Robert had a strange feeling in his sleep, as if someone was shaking him and calling him repeatedly. He slowly opened his eyes, and an unknown face of a middle aged woman appeared before him. She was the one who was shaking him continuously.
As he opened his eyes, she screamed in happiness.
"Ryk! You're awake! Thank God! How are you feeling now!"
Robert blinked his eyes a few times.
Am I not dead! But how is this possible! No one can survive after falling from thirty secenth floor! Yes, I must be dead. Is this the... Afterlife!
The woman's words did not enter Robert's head, he was absorbed in his own thoughts. But now she shook him.
"Hey, Ryker! What happened? Can't you hear me! Ryker...."
Robert now regained consciousness. He looked around him and found out that he was lying in an old dilapidated room. The room was so small that it did not get enough light and air. The bed he was lying on, its condition was also the same.
He slowly sat up on the bed.
"Where am I?" He murmured.
The woman, now seemed happy.
"Are you feeling alright, Ryker?"
He looked at her.
"Where am I? And why are you calling me Ryker!"
Her eyes were wide open.
"You're in your room, Ryk! Did you get a head injury? For which you can not remember anything!"
She took a hood look of his head.
"No! Everything seems alright. Maybe, its just because of the trauma."
She sat beside him, held one of his hands in her palm, then said in a soft voice.
"Are you insane! Why did you jump in the river when you don't know how to swim? What if Neil couldn't rescue you in time! What if something happened to you! Next time, don't do something like this."
She stopped.
"Ryker, remember one thing. Life is the best gift that we can get from God. If you're given a life, value it. Remember, whatever the situation is, no matter how tough it is, you should not end your life. Remember one thing, It's just a bad time, it'll pass. Your lufe is more valuable than anything."
Robert didn't say anything. He was processing everything that she told him right now.
She stood up and patted his shoulder.
"Take some rest. I will send your food to someone. And, don't think of doing anything bad."
Patting his shoulder again, she went out. But Robert sat as he was.
What did she just say! I'm not dead! Then, what's this!
Robert's head started aching. He slowly lied on the bed again and closed his eyes. In a few minutes, he was in a deep sleep.
...
He didn't know after how long, he woke up. Robert sat up and looked around. There was no one in the room except for him. He got out of the bed, then came out of the room.
It was a slum like area. Rows of houses on either side of the narrow lane, just as old as the room hw was sleeping in. None of the house got enough light and air, the whole area was damp.
Where exactly is this place!
He tried to remember everything. The last thing he remembered, he was in his apartment, drinking aline for a long time. He was broken, disappointed. The pain of losing the most precious thing of his life consumed him so much that he couldn't get over of it. And it was then... When he decided to end his life. He went towards the balcony and then... Jumped!
But, how did he end up here!
"Brother? You're awake! Come inside, your food is ready."
Someone called him from behind. He looked back, it was a little boy, around five to six years old.
Before he could say anything, the child dragged into the house. Inside, the middle aged woman, whom he saw earlier, was sitting in front of a small kiln. A pot was put on the kiln, and she was stirring the food inside it.
Upon looking at him, she smiled.
"Oh Ryker, you're awake! Come seat, food is ready."
Robert didn't say anything. By now he could understand that he was hungry. He slowly went forward and sat before her. She scooped up some food from the pot and poured it into a bowl, then held it out to him.
"Have it, then tell me how's it?"
Robert couldn't get what was that dish actually, but it tasted good. He said.
"It's good."
And as soon as he said it, he was shocked!
The voice was not of a middle-aged man like him, but just like of a young adult! It was not his voice at all!
"Ryker, what happened!"
The woman asked.
Robwrt looked at her. By now, he could understand that something was wrong. Something was really wrong. From the moment he woke up, everything was different. The place, the woman calling him Ryker, now his voice! Slowly a doubt started growing in his mind. What was actually happening!
But he didn't say her anything.
"Nothing! I'm just hungry."
He replied, and finished his food hurriedly.
"I've finished. I need to go now. I need some fresh air."
After finishing his food, he came out of the house, leaving the woman and the child behind, surprised!
After coming out, he started walking along the road. Slowly leaving beyond that area, he came to an open steppe. The place was secluded, quiet. A little far away a narrow river flowed, and a gentle breeze was blowing.
He slowly went towards the river, sat on the bank of the river and looked at the clear water. And the doubt that started to grow in his mind, so far it became true.
The reflection in the water of the river was not his. It was of a young adult! His slender body structure and sparkling eyes made a world of difference from his own looks! He touched his face with his hand.
Who am I !!