A Journey to 25 | Day 22

It was a nice morning. I had had a good sleep. My classes were post-lunch. I got off my bunker and sat on my chair, making space on my table. I had opened my books and started studying. One of my three roommates was also in the room, still sleeping. I think the other two had some work in the college so they left early. We didn’t notice them leave. We didn’t notice the unlatched door. If only we had. The morning was about to get jumpy. The door flew open. My roommate was closer to the door than me. She saw it first. She almost screamed. She called my name and I turned. She had stepped down her bunker. She wasn’t alone. And when I realized we had company I too swallowed down a scream and stood up startled. Two little baby monkeys were moving close to her while two big ones had started ravaging the room. One took over the first bunker, the one right in front of the door and the other went to the one right opposite mine. I think they chose those two as no one was standing near them. I was looking at her. Trying to read her face. I considered her to be the brave one between the two of us. She proved me wrong. She looked as scared as me, if not more. A year ago something similar had happened that scarred me for life. I was alone in my room, resting on my bunker. I never latched the door from the inside since my two roommates had different class timings. While my classes were in the morning, they had theirs in the afternoon post-lunch. The door was pretty stiff. One had to push it a little hard to get in. While lying on the bunker I heard the door shut a few times. I wondered who was trying to get in. More so why were they unable to get in. As I tilted my head to look at the door the door flew open and a monkey walked in, the door sliding back to lock me inside with him. I was in shock. I was terrified. I had some food up close to me on the bunker. I was afraid he might come up looking for it and bite me. The very thought made me cry. I called people for help on my phone but no one picked it up. Tears kept rolling down my eyes. I dare not make any sudden movements to draw his attention. Someone had finally picked my call. While I explained the situation to him the monkey ravaged around the entire room. He jumped on the first table and savored laddoos. He jumped on the adjacent table. He couldn’t find anything to eat so he took over the coke bottle. He uncapped it. When he was unable to drink from it he spilled it on the table and licked the beverage. Finally, he turned towards my table. I stopped looking. When he jumped on my table I felt the impact and tears came down faster. I was utterly shaken to my core. I kept blabbering my fears on the phone while my friend listened. He found nothing on my table. I was afraid he’ll climb up. Fortunately, he chose to leave and headed for the door. My mind rushed to a thought that scared me even more. Will he be able to open the door? It’s difficult to push it in and even harder to pull it out. What if he came back to my bunker? While I was contemplating these thoughts he had very smoothly opened the door and left. He was strong, good for me. As the door shut back again I literally jumped down my bunker and latched the door. Relief ran through my body. I was safe. While my mind was occupied with the flashback my roommate had slowly left the room leaving me alone with four of them. At that moment I felt betrayed. In the next, not so much. The two baby monkeys had left the room too and were chasing her across the hall. Justice, we may say. One of the big ones had come close to me. He looked at me like a hungry lion. He sounded like one too when he kind of roared at me with his fist in the air. I didn’t realize I was shivering. I slowly slid to the side giving him access to my table. While the two were busy having fun and slowly walked out of the room. As soon as I was out I ran for my life. Even today when I see one my natural response is to run for my life.