Dreamcatcher

DREAMCATCHER

MURALI MURTHY

Dawn of 02:22

In a scary, deep, sultry and shaking voice she howled "Meera, don't be scared...come near me, I am your mother in law...I won't do any harm to you." Her mother in law who is otherwise short and slow to move around, had become tall, dark and had grown 2 times more than her build.
With her trembling hands, wrinkled skin, blood dropping from her finger tips and mouth, her long silky white hairs were untied, she reached Meera with her blood soaked long nails and was about to pierce inside her heart.

Meera screamed loudly and started crying....her body shivering and she was sweating.
Hearing her scream, her husband Shivam turned on the light, hugged her tight, kissed Meera on her cheeks and whispered "its fine, nothing has happened, dont be scared, I am here...it was just a bad dream".

Meera woke up, hugged him back tight and realized it was indeed a very bad dream and checks her Mobile to see the time and realizes it's 2:22

Vasco Da Gama Calling

Five years ago, Shivam and Meera along with 3 other friends had visited Kochi to celebrate New Year. It was a fun trip, with 5 friends having a good time and seeing new places.
In one such outing in Kochi, they visited St Francis Church, one of the oldest european churches where portugal and dutch colonies are still in existence around the Church and in many parts of Kochi.
As the group spent time taking Pictures in and around the church, learning about the historical significance, Meera found peculiar interest in knowing more about Vasco Da Gama's Tomb inside the church.
Meera who is otherwise least interested in knowing about history or appreciating the significance of such places, and more interested in the shops and shopping streets around such tourist places, was surprisingly found Googling about Vasco Da Gama's life, his death and how his deadbody was buried here in St Francis Church for 14 years and how later the remains were removed and moved to Lisbon, Portugal.

Shivam though was wondering why Meera has found this unusual interest, he was more happier to see her keen to learn something.

Meera with her eyes wide open, mesmerizingly sat on a chair right next to the gravestone of Vasco Da Gama. She got into a hypnotic state and slowly started to slide down from the chair. Her face started to sweat and it started rolling down her forehead.
She looked very tired and looked like she was going to collapse any time now. As other friends and Shivam were busy exploring other areas in the church, Meera with her half closed eyes glued on to the gravestone of Vasco Da Gama.

She raised her hands, pointing towards the gravestone and started to murmur something that sounded like Portuguese. Shivam Observed this from a distance that something is wrong with Meera and started moving swiftly towards her. Meera gathered all the energy left in her with her hands still pointing towards the Graveyard and got up from the chair took steps towards the Graveyard. After taking two steps, Meera held her head and fell on the floor unconscious.
Shivam held her head in his arms, trying to wake her up and tapping her cheeks and panicking. Sindhu in the group came running and helped Shivam lift her up and she splashed handful of water from the Water bottle she was carrying. Sindhu found her hands were very cold and both rushed her towards the exit, she told others in the group "Call the driver and ask him to quickly get the Cab right outside the Church entrance." she exclaimed "ask him to come as close as possible to the main door".

They rushed Meera to the nearby Hospital, the Doctor did quick check and told Shivam and his friends "Nothing to worry, looks like she had a minor sun stroke " Sindhu seconded "yes, we have been roaming around doing sight seeing from past 6 hours".
Doctor opined "With temperature of 40 degrees and such humidity we have in our town, looks like your friend is not used to such harsh weather" "I have given her some medication and put her on Glucose, she will be perfectly alright and will be ready to go out in 1 hour"

Shivam initially looked confused, as he knew Meera was not so weak to get a sunstroke and her hometown experiences 40 degrees temperature 6 months in a year.
As the doctor suggested, Meera was up and back on her feet, looking hale and healthy. She hugged Shivam and sobbed "I am sorry, I don't know what happened there, I felt something was pulling me down".
"Don't worry baby, doctor said you were just tired and fatigue set in and you were dehydrated. Let's go back to hotel and rest for the day".
Meera nodded and agreed, as she didn't remember what really happened at the Church.

Dreamy nights

Meera's mother in law is cooking in the kitchen in the morning, as Meera wakes up, gets ready in the morning and comes out of the room and enters the kitchen to start her day. While Shivam and his father are still in their room sleeping, Meera comes to the kitchen, opens the Glass water bottle and takes 2 long gulps of water "Amma, what do we prepare for Breakfast today" her mother in law doesnt respond but continues to do something on the kitchen platform, Meera in stronger tone "Amma, what do we prepare for Breakfast today??"
Her mother in law turns her head towards Meera slowly, the head continue to turn while her body remains unmoved. Her head now turns completely and now in line with her Back.
Meera is shocked and whammy to see her face completely turned opposite as her mother in law starts to give her an evil laugh...Meera drops the Glass water bottle down and the bottle shatters with glass and water spilled all over the floor. She starts running towards her room and in that panic moment bangs her head to the wall in the rush. Her head cracks open and blood oozes and flows down all over the body.

