The Knock

Carrying a one-sided bag on my shoulder and my laptop on my arm, I stood in front of the class, puzzled. I felt a bit alienated. Those faces were bizarre but new. To be precise, total strangers. Even though they were acting quite normal to themselves, I felt a bit odd. 

Boys were seated along the left. They were wearing light blue shirts and deep blue pants. One of them, tall and muscular threw a smile upon me. But I stood still since I had no idea about what was going on. But I gave him back a smile. After all, it isn't that expensive, right? Girls were seated along the right and had a different uniform. It consisted of a lighter blue top with stripes and carbon blue pants and overcoat. 

A dusky girl with an adorable smile was showing me some gestures which I couldn't comprehend. I just smiled, a helpless one. My eyes searched for someone I know and I was in vain as I failed to find one. 

Okay, where am I? In a parallel universe or what?

All of a sudden, this guy caught my eye. He was bearded and was waving his hands, signalling that he had a vacant seat beside him. Atleast I guessed so.

 I hope, I know this guy.

I advanced towards him, expecting him to unfold the mystery.

"Dude, you are looking so disturbed today. What happened?", he asked. 

I sat near him. I was feeling too uneasy. Is it some of jamais vu. 

"Dude, I'm asking you...", he repeated. 

"Oh! Nothing", I replied with a fake smile.

I saw him taking a lustrous steel blade out of his bag. My heartbeat escalated. I tried to calm down, telling myself that this situation is just a freaking mind game.

"Wah buddy. It's been a long time...", I received a strong and afflicting hug from a spectacled dude. 

"Dude, you are hurting me", I said in pain.

"Fucking show off again.", he put his hand on my shoulder wrapping my neck and indeed choking me. I pushed him back. That was a clear act of torment. I have completely lost my mind.

"Are you trying to kill me or what?", I shouted.

But it would've been better if I played it cool. Each and everyone started staring at me. The muscular guy came charging. He was furious and raised me in the air, squeezing my throat mercilessly. I couldn't breathe. I was suffocating.

He hit me hard on the floor and I've lost my senses. The last vision, I perceived was the whole class preparing to beat me until death.

"Oh God...", I opened my eyes.

"Nightmares again...", I was gasping and struggling to take a breath. And above all, I was soaking in sweat. I took off my T-shirt and gulped down the whole bottle of water kept on my table. My laptop was still turned on and it was playing the music files in the queue. I switched off my laptop and arranged the books scattered on my table. I felt a bit insecure and locked the door. The clock displayed 5:30 AM. I switched off the light and went back to sleep.

After some time, I heard a gentle knock at the door. 

"Wake up kid. I...", that was my mom. Never mind. All I need now is a fine sleep and nothing else. But I couldn't sleep well as I wished. I was sweating heavily. The T-shirt... It's still on me. 

You son of a... wizard. How did you...? 

I took it off. I could hear the music and saw the bright screen of my laptop. The table was still scattered and the bottle was full. 5:30 AM... I was a bit anxious. 

Oh boy, keep calm. It's just a déjà vu.

I switched off the laptop and rearranged the books and sipped water out of my bottle. The door was unlocked and I locked it again. Security issues.

'Worst night', I cursed and tried to embrace sleep. She was dreaded by the nightmare but she'll come back for me. She did. 

I was suffering from insomnia for a couple of weeks. I was slowly recovering after trying out a bunch of breathing exercises. And today I've got a bigger hurdle to plunge and pass. As always I will. This 'snake eating its tail' phenomenon is nothing compared to your will. You are a hero. My ears sensed the sudden and unexpected (or should I say expected) vibration. The knock.

"Wake up kid. I need your help to finish this work.", my mom's voice.

A chill went down my spine. The son of a wizard is still on me. The books were in chaos and so was my mind. The bottle was full and the door unlocked. The laptop flashed an evil smile. The clock showed 5:30 AM and I was somewhere between dream and reality. Or are dreams and reality all the same.? The voice of my speaker was clear and it chanted,

"Bury your thoughts and fall asleep.

Find out: it was just a bad dream."