The Jungle
I was in the middle of the dream when someone rudely pressed their stinking handkerchief against my mouth and tied my
hands behind me. Before I could understand what was happening, I was in a dirty van which was moving very fast. At this
point, somebody tied a cloth around my eyes. This is also dirty and releasing a horrible smell. I can't even guess how much
time passed like this and suddenly the van stopped. I was dragged out of the van as if I am a goat ready to be slaughtered.
They made me walk and didn't even care that I am not wearing slippers and I am sure that my fine night dress must have
appeared like a dirty rag by now not to mention my hair. It was a rough path and my feet hurt badly. I never walked without
footwear before. I was ready to curse when they finally untied eyes and hands. But the scene in front of my eyes took my
breath away. I am standing in front of waterfall in the middle of the jungle. Everything around me is bright and shiny and I
belatedly remembered that today is a full moon day. It is so beautiful that I forgot my annoyance for some time.
By the time I looked around, I can't name the individuals who abducted me.That word Kidnap suddenly brought me to reality
and I started yelling and crying. I even tried to run, but a girl in olive green uniform came forward and caught me. She looked
so small and thin but she is so strong that I couldn't move an inch. I looked around wildly and continued my screams.
I can't believe that this is actually happening to me. Two more girls came and dragged me towards a small hut nearby. I felt as
if my brain is exploding. Who are these people? Are they part of some girl trafficking gang? Or they are going to steal my
kidneys? My nerves are so tight that I wondered how they managed to stay together. I repeatedly cursed my Mom in my mind
all this while for sending me that village to work. (God only knows how far I am from that Chinturu now. That is a heaven
compared to this jungle.)
Later on an hour or so, I leaned against a tree trunk and went over the incidents that happened today.It feels like as if I am
looking at some other person going through a very bad time. I removed two bullets from the arm of a giant man, bandaged it
together and tended all other wounds in his body. That savage I mean my patient wouldn't hear of Anastasia, though I insisted
so much. My hands were trembling so much all the while, but he sat there as if he is made of a rock. And he has the gall to
suggest another method to remove a bullet from his arm, though I refused to listen to him. He is rude, rough, terrifying and I
don’t know. Everything about him scares me. It is like a Rambo movie or something. Everybody around me has guns or some
other weapons. I am so tired and frightened at the end, I didn’t have the stamina or the courage to ask them to let me go.
“Ashnita, where are you and what are you doing here?” I wondered myself. I desperately want to go to Mom now and cry. I
always complained about the patients who were very meek and took whatever medicines I gave them as if they are divine. But
in comparison with this bear like fellow they are saints. He is so huge with thick curly hair and dark too. These people know
nothing about manners and politeness. It’s been more than 2 hours when they finally recognised that I am also a human being
and I need a spot to slumber for the reminder of the night. The same girl who caught me at first gave me a blanket and told me
to sleep in that hut where the patient is sleeping. I am not very sure that I wanted to do that, but I had no choice. She also
informed me that I have to be there for at least one more day so that I can keep checking him if there is fever. After that she
promised me that she will drop me till the village outskirts. From there they expect me to find my own transport. I mood was so
bitter, I didn’t even feel like replying to her.
Mosquitoes are more or less the size of house flies here. They didn’t let me sleep at all. Moreover, that fellow is turning and
tossing all the remaining night. He asked for water once. I couldn’t help but marvel at his voice. It’s kind of deep baritone and
very rich. While giving water I noticed that his thick curly hair was still matted with blood. I felt little guilty for not cleaning it
properly, but I also wondered about what exactly happened to him. He has several serious injuries and he should be in
hospital at least for 15 days not in this mosquito infested jungle. Everything around him is dirty and dangerous for his health at
this stage.
Then I scolded myself for thinking about him instead of me. I need to think of some way to get rid of them and go home. What
if they don’t keep their promise and kill me afterwards? With all those guns, killing me is an easier thing to do than sending me
home and leaving an eye witness to tell the story to the cops. A shiver ran through my spine and my throat felt sour. I need to
do something quickly before dawn. I suppose a person with multiple bullet injuries and a head injury at the top of it can’t be
able to stop me if I want to run, however huge and muscled he is. I slowly tilted backwards and attempted to get a short nap till
I get a chance to launch my escape plan.