IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!
Vecteezy
It gnawed at my innards in the middle of the night,
forcing me to keep awake, my eyes staring as if they had been prised open with
matchsticks. The shudder of the curtain in the translucent light that streamed
in faintly through the window, accompanied by the sigh of the material scraping along the frame, made me shudder in empathy. Was it midnight yet, or the
witching hour of 3 am, when shadows loomed and phantoms danced with their own
rhythm? Who or what was the monster that kept me awake all night as I
desperately counted sheep and did exercises to ease my aching muscles?
The silence of the night grew unbearably loud as all
kinds of dreadful thoughts whizzed through my mind. What if I had lost my
powers? Powers that had made me different from all others… powers that I had
honed from a young age! I felt like Superman would have felt had he been
subjected to Kryptonite – innervated and powerless!
The moon beams streaming in seemed to mock at me. “Lost your
power, have you? What will you do now?” they whispered eerily. I pulled the
soft duvet over my head trying to shut their whispers out. Please, please, let
this be a nightmare, my mind screamed soundlessly.
At 4 am, I threw off the duvet, and sat up, my mind made
up. I padded across the room, making my way to the kitchen cupboard where a
packet of Lays chips lay, winking at me in the dim light. Grabbing a bottle of
water along with the chips, I crept back to my room, taking care not to wake up
my parents. My mother would be incensed if she saw me snacking at night. I
would have to replace the packet of Lays; she counted every packet that lay
within the larder as though it contained gems. Along with the generous quantity
of air within as well!
As I crunched on the chips (no one can eat just one!), I felt a cold lick on my ankle. I looked into the imploring eyes of our adorable Labrador, Sterling, who could sleep through the noisiest thunderstorm, but could sense the crunch of a crisp chip from a mile away. He grinned at me, tongue lolling out, and my treacherous heart melted at the expression in his limpid brown eyes.
In five minutes, the packet was empty and both of us pleasantly full. Sterling went back to the corner from where he had emerged, having lost interest in sitting by me. The study lamp flickered for a split second, went out and came on again. A sudden calm came over me. I could sense a surge in my sagging spirits. It was the moment I had been praying for.
I pulled out a blank sheet of paper from the drawer of
the desk, and arranged my set of coloured pens alongside it. Sterling cocked
his head, and sauntered back to my side. A gulp of water, a pat on Sterling’s
soft head, and my mind kick-started itself. My superpower was on its way back,
thank the Lord!
As ideas crowded my brain, I picked up my favourite
turquoise blue pen, my signature colour, and scribbled a few words on the blank
sheet… pretty, turquoise blue gem like drops that pirouetted their way across
the pristine page –
…and that’s when I knew I was writing again.
Mountain of Ink
'
https://www.theblogchatter.com
This post is also part of 'Real and Rhythm Blog Hop' hosted by
Such an engaging and intriguing read! I thought it was going to be a spooky story. :)
ReplyDeleteThe way you described the hush of midnight....I could almost feel the quiet wrap around me like a soft blanket. I loved how your thoughts wandered from moonlit memories to the subtle ache of unspoken fears and then flipped to a kind of hopeful morning light without ever losing that stillness.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThat was so deceptive of you and what clever writing too! We know your superpowers are very much intact with the way you wrote this piece!!
ReplyDeleteSo Lays can ignite the lulled superpowers ?
Preeti, Lays can ignite any power! No one can eat just one, anyway. 😊 Thank you so much for your kind comment.
DeleteAh the horror of not being able to write but wanting to write and then that dam breaking and words flooding out - this was such an evocative scene Deepti!
ReplyDeleteSuchita, the mystery and the horror are all within the mind and imagination! Thank you for your insightful comment!
DeleteAh, I was listening to the crunch of Lays chips against the gentle moon beams when came the "pretty, turquoise blue gem like drops that pirouetted their way across the pristine page."
ReplyDeleteThank you for using your senses to picture the scene I described! That is exactly what was hoping for when I wrote it. 😊
DeleteThe words and the way they flow cast a magic spell. More spellbinding than Sterling sharing your chips at the unearthly hour when the Moon peeped down. The imagery of the turquoise blue pen, pirouetting across the pristine page, is sheer poetry.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely comment! Thank you for the appreciation!
DeleteI was anticipating a horror story when Instarted reading but it was intriguing, perhaps the horror of loosing words. It was such an engaging read. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Pinki, for your thoughtful comment. Not being able to write is a horrifying thought, no doubt!
DeleteWow — this felt so raw and real. Your words painted that haunting midnight space between longing and loneliness so beautifully. Thank you for sharing such a vulnerable moment
ReplyDeleteThank you, Saadique! Your comment is so picturesque.
