By Koushik Das
I was bitten by a dog for the first time, and I was also diagnosed with somnambulism for the first time. After our final MBBS exams, my roommates and I decided to take a trip. We went out the next morning by road, seeking the salty air, and ended up at our nearest beach in Mandarmani.
As I stepped out of the car, I felt something touch my left leg. I looked down to see a cute little guard dog, whom I later learned was named Tommy. He was curious and playful, and I fed him a small biscuit packet. We took our luggage to our room, then played with Tommy, had lunch, and enjoyed the sea. We returned to the resort in the evening, had drinks and dinner at the cafeteria, and then settled down.
I remained awake that night, sitting on the balcony, while my friends slept. But Tommy stayed with me, calmly sitting beside me. We looked at each other, and I felt a deep connection. His eyes and mine seemed to speak the same language, and we shared a moment of serenity. Suddenly, I fell asleep.
When I woke up, I was near dawn, and my unconscious mind had taken over. I got down from the chair and crawled around the resort. I stumbled onto the beach, feeling the wet sand on my soles. I thought someone was waiting for me to play. Tommy was with me, but he started barking and pulling my shirt. Then, he bit my left leg, the same spot where he had licked me earlier.
I woke up again, this time with my conscious mind. I was in the middle of a big sea wave. As I gained consciousness, I kicked Tommy unknowingly, and he vanished into the dark sea wave. I was devastated, shouting and calling out for Tommy repeatedly. But I couldn't find him, even after searching for an hour.
I sat down on the beach, holding back tears, and waited for Tommy to return. But I knew it was impossible for him to survive the sea wave. As the sun rose, my vision became blurry with tears. I had to leave for Kolkata, so I climbed back up to the beachside.
My friends were frantically searching for me, and when they found me, they told me to pack my luggage quickly, as we had to check out in 15 minutes. I silently complied, still trying to process the events of the night. My friends thought I had a hangover, but they didn't know what had really happened.
Throughout the journey back to Kolkata, I couldn't shake off the guilt and grief of losing Tommy. I knew I had to come to terms with my somnambulism and find ways to manage it.
By Koushik Das
Heart touching story.