward me.
"Jesus!! "
I shouted and started running upslopes in a bid to escape being drowned by the fast- approaching waters.
But I wasn't moving! Something was holding my legs stuck on the ground. No matter what I did I could not move. And the water was about to hit me. I looked up and the sky- high mountain of water was just above me!
"Whooooooo!!!!" I screamed at the top of my voice.
I woke up screaming. It was but a dream. The worst nightmare I had ever experienced.
I sat up sweating profusely. It took me sometimes before I regained my breath back. I was completely shaken.
All my surroundings was totally quiet. There wasn't even the normal crickets chirping in the background at night as was usual. I rose from the bed and went to the fridge to take a glass of milk. After gulping down two cupfuls I went to the sitting room and sat on the coach. My thoughts were still unsettled.
Suddenly my phone rang. I got startled at first. I looked at the wall clock and saw that it was 3:00 in the morning. Definitely that must be an emergency call. I went numb.
The second ringing brought me back to my senses and I immediately picked up the call.
"Hello!"
There was silence on the other end.
"Edmund speaking, who is it?" Silence again.
"Vicky are youvthere?" I asked. Then the line went dead completely. No matter how many hellows I bellowed into the receiver, there was no response from the other end. The call had been disconnected.