Meera screams and starts crying loudly...Shivam disturbed with her screams wakes up from his sleep and sits straight up and looks at the digital clock and realizes it's 2:22.

Shivam is used to this by now and does the usual...hugs her, kisses and tells "Don't worry, it's just a dream, I am here, Its me"

Meera started to experience bad dreams more frequently after the Kochi trip.

Not just about Mother in law, but Meera started to get regular dreams with Ghosts, death. One night she woke up screaming and when Shivam comforted her "It's me, I am here..what happened" she started crying loudly, he insisted "What happened, tell me"
"It bit me"
"What bit you"
Still crying, in her innocent sweet voice "Snake..".
Shivam couldn't control his laugh, he laughed loud, kissed her and asked her to sleep.

The Therapists

Meera's disturbing dreams were slowly affecting her normal life. It rattled her awake from the deep sleep. She seemed to be anxious all the time, insomnia and depression started to set in.
Bothered and concerned with this condition of Meera, Shivam started to discuss this with all his good friends.

Neena who is in the travel industry is well travelled and during her recent visits to Canada, she gifts the couple a Dreamcatcher. "Meera, I know the problem you are going through, I bought this for you from Canada and I really hope this helps." she continues "this is an authentic, traditional Dreamcatcher handmade by the Ojibwa tribe. The legend says that it attracts all dreams; nightmares or bad dreams gets trapped in the web held by a ring on top, and all good dreams pass through and slide down the feathers to reach the person sleeping below" "Thanks Neena, Appreciate your concern, I will surely use this" Shivam promptly hung the Dreamcatcher above their bed, and to the side where Meera sleeps.

When Shivam discusses the nightmare trouble with his another best friend Celine who lives in Melbourne, she yells at Shivam "Why the hell didn't you tell me about this all this while"
"I am sorry, not that I didn't want to share it with you..but somehow got lost in all the confusion in our lives"
"That's ok, I understand...now tell me in detail..everything"
Shivam describes how Meera is suffering from these nightmares and the kind of evil dreams she gets very often. When Celine insisted him to be more detailed and describe specifics, he also shares the Incident happened in St Francis Church 5 years back.

Celine sprung up and caught on the Kochi Incident. She feels that she can help Meera with a solution. "There is a St Francis Church here in Melbourne. I will arrange for a prayer here and I have my own strong belief that holding a Prayer in St Francis Church will help Meera heal, please let me do this for you both"
"Thats very kind and thoughtful of you. Sure, if you think it will help us, please go ahead"
"I know the Father there well, Let me talk to him this Sunday and arrange for a prayer soon"

Meera's friend Chandrika who is bit religious and frequents to temples and pilgrimage, used to bring the Red Threads / Thaaytha from various places. She and Meera both believed the sanctified red thread with the blessing of the deity protects one enemies & threats. Meera used to always have one of these Red Threads tied on her wrists.

During a conversation with Sindhu on Meera's condition, Sindhu suggested Shivam to go and meet Dr. Jahangir Khan, a Psychologist.

Psychosis

Shivam takes a late evening appointment with Dr. Jahangir Khan. While driving to the Clinic by 07:22 PM on a short stretch of Road which was bushy on either side of the road, the stretch had long pine trees along and strangely the street lights were not working. Though the Car A/C was set to cool at 24 degrees, Meera suddenly felt unusual chillness in her body, fatigue and yet sweating. She thought she is going through a similar experience she had at St Francis Church.

Meera suddenly shouted "Did you see that"
Shivam in an agitated voice "See what?"
Meera's eyes wide open and frightfully "A person or something in fully white dress"
"No I don't see anything" peeping through the mirror he said.
As Shivam started to slow down the Car, Meera exclaimed "No, please don't stop, keep going..fast"
Meera turned back and didn't see what she saw a second ago, she breathed a sign of relief. She adjusted the Car mirror to set her hairs, and she saw the same image of a person fully covered, even the head. She screamed and closed her eyes with her eyes and started crying.
Shivam had crossed that remote stretch of road and Street light were back, and traffic movement on the road. He stopped at a Shop where it was lit well. Meera still looked petrified and looked in a state of shock.
Shivam came out of the car, bought her a bottle of Chilled water from the Shop, rolled down the window glass and stood out and lit up a cigarette. He knew Meera is not in the right frame of mind and might not open up in front of the doctor.
Shivam called the doctor and explained the harrowing incident to the doctor. "I understand and even I do not recommend you to meet me today, take her back home and let her rest. Come and meet me tomorrow morning".

