Short Story Paranormal – MY BIRTHDAY
© Anand Vishnu Prakash, YourStoryClub.com
Today is my birthday – the best day of my life and I expect nothing less than a surprise birthday bash by family and friends. My every birthday was a different new experience in itself even though the menu on the cards remained the same -the birthday wake up calls during midnight snores, all the family leading me into the decorated party hall, the cake cutting ceremony and last but not the least the grand birthday party thrown by friends .The early morning saw prayers in my parish church, home luncheon of my choice prepared by mom and late night dinner.
This birthday I expect the same but I wondered why no-one had greeted me till now. I can visualize the forthcoming celebrations, my birthday surprise and everything still it seemed all had forgotten the day which was the rarest for my mother. I lay deep asleep on my bed rather I pretended to be asleep. I can hear the clock striking past twelve. I comforted myself that the whole day lay for an immense, splendid pomp.
I peeped through the slit of my eyes. I could see no one around but I could hear some whispers and mutters. They murmured pretending they had forgotten my birthday. But I knew their game and I was not going to fall prey. They had done this to me two years back and I was almost in tears. I had to run behind making hints at each of them. What fun we had when all of them came teasing
“Samanta shame on you… You want to celebrate your birthday baby…”
I had made up mind that I am not going to feel dejected anymore. I rolled back and forth in my bed as I felt uncomfortable lying awake for long. I wanted to rise from the cot but something held me back. Once again I peeped through the slit of my eyes. I can still hear some sounds around me. Guess no one was going to break the silence nor surprise me. I felt ashamed that I will have to ‘hint my birthday’ this year too. This was the day of my life when I felt like a queen, when ‘my otherwise disobedient’ younger sister serviced me hundred percent. It was the day of demands turned into realities so I was not going to miss this day for anything. Barely 24 hours of magic service before the next day turns into a hell normal day.
I opened my eyes fully and got up from bed when suddenly someone got hold of my hands and pushed me back to bed.
“Doctor please come quickly …” I could hear the lady dressed in a nurse’s attire whispering on the telephone on the desk beside my bed.
All around me there were Cardio machines, oxygen masks and many other medical equipments which I had only previously seen in pictures. Slowly I realized I was lying in an intensive care unit of a hospital.
Before not too long the doctor, I concluded from his stethoscope and white coat over his full sleeve shirt, came rushing into the room. He closely examined me from head to toe and smilingly asked me
” How are you now Samantha? Do you remember how you came here?’
I strived hard to recollect but the doctor comfortingly patted on my hands “ It’s okay if you don’t remember..”
As the doctor left the ICU the nurse informed someone outside “ Samantha is conscious… You can see her..”
The door opened wider and my parents along with my little sister Miranda walked towards me. All their faces looked tired, over cried and depressed. My mom hugged me and kissed me on my forehead. I could feel the heat of her tears as it fell on my face.
“Queen Samantha I am at your service ma’am…. Happy birthday” I could feel Miranda cold and shivering as she held my hands. My dad stood silent but his facial expressions read the grief and relief that his daughter had come back to life. In fact the whole family seemed to be relieved at my survival.
My entire body was wound with ‘plasters and bandages’. Drips and medical equipments surrounded my bed. It looked like it might take months to recover totally. I closed my eyes and tried to recollect what had happened which led me into this state. Every year on my birthday I drove back from my work town which was a hundred kilometers away via the highway to my home. This weekend too, I did the same when a ‘rashly driven truck’ drove towards my car. That was the last thing I remembered and nothing more about how and what happened after at the accident site.
I opened my eyes and looked at the ICU wall . The vision seemed a little blurred and dark but I could make out a misty faded smoky image before me . I thought the misty figure resembled a man rather to say a divine image. It lasted for barely 30 seconds before it gradually faded away. For once I felt the ‘Almighty God’ had appeared before me. This recurred a couple of times and each time I witnessed a misty figure holding out his arms.
Within minutes I felt my body growing weak, my heart beats declining to a halt and I struggled hard to gasp for breath.
“Samantha…” I could hear the moans. The doctors rushed all over to save me.
Everything looked vague and it slowly faded till I could see and hear nothing more except for a misty figure. “He” welcomed me with his hands wide open and greeted me with a smile on his face
” Welcome to my kingdom my little lamb . I have waited years for you…..”. I held his hands tightly as he led my way to a new birth.
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