Niche

CHAPTER 1

  JASMINE

  Tick.. Tick.. Tick…

  5:30 AM

  I stopped the alarm and got up to start my day.

  I didn’t need the ticking of clock to tell me that it’s time to get up as I hardly had the privilege of sound slumber. Still I regularly turned on the alarm just because of an old habit. I knew it was still early and an off day so no one else would bother to get up and bug me. I brushed my teeth and washed my face. I had fair skin, black hair with tinge of dark brown in some places. My eyes are dark brown such brown that they almost looked black. It appeared to be a black and white combination, dull without any colour. And even after twenty four years of life I couldn’t tell what the shape of my face was. Sometimes it felt square, and sometimes oval. But no matter what it was, it mostly seemed to be grimaced except for the most exhilarating moments of my day… my morning run.

  I pulled my hair in a ponytail, changed in tracksuit and shoes and headed for it. I just loved the cool salty air breezing around me, filling my lungs up to their limits. I loved the adrenaline pumping in my muscles and most of all I loved the peace which can be provided only by the Mother Nature. When I first got the appointment letter as an internee in Biological Research Centre Grivikdella (usually known as B.R.S.G.), I was in dilemma to accept the proposal or to reject it. The job was great with lots of practical training but they had a confidentiality clause; you couldn’t disclose any information regarding your job not even the name of institute. They said it was government’s order to keep this project discreet. But now I was relieved that I said yes. Two months had passed since I had moved here in Grivikdella. It was a small group of islands with human population less than animal’s. The local tribal people were warm and helping. Grivikdella was very rich in flora and fauna and to add the bonus very less interruptions from outside world. This place was so beautiful that I wished I would die here.

  I kept running until my body gave out and I had to stop. I was panting when I noticed that I had never been here. I was lost but it still felt good. It felt as an opportunity to explore in nature’s paradise. How could I refuse that so I wandered farther. There were trees everywhere; of so many varieties pine, cypress, sequoia, redwood, juniper; so old that they were unaffected from the outside world, so different from the city life. Even it seemed that the sky was also showing off its prettiest blue dress decorated with white clouds. I could hear the sound of waves hitting the rocks but did I hear something more?

  Cling!..cling

  It came again. It sounded metallic. May be someone was doing metalwork? But here, at this hour? Curiosity made me move further. Now I was almost at the edge of island but I couldn’t believe what I was seeing so I stood on the nearest rock for better vision but the scene remained the same. Since I hadn’t taken any hallucinating drug that must be true. That this guy was fighting with a sword against the claws of a huge TIGER.

  I took few moments to get my bearings. He was on the other side of the water I didn’t know that there was forest or tribes on that island. Help on this side would take time and action was needed at that very moment. Though he is fighting splendidly but one miss and he will be the food of that monster. I have to help him but HOW?

  “Ok! This sounds silly but what else do I have?”I said to myself. So I picked up a pointed stone, aimed for tiger’s eye and threw it with full strength. Oh! Just missed. But it did the trick. Even I couldn’t believe that humongous tiger was running in the woods just because a stone was thrown at it.

  And just at the same time that guy turned to me and asked “what the hell are you doing here? “

  Had I heard what I thought I heard? Oh yes this guy is so full of himself. Anger started to flow in my veins. I snapped at him “What a nice way to thank you.”

  “Thank you my foot” he snapped back at me. I opened my mouth to return the pleasure but the way he was looking at me made me bewildered. His eyes were filled with such hatred that I lost my words and closed my mouth. Okay I would deal with this in a different manner so I mocked “Oh! I am so sorry to interrupt your death appointment with that humongous tiger.” He was taken aback by my response for a moment and turned his head towards wood, in the same direction where that tiger was gone. And I was happy with myself for that victory, however small that was.

  But his arrogance was returned immediately. “Since now you have accomplished your mission can you please leave me alone?”he asked me already turning his back to me. He returned his sword to its case and headed for the woods. I stamped and yelled “For God’s sake! I was trying to help you… you moron” and just then my anger got ahead of me and I lost my balance and fell off the cliff and hit my head with a rock. I heard my own scream. Only then I realized the seriousness of situation. I was actually in a freefall. I wanted to call for the help, wanted to scream again but my voice wasn’t coming out. I wanted to wave my hands, my arms but it seemed that they too had decided to stay out of this. And then SPLASH. I fell into the water.

  I couldn’t move my body, couldn’t speak, couldn’t open my eyes. Even I wasn’t feeling any pain which was actually unbearable just few moments ago. It seemed like my wish was granted. I was dying here. I didn’t have any problem with it. On the contrary I was enjoying it. It was very peaceful, cool and soft.

  Then a wave of warmth embraced me. I must have been going to heaven. Very soon I would meet my angel.

  But then the warmth was gone and I was surrounded by a chilling cold. The softness was replaced by such hardness that I was feeling pin prick sensations in every inch of my skin. They must have changed my destination. I didn’t want to go to hell and that too without seeing my angel, my mom. I wanted to protest. I wanted to beg- at least let me see my angel before sending me to hell.

  I felt pressure on my stomach, excruciating pressure. My upper body arched upwards passively. But then things changed. I was again surrounded by that warmth and now I could feel feathers embracing me so this must be my angel. They must have shown mercy on me. THANK YOU! THANK YOU SO MUCH.

  But why couldn’t I see anything yet? Oh! Maybe this was how people travel to heaven. Though I wanted to see but I could definitely wait for a while reveling this surreal embrace. I wished I could have slept this way every night of my life. Well I could do that now.