It was a quiet night,
Ghost time,
the dark sight,
it was 12 AM,
on the old streets of the ancient city, Patan,
small gallis,
the silence was heavy,
shadows moving under the flickering street lights.
I walked,
my footsteps echoing,
heart beating slowly.
A crow cawed, breaking the stillness,
and a shiver ran down my spine.
Suddenly,
a noise in the alley,
eyes shining in the dark.
A person appeared, hidden in shadows,
intent unknown,
steps quickened, breath-catching.
Closer,
his presence looming,
then a flash, a gun,
missing me by inches.
I ran, feet pounding on the road,
pulse racing, desperate to escape.
But the night had other plans.
From the darkness,
a pack of stray dogs of Kathmandu,
eyes glowing with hunger,
teeth bared in silent growls.
They lunged,
I stumbled,
but managed to get away,
only to find myself in another alley,
narrow, suffocating.
Then,
a familiar face emerged from the dark,
once a friend, now an enemy.
Old grudges resurfaced,
knives gleaming in their hands,
they had come for revenge.
I backed away,
heart pounding louder,
but they closed in,
intent clear.
No escape,
end of the galli,
with a closed end park,
nowhere to hide.
The leader smiled,
a cruel curve of lips,
and then,
a gunshot,
Fwwoookhhh………(silenced by silencer)
near my heart.
Pain exploded,
burning through flesh,
bloodstream,
legs gave way,
falling to the grassy wet ground.
The particle nature of light,
lights blurred,
sounds faded.
I saw the road,
life flashing,
every moment,
every mistake,
every relation,
family, girlf, friend, and friends.
As I lay there,
the cold seeping in,
life going away,
the city’s ancient spirit watching,
artistic walls of Patan and the Arniko,
suddenly every memory seemed beautiful,
apologies and thanks gathered to explode,
but can’t even express,
no energy to even close eyes,
move lips,
and the tongue.
And then,
I awoke.
-Bored Vikrant Again