The story continues………………………..
Anika suddenly sat up in the bed and began to tremble. She murmured “Spain? Who is in Spain?” Grandmother looked perturbed and said “Why are you shaking. What is wrong?”
Anika feebly responded “No..Nothing. I am feeling very cold” Grandmother covered Anika with two layers of blankets and said “I am putting off the lights. You must sleep” and then left.
The room was dimly illuminated by the night lamp. After sometime when Anika opened her eyes to check the time, she saw a young boy standing in the glass of pomegranate juice kept near her bed. She screamed aloud but her mouth emitted no sound, only her ear drums turned numb.Speechless in terror, she watched the boy come out of the glass soaked in juice.
He came nearer to Anika and said “me reconoce” (recognize me). Anika was trembling, and yet when she heard the boy’s voice she felt better. He was speaking in an unknown language but Anika understood what he said.
He then waved his hand and saying “adios amiga vendre otra vez” (Good bye friend, I will come again.) jumped in the juice glass and disappeared.Anika cried aloud calling her grandmother who came in running and seeing Anika scared stiff, flung her arms around her. “What happened dear?”
Anika began to weep. She could not tell anyone what was going on in her heart. There was neither fear nor anxiety, but an excruciating pain of missing someone. She felt her loved ones were crying out for help. This boy seemed to be someone dear and close. Anika sobbed and sobbed.
She questioned her grandmother “Grandma, do I belong to your family?
Did my mother give birth to me or you picked me from somewhere?” Aghast, grandmother said “What is the matter with you Anika? Of course your mother gave birth to you on 30 March, 2002. What kind of question is this? Did someone say anything to you?”
Anika began to cry, “then why do I feel that I have left my family behind. They need me. They are in trouble!”
Grandmother hugged Anika and said “Darling, you are missing your parents. Let me call them.”
Anika felt better listening to her mother’s voice. Post the call,grandmother picked the glass of juice and insisted “You must finish this”. Anika hesitated. Grandmother forcefully made her drink the entire glass and then switched off the lights and instructed Anika to sleep. Now, alone in the room, Anika felt that her body was melting,
floating in the air and heading towards a destination. After a while she found herself ascending an uneven road. There was snow everywhere. The mighty mountains were capped with white chill and air puffed ice. With her hair tangled and hands clinging around the chest to avoid the chill, Anika staggered on her feet, swaying a
little every now and then. The thin flakes of snow were progressively falling on her, determined to conceal her completely. Anika was silently marching towards the flickering light on the mountain top.Was it a cave? She could not fathom from a distance. Yet she climbed ahead, her petite tunic and a feeble cardigan contributing
insignificantly to save her from the wrath of the cold. She knew she was searching, desperately searching for someone. On reaching the mountain peak, she courageously walked towards the light that shone in the adjoining cave. There, beside the fire, was seated the same boy who had appeared in the glass containing pomegranate juice. He was in
early twenties with blonde hair and fair complexion. He wore a long black coat over a white full sleeved shirt that had frills at the wrist and neck. His black stockings complimented his black shoes. A black cap with a white feather covered his neatly cropped hair. While Anika stood bewildered, he jumped with a start, delighted to see her.
Tears of joy rolled down his eyes.
He started to speak in the same strange language.”Mi espera ha terminado” (My waiting is over).”Usted ha venido” (You have come).Anika could comprehend that he was saying “My waiting is over. You have come!” She asked him “Who are you?” The boy looked at her blankly. Anika questioned again, now in the same strange language he spoke “Quieneres?” (Who are you?).The boy replied “Mi nombre es Federico” (My name is Frederick)