Shivam stubbed his Cigarette and went back in the car, by then Meera also looked better, they drove back home and both had a very sound sleep.

Next day morning, the couple were there at the clinic on time and met the doctor. Dr. Jahangir Khan was tall, dark & very handsome. With a well groomed beard and in Cotton Lenin suit, he welcomed Meera with a bright smile and extended his hands and gave a warm & firm handshake with Meera and Shivam.
He had a very attractive personality and charm. Meera couldn't stop blushing and her eyes locked on to Dr. Khan.
"So Meera, how have you been"
"Much better today Dr., thank you"
"I have been in touch with your husband and I have your case history in brief, but I want to hear from you. Tell me everything that you experience and have been through"
Meera took a deep breath and like a child, started to narrate her story in detail. She spoke constantly for 45 minutes to recount every experience of hers in detail. By the end of it, Meera had tears in her eyes "Dr, Am I ok Dr? What's happening with me"

Dr. Khan takes a pause, composes himself, gets up from his desk and pulls a chair right next to Meera "Meera, don't worry, I don't think your problem is weird or strange. You are just experiencing some nightmares, which is quite natural and normal. Please differentiate between reality and a dream, and let it not come in your way to lead a normal and healthy life. I will help you do that, of course"
"There are some theories that suggest every Dream has a meaning. You will find people giving their perspectives to each kind of dream; be it killing, ghosts, child, flying, falling and just about anything."
"But why do I get such bad dreams with ghosts, snakes and related to death, and especially my Mother In Law many a times?" Meera enquires
Dr. Khan in his usual calm & soft tone "Dreams doesn't necessarily needs to have a meaning or anything to do with your real life, atleast not everytime. Dreams are just your mind's random thoughts, imaginations that plays out while you are asleep. As such unconscious imagination does not have any limit or restrictions, it is usually vivid. Dreams come usually in your REM state of sleep and are usually unexplainable."
"There are certainly many aspects of your life that can influence your bad dreams, Such as health condition, diet, eating patterns, sleeping patterns or any incident in your life that had an impact on your mental health or that emotionally drained you for a long period of time."

Shivam curiously asked "Agree doctor, but how do you explain yesterday's incident in the car or what happened in the Church?"
"At this point of time, I would not want to give too much importance to those stray incidents, and would note it as rare instances of Hallucination, which I will be treating her separately"
During the next 4 sessions, Dr. Khan continued various psychotherapy methods and started giving certain medications to help her sleep better, and suggested few lifestyle changes, recommended Yoga, exercise & meditation.

The Uncomfortable Truth

On the last session, Dr. Khan spoke with Shivam in a separate counselling room "Can you recollect any specific incident or anything that has disturbed Meera a lot or might have had a deep impact on her emotions, especially that has to do with you both?"
Dr. Khan observes Shivam getting bit uncomfortable "N N Nothing...nothing like that" he realized Shivam has something "That's ok, you need not tell me if you are not willing to share with me. But it is very important for you talk to Meera and find a way out...together".

"Meera, are you still worried about Zuhi?"
Shivam was in love with Zuhi and in a relation that lasted for 4 years, till he married Meera. Due to family pressure from both sides, Shivam and Zuhi couldn't end up getting married. Zuhi later got married just before Shivam did, and is leading a happy life with her family in Singapore.

Shivam had told about Zuhi to Meera even before their wedding. He had told her about his past and Meera was fine with it as it was earlier and even Zuhi is happily married to someone else.
However, Meera had observed her husband chatting and talking to Zuhi couple times. This had disturbed Meera and was suffering inside and had this insecurity feeling that bothered her all the time.
She hadn't shared this fearful emotions with anyone, not even with Shivam.

As Shivam asked Meera, she burst into tears "Not that I don't trust you, but I am scared and I know you are still in touch with her" Shivam consoled her and comforted her "Meera, you are my wife and no one can take your position. Both of us have moved on.....but....as we had a relation in the past, the love and emotions we shared hasn't died down completely. That doesn't mean, I am betraying you or having an affair. It's just that Zuhi will always be close to my heart and we just exchange occasional pleasantries. Beyond that there is absolutely nothing that you need to be worried of" Meera breathed a sign of relief and said "I trust you"

1 Year later

Meera has stopped experiencing any such vivid encounters, nor nightmares. It's been 6 months now, she never had a bad dream. Both Meera & Shivam are leading a happy life together.

I leave it to my readers to decide what cured Meera:

- Dr. Khan's treatment?
- Sacred Red Threads that she wore?
- Prayer Celine held in St Francis Church?
- Dreamcatcher Neena gifted her?
- Relieved by sharing her stuffed emotions?
- Reassurance by Shivam on her insecurity about Zuhi?