Past
Anish invited his longtime friend Bobby to dinner at his home. It was an overdue reunion after two years. Though they had known each other for over a decade, tonight felt like stepping back in time.
Anish said, “Do you remember when we got grilled by our music teacher in high school for mixing classical notes with rap music?”
Bobby smiled and replied “How could I forget? He nearly had a breakdown, and we were just trying to experiment with some new music!”
He added, “You walked out with praise, and I got the lecture.”
Reminiscing about university days, Anish exclaimed, “Remember Sona? She was the perfect girl, bro!” Bobby burst out laughing, saying, “Perfect? She was juggling guys like she was in a circus. You were just one of the acts”.
Somehow, that event changed Anish forever, making him more emotionally insensitive.
Years earlier, when Anish got his first job, he exclaimed, “Man, the money is rolling in! I want to go on vacation the whole year!” even though, in reality, he struggled to pay his rent. Bobby wasn’t earning much himself, but he lent the money without hesitation.
During the finals of the inter-university tennis championship - something Bobby worked toward for years - he asked Anish for support. But Anish completely forgot and went for drinks with his classmates instead. Bobby, still won the match, facing his fears and drawing strength from his practice. Later, Anish was found arguing in a bar over whether the egg came first or the chicken.
When Bobby and Anish moved to Berlin from Mumbai for their master’s degree, it was Bobby’s first time travelling abroad. He was terrified to travel alone, so he made a pact with Anish to travel together. But Anish backed out at the last minute to attend a music festival. That felt like a turning point in their friendship - something that still aches Bobby’s heart.
Back to the present, Bobby had been busy exploring his passions and hobbies. He played tennis in the amateur league, built a career in photography, travelled the world, captured stunning wildlife, and gained recognition along the way. Life felt like a big adventure, and Bobby embraced it wholeheartedly. Now, after years, time has come for Bobby to return to Mumbai and take over the family business. It was time to step up!
Meanwhile, Anish along with his wife Tanya, seemed like a match made in heaven. With their cute one-year-old daughter, it all looked picture perfect. Tanya appeared to be a kind, loving, and supportive woman - a strong contrast to the past relationships that Anish had been.
The dream
After dinner, they went for a walk to a nearby bar to have a private conversation over a drink. However, something felt odd. It felt like Anish was hiding something behind his smile. Bobby was compelled to ask, “Is everything alright?" But he held his words back.
At that moment, the sky slowly darkened. Flashes of lightning tore through the sky, and Bobby started to feel a bit hazy, as if everything was lucid.
As they walked, a thunderstorm roared through the sky. A surge of cold rain came down, followed by a gust of wind through the street - making it harder to navigate towards the bar. Eventually, the street got flooded and each step became harder. Then and there, they decided to return to Anish’s house.
Suddenly, the ground trembled and it spat out small rocks and debris. The sky roared, the darkness was surreal. Baby crocodiles began to emerge out of the rocks. At first, they seemed manageable. But as they moved closer, they swelled into monsters.
It felt like dark forces had been summoned. Bobby and Anish were frozen. They looked into each other’s eyes - filled with tension. Each step now should be planned cautiously. Just as Bobby was about to step into the jaws of a crocodile, Anish screamed, “Step back! That thing is going to chew you up!” Taking a deep breath, Bobby exclaimed, “Holy moly! We need to stick together!”
Slow and steadily, they started moving again, avoiding the crocodiles and navigating through the muddy streets. Finally, the house entered their field of vision. They were just about to reach it.
But the house appeared unusual – ghastly. A dark atmosphere surrounded it. The earth shook. The water level rose to their knees, and a gigantic crocodile emerged with its jaws wide open. Its razor-sharp teeth glowed in the dark, and it stood before the doorstep. All of it happened in a flash.
Anish looked at his wife through the window. She stood there looking sad and resigned.
"Don’t come inside. Find another place to go!" she yelled, holding their one-year-old baby in her arms.
Anish was taken by surprise. A flash of lightning jolted him from within. The world seemed to be crashing down on him: the storm, the crocodile, and his family trapped in the house.
Bobby turned to Anish with a determined look and said, "We need to leave! Let’s come back with a plan. It’s a matter of life or death now."
As they made their way back to the bar, the water levels started to sink. They leapt over the flood, and the weather started to clear up.
Then a familiar face greeted them - Bobby’s younger sister. Her face glowing with warmth that cut through the cold of the storm. Her smile was contagious, and Bobby felt a sudden surge of hope.
"Come back with me, brother," she said. Her voice was soft but filled with purpose. "We are waiting for you, and everyone misses you."
With a deep gasp of air, Bobby woke up. Alas, it was all a dream!
Present
His sister had always been his anchor in his life. Through every difficulty in his youth, she had been there—not just as a sibling but as a true friend, offering her strength and support. And now, she was here again.
Unable to process the vivid and haunting imagery of his dreams, he decided to share it with Anish before leaving for Mumbai. However, when he finally sat down with him, he was flabbergasted by Anish’s response.
"My life at this moment is like your dream," Anish said in a grieving tone.
As Anish continued, the shambles of their marriage unfolded. He spoke about Tanya, whom he once believed to be his pillar, but now she felt like a storm.
He exclaimed, “The love and respect between us are long gone, you know! She used to find time to do things together. But now, we have just drifted apart with time instead of growing stronger!”
Tanya overheard the conversation and questioned, “Did I sign up for this, Anish?”
Anish looked at her, his face flushed.
Tanya continued, “I don’t feel supported by you like I used to. I’ve done so much for you, yet nothing satisfies you. You only see your own problems. When we had the baby, you arrived at the hospital the next day. Was that responsible?”
The warmth in his home had turned into cold silence and a daily struggle for survival.
Anish added, “And now, I’ve lost my job. At first, it seemed like a temporary setback. But as days turned into weeks, the situation at home deteriorated even further.”
Bobby understood everything clearly now. The dream wasn’t just a random nightmare. It was a metaphor for Anish and his current situation. The symbols—the crocodile, the storm, and the appearance of his sister—reflected a reality.
Bobby opened his arms, hugged him, and said, "This isn't the end, and there has to be a way. Stay strong; the tides of time will change.”
Anish whispered, “Can you stay over for a few days?”
Bobby replied, “I want to stay and fight this together, but I can’t, Anish. My family needs me, and my responsibilities back in Mumbai can’t wait."
Bobby started walking away towards the airport. Old memories played in his mind. Those moments of joy and craziness brought a smile to his face. But life has changed now, and with it, the connection and the situation between them.
They were the kings of good times, but Anish changed after the breakup with Sona. Those scars made him immune to emotions. Somehow, he could never get over her, even after all these years. Even after what Bobby did for him.
But now, the tables had turned.
It’s time now for Anish to fight his hardest battle - alone!229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOyHUGSGnn
