Scene 1

In all probabilities it is a normal day. I am doing my chores in the kitchen. My husband, Amit, is attending another zoom meeting, the 3rd one since morning, in his room. His voice becomes muffled over the whistle of the pressure cooker as it releases its steam. I can feel the irritated looks he is sending in my directions but I cannot ask the whistle to make less noise, hence I ignore. He can shut the door if he wants. I wondered whether Wfh because of the pandemic, was a boon or a bane.

Our 4 year old is also at home. He had just finished his online classes and was at that moment playing. He was humming a new song that had been taught by their teacher- a good morning song. He could be a good singer, I was thinking. He had good sense of tune. Maybe we can put him in some classes, will have to ask around, I made a mental note. I was enjoying his little voice when suddenly there was a booming noise.

I look out the window. We live in a tenth floor apartment. Everything seemed normal from up here. I turned around to go back in when there is that noise again, BOOOM! This one felt closer. Then the floor rumbled a bit. Instinctively I supported myself against the wall. Then it rumbled again, a stronger one that I couldn’t stand straight.

Earthquake!

Amit came rushing towards me, worry written on his face. ‘Did you feel it?’ he asked. I nodded my head as I rushed past him to pick up our kid. ‘Quick, let’s run downstairs’, Amit called. ‘From the 10th floor?’ I asked. ‘We have no choice’ he replied as we heard another BOOM and a loud crash. The building besides ours was crumbling down in front of our eyes.

Wasting no more time, we rushed to the door. Amit opened it up and we stepped outside as our feet felt the floor beneath us trembling. I had just crossed the threshold, when suddenly there was a wail...

Where is our younger one, our 6 month old!

With panic in my eyes I handed over our son to my husband and rushed back in. The walls had started cracking, things were tumbling down all over, I could feel the building start to tilt but where was my little one? Through the dust and rubble I can hear her wails but I cannot see her. Amit was calling out to us. He wanted to take our son to safety. Things were looking grim but where was my little girl! I cannot leave her all alone now, can I? I squinted and looked into every room but where was she? Why do we have so many rooms? Her cries were becoming louder, I knew she was near as I started crawling on the floor because standing straight was becoming harder. I called out to her, she responded with a wail but I still could not see her.

And then suddenly there she was. Smiling at me, standing in her crib, her hands outstretched. She was expecting me to pick her up. I ran towards her but what was this? My feet were heavy. I could not run! Something was pulling me back! I could not turn to look at it! It was grasping me by my dress, stopping me from going forward! Let me go, let me go, I could not cry. My lips were sealed! I was screaming inside and scramming but was standing in the same spot. My baby is giggling now, expecting me to reach her any moment but I cannot go. My hands are outstretched but I am not moving forward. Help! help! help!

And then I watched in horror with a soundless scream stuck in my mouth as that part of the building crashed, taking the crib with it. I saw it falling, down down down and then suddenly I was free. The invisible hand holding on to my dress had let it go and I also tumbled down into the abyss. I felt my body becoming light as with my arms in the front I also fell, fast, the gravity pulling me.

Down, down, down!

Me and my baby locked eyes and smiled and then...