DeleteSuch a lovely post Deepti ma'am! Losing the power to write is certainly the stuff of horror for all of us writers!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Harshita! It can be horrifying, and more so if there is a deadline hanging over you. Thank you so much for the appreciation!
DeleteLove the description! Such a lovely story! Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I am glad that you enjoyed the read.
DeleteSuch a beautiful colour of the ink! And the crunch of Lay's now has me looking for my packet of chips.
ReplyDeleteIt is my favourite colour of ink and I use it often, Ananya. Thank you, and I hope you find your 'crunch' ! 😁
DeleteThe silence at midnight and the way you have narrated is absolutely amazing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for that appreciative comment!
DeleteI love that colour. I can relate to the times when the thoughts just keep flowing and when sometimes I just don't feel like writing anything. Nice story.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cindy! I love it too. I think we writers have common ground in many aspects, including writer's block! 😊
DeleteThis piece captures that familiar dread of losing one’s creative spark, but wraps it in humour and warmth. The night feels eerie and dramatic, yet your wit — the guarded Lays packet, Sterling’s snack-sensing superpowers — keeps it charmingly real.
ReplyDeleteThe turning point comes quietly: a flicker of light, a surge of calm, and the turquoise pen dancing again. The ending lands with a soft triumph, reminding the reader that inspiration never truly leaves — it simply hides until dawn.
Neerja, your comment itself is like poetry! Thank you so much for the appreciation!
DeleteHow sweet. Chips, though bad for health, have changed my mood many a time too. It was good to know that I wasn't the only one in this crime state. :D It does work out well at times.
ReplyDeleteAmbica, it is the ultimate guilty pleasure! I crunch on chips, trying to eat one at a time, so that I do not finish the packet. 😊 Thank you for your comment.
DeleteBeautifully written and kept me on the edge of my seat. I was expecting something horror-related, but was pleasantly surprised by the twist.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Neha! That was my exact intention! 😁
DeleteAt first, I thought it was going to be a spooky story but then I was blown to read the twist. Loved it. - Swarnali Nath
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Swarnali. I am happy that my intention succeeded! 😊
DeleteThis story made me feel spooky, smile all at the same time. What a riveting story you have narrated Ma'am !
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for that appreciative comment, Chinmayee!
DeleteThis was an interesting read, beginning with a spooky feel and finally leading towards the unruly hunger pangs - it had me hooked.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to hear that. Appreciation means a lot, especially from a fellow writer. 😊
DeleteLoved the description at the beginning and the sense of dread. Yep, eveything felt real and raw, the chips packet and the late night writing sessions, can so relate to this. Thank you for writing this so descriptively.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Zenobia. Coming from you, that is truly a compliment!
DeleteI loved how you turned a creative block into a midnight adventure with chips, moonlight, and Sterling. Your storytelling sparkles; by the end, your “superpower” truly feels reborn.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Kanchan! Yes, there are times when writing about writer's block makes it run away. 😁
DeleteYou certainly cast a spell with your words, leaving me craving for Lays chips now! 😋
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nilshree! Perhaps, that was my intention! 😜
Delete'she counted every packet that lay within the larder as though it contained gems. Along with the generous quantity of air within as well!' Lol... I guess that your mother's superpower if yours is writing :D
ReplyDeleteThank you, Manali! My mom's imagination is even more vivid than mine! 🤣
DeleteThis is so charming, universal agony of writer's block, it's more like a creator/superhero losing their power. Been there, done that. I switch genres to avoid my void, more into exploration, like a foreigner in our land. Though we found our superpower reinstalled, it's always a new add-on power. Great writeup!
ReplyDeleteThank you for that appreciative comment. Yes, moving into newer pastures does help.
DeleteVery intense storytelling; I could almost see it playing in front of my eyes. And oh, the secret fear of losing all the powers...sometimes, these ARE real...Enjoyed your post, Deepti.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you enjoyed my post. Thank you for the appreciation.
DeleteNever knew the satiation of midnight snacking could fire up our brain too. Enjoyable read. Now I'm tempted to crack upon a bag of Lays too!
ReplyDeleteCrack the Lays packet open, Varsh! Life is too short for regrets. 😁Thank you so much for your comment.
DeleteThat was a really intriguing one. I was expecting something eerie. But you completely flipped the plot. Very beautifully.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rehana! That was my intention! 😉
ReplyDeletehahaha...so relatable especially the 3 am writing in regular routine. writer's block is one strong block.
ReplyDelete