Fear Of Apocalypse

Mrs.Mehra got out of her bed and went to the washbasin.She splashed water on her face until she felt as fresh as a child feels after having a glass of water on returning from the playground in the evening with his body enveloped in sweat.

She opened the door to Harsh's bedroom and peered in.Harsh was prostrated on the bed like a tortoise.As Mrs.Mehra silently closed the door and went out,Harsh's alarm clock went off disturbing the calm atmosphere of the room.

It was 3 o'clock in the afternoon.Harsh was returning home.He outpaced all other pedestrians as he walked back from school.Any observant passer-by would have been amused by Harsh's walking style.He would have been reminded of a 800m champion from school who slowly overtook his opponents in the last lap of the race.But no passer-by was interested that day.It was a sad day for everyone.

Harsh reached home within fifteen minutes.His friend's words were still ringing in his ears.Today it'll be all over.We may not meet again.It was 21 December and the world was supposed to be obliterated that day.Some people were strictly against the idea of apocalypse.Harsh switched on the television.The channels were flooding with news about the approaching apocalypse.Footage showed parts of Eastern India and various places in the world that lay in ruins.Earthquakes.Tsunami.

Watching this,Harsh abdicated the throne of his mind to a new ruler.Fear.Fear had totally conquered Harsh's mind by now.He switched off the T.V.How long before destruction struck our city?He walked upto his bedroom in a trance.He slouched on his bed like a semi-conscious man high on sedatives.Myriad thoughts clouded his mind and he fell asleep.

When he woke up,it was 7 o'clock.He peered outside the sole window of the room.The sight that met his eyes made all the colour drain out of his face.His face was blank like an author's is when he is informed that his work has been plagiarized.

A building across the street was partly engulfed in a towering inferno.The dazzling scene blinded Harsh's eyes when he looked at it for the first time.Smoke was rising in a thick,transluscent mass.Burnt window frames were hanging loosely.A large crowd had accumulated at a safe distance from the building.

Harsh was perplexed.How did the fire start?Again fear conquered his mind.He could not move or decide what to do.

'Harsh! Harsh!' A voice called out.Harsh was shaken from his trance.A continuous,heavy knock resounded on the door.Harsh swayed till the door and opened it.Mr.Parmar who lived on the ground floor was standing at the door  with an aghast expression on her face as if she was watching a ravenous lion pounce upon its prey right in front of her eyes.

'Your mom is in that building,'she managed to blurt out.

'What!' was all Harsh could say.

Harsh's head started to spin.The muscles in his lower abdomen tightened and he felt a void sensation in his head. He ran outside. There was total pandemonium. Loud klaxons deafened his ears as ambulances came round the corner. But there was only one thing in his mind. Where was his mother? He started to run towards the building.

Numerous questions filled his mind.Where were the building's occupants? How could the fire spread throughout the building in such a short time. Where were the fire brigades? Was this the beginning of the end?

Suddenly he heard loud wails of the fire brigade's siren somewhere. The wails grew louder and louder. It seemed as if it was ringing right under his ears. It did not seem to be the sound of a fire brigade. It seemed to be a more familiar sound. The alarm clock. Harsh opened his eyes. There was no fire. No people.

Harsh was sweating profusely.