Chapter 2: A New Dimension

I had blanked out. As I came around, I woke up feeling dizzy and a little tired. It felt like I was awakening from a dream after a deep drug induced sleep, and everything was still hazy. I tried my best to get on my feet but found that I couldn't feel the ground; I was floating! I was beginning to freak out!

*What's going on? What's happening to me? Where am I?*

I began to recall the bright light and being dragged into it. But now I was engulfed in darkness, like an intense black hole. I could see nothing and only sensed that I was moving forward through the air, and the only way I can describe it would be to say that it was an endless passageway full of nothingness.

I felt trapped, mortified, scared, terrified! My hyperactive imagination envisioned some dark supernatural being trying to steal my soul. Or maybe I'm headed towards the smoldering cauldron of a satanic witch!

*Am I going to become human stew on some ogre's plate? Oh my God! Help!!!*

Before I could visualize any more horrors, out of nowhere, I felt a slight push from behind and I was hurtled towards some brilliant light! At first, I thought it was a way out and felt some sense of relief. As I approached the light, my feet touched the ground and I quickly collected myself and walked towards that glare.

I looked around and behind me, trying to make sense of what was going on. It looked like a cave and the opening of the cave was almost invisible with the blinding light. I staggered toward the entrance in a daze, and just as I reached the edge of the cave, I lost my balance again.

Again, I found myself falling headlong down a swirling candy cane-like slide. It was a splash of colors, almost hypnotizing me. By now I was incapable of any thoughtful analysis and just waited to see where I would land.

I plonked bouncing onto a soft bubble.

*Really a bubble? Is that even possible?*

Yet it was true! A bubble that obviously should burst, but it was bouncy like a ball. I tried to get a hold of my senses, looked around and saw in front of me this wondrous fantasy world. It was like the cartoons I was so hooked on to since childhood and what I created at work. Colorful and vivid - the two-dimensional animations that I grew up watching with so much glee.

I couldn't believe my eyes or my sanity. Maybe I was losing my mind. I pinched myself to know I wasn't dreaming. I could sense excitement building up inside me. Slowly but surely, the exhilaration was mounting, and my energy was escalating. My fatigue had almost disappeared with the sights I beheld. I was raring to get up and about.

In recent times, my life had become sad, mundane and drab. I had been through a personal rollercoaster and that drained me of all my joy. I was living but not feeling alive with passion, emotion and fun. I was left alone to deal with my life. And the only saving grace was my profession, my escape route. Why?

After losing my grandfather, we had returned home to Brooklyn and life went on. I did always miss my partner-in-joy, my grandpa. My father too was deeply affected as he felt responsible for leaving his father alone in India after my grandma passed away.

But really there was nothing he could do, because Grandpa refused to move out of his home. Grandpa held on to the memories and the life he shared with Grandma. They were so endearing together, with the silly bickering and loads of concern, and the amazing, fun aura that Grandpa always created around him.

And Grandma was the perfect foil, enjoying the fun but keeping the reins in her hands! I can't stop smiling when I think about them.

Back home, Dad had become more serious in his demeanor, and that affected my mom too. He would return late from work every day and be too tired to do anything else.

One day, Mom waited as usual at the dinner table for Dad to return home. He'd normally come home just in time for dinner and then shuffle up to his room to sleep. After he freshened up and sat down to eat, mom tried to strike up a conversation.

"Arvind, Diwali is around the corner and I want to do something special at home this time. Would you take me shopping for some decorations and groceries? I'm thinking of inviting our friends over for a party."

"No, I'm too busy at work, you'll have to manage it on your own. And by the way, why do you want to host a party? I don't have any holidays around that time."

"But you always take a week off for Diwali!" my mom sounded concerned.

"Yes, but this time there's some project deadline to meet. I can't take any time off. I suggest your just think about the preparations involving decorating the home. I doubt if I can be present for any festivities other than the pooja time."

Mom was disturbed, I could tell. Diwali is a major five-day festival, and before now, we made it a point to be together as a family and plan happy celebrations. It was a tradition in our home. But circumstances were changing for the worse after Grandpa. I don't know why Dad was drowning himself in guilt.

Mom tried again, "Arvind, please...understand...it's not your fault that Papa went. He lived his life with happiness and went in peace. It was his time to reunite with Mama. You've not neglected him, nor could you have done anything more. We used to visit him every year!"

Dad replied in a sullen, low voice, "You don't understand, he was lonely. And I couldn't be there for him. Whereas he did everything possible to be able to send us here to start a new life. I couldn't live up to my duties as a son, and I'll never be able to forgive myself."

"What about your duties towards us, Arvind? You still have to be with us too," Mom countered softly.

Dad silently finished his dinner and went up to sleep. The next morning, he was having trouble waking up. He opened his eyes, but his body was heavy and refused to cooperate. He made unintelligible sounds till Mom heard him. And by the time I was awake, I saw him being carried into an ambulance.

He had had a stroke that left him paralyzed on the left side. And this stroke paralyzed our 'family life' too. Mom's routine now ran like clockwork. Wake up at 5.00 am... prepare my lunch for school...go to work...visit the hospital...return home to prepare dinner for me...and sleep by 10.00 pm.

I didn't ever see her smile after that. I was mostly left to my devices in figuring out what to do with my time and life. And I was all of 12 years old.

But I didn't blame her, she was doing her best. It's not like she didn't care, but she just couldn't spare the time. Once a week, I too would go and visit my father.

I think that's what helped me to continue with a positive mindset. The good memories, and the unflinching love and care that I could sense. But it was also the reason, I chose to move into this tall tower once I started earning enough to pay for my own accommodation.

Mom had decided to take a small room on rent closer to the hospital, so that she could spend more time taking care of dad. And I couldn't bear the deafening memories in the house, that just amplified my sad life now.

When I found this urban high-rise apartment, I was filled with an old exhilaration that I was almost forgetting. That sealed the deal for me. Our suburban home, after that, remained locked.

And now...as I stood in this great big fantasy, this world of my dreams...my childhood joy rushed back. I felt like I had gone back in time, when I daydreamed about cartoons and the funny, quirky characters.

The buildings, the people, the plants and animals all had black outlines filled with color. I was reminded of my drawing classes in school; I was pretty good at it. This was so unreal! It was like a 3-D version of comic books.

I had to explore and find out more, so I decided to talk to some people and try to understand this world. I walked around aimlessly taking it all in, until I saw a group of kids nearby. One of them spotted me and headed towards me; I was apprehensive but stood my ground.

As he approached me, I could see him smiling, talking and trying to communicate, but I couldn't understand a word he was saying. It seemed to be a different language. Gibberish actually.

And his voice (I chuckled in my mind), sounded like a fast-forwarded version of a conversation, ha-ha! So, does this world speak a different lingo? I tried using sign language to get through to him.

One thing was clear...that they were friendly. So, I went closer. All of a sudden, he touched my face. It caught me off guard.

*Hey, what the...what is he trying to do? Maybe he's surprised to see my form just like I'm surprised to see them and wants to touch and feel the human skin. Or maybe he's sending some invisible vibes...hmmm!!!?*