By Purvi Reddy, Grade 11 A

The story won 2nd Place in ‘Literati’ Story Writing Event

Pregnant clouds lumbered threateningly through the greying skies, even as a cacophony of animal calls rung out- beseeching their mates to come back home before the storm and her winds begin their assault. Judy, unconcerned by the gentle drizzle that pattered around her, studied the tree before her with fierce intensity, trying to match the steely gaze of the scientist next to her. It was a large fig tree whose branches splayed out far after those of his kind had stunted. It was not unique in any other sense, except for the labyrinthian network of vines that coiled and wove themselves tightly around the bark, to the point where no brown showed through anymore.

What was more thrilling was the thin shine of liquid that clocked and oozed from the vines. An ordinary eye might chalk it up to the rain or morning dew, but a touch of that liquid would sear your skin clear off. It has extraordinary vines that would typically act as a parasite helped a tree flourish, but also did so while producing their own venom. A giggle bubbled up her throat at the sheer wonder of nature and its genius. She loved travelling for this very reason, to experience the deadly nature of this world around her yet to celebrate its beauty too-its murderous charm.
Her eyes, tired of searching for clues only this scientist could apparently see, now searched the skies. Blinking out the water that dribbled on her face and mesmerized by the swirling clouds, she let her mind wander. She always wondered if the animals that so often surround her also lust after the sky as so many humans do, enchanted by its vastness and ever changing moods. She has never seen animals stare into the skies- but they must, right? How could one live with no ceilings and never think of looking up?
Still looking up, daydreaming about all the beautiful conversations she would hold with wild animals, she took a step back, and then emitted a painful shriek. Her eyes danced with black stars as her mind slowly caught up to her body. Painfully recognising how she tripped, fell and judged by the sickening twist of her foot- had probably dislodged her ankle. The thought produced another scream but the scientist she works with was now by her side, murmuring soothing words as she frantically tried to call for back up.
“Judy.” She has not responded to stimuli. I will not attempt to reset the bone. I am not a medical professional. No, I do not-“With those words, she slowly lost consciousness, her eyes heavy and mind afloat.
She knew time had passed, the way one’s body does, when she blinked open her eyes, adjusting to the harsh white lights of what must be a hospital. Before she could even clearly snap out of sleep, a savage scream pierced the air as a howling man was carried on to the cot next to hers. Blood from angry purple gashes rushed down his face- even as nurses struggled to hold in form, which flicked from reflex. His clothes were in tatters, barely covering his form, and his hair curled around his jaw soaked in sweat and blood. He growled! He growled at the doctor as he administered the morphine, the doctor unperturbed by the searing look of malice, no doubt, the wounded man flashed him. She could only gaze as his hands finally loosened from their hold around the nurse’s arms, which were now bruised a similar shade of purple.
She was becoming consistently nauseous, at the ravaged state of the man’s appearance, at the utter pain of his gaze, at how indifferently the staff reacted to such horror, how none of the other patients stared at the sedated form of their new peer- no hint of curiosity or empathy between them. She turned to gaze at these people now- each in their own world. One man sat in such perfect stillness she was convinced that he was dead, but for the successive twist of his eyes as he read a book. Another woman with long black hair that rested on the floor, bandaged on the entirety of her left side, but still pressed up against the hospital tiles. Yet another man who carefully whipped his head at anyone entering within five feet of him. There was a man furiously glaring at his shoes- as if they offended him.
Judy was completely disoriented. The people that surrounded her looked like her. Most of them were white and probably worked for the same institute she did. However, the social code she was raised with was not followed here. No one met her eyes or showed an interest in her existence, except the old nurse who checked her bandaged feet.
There was an eerie cloak of restless calm that stifled the room. Was she the only one who felt how laden the air was with the unspoken words one would normally expect? How everyone seemed to be dazed, eyes sharp but not seeing, as if they were uninterested in the ongoings of the world around them! Cautious but uninterested. As if they were waiting for something, as if … did not seem to pinpoint what this reminded her of. However, she felt uncomfortable at the state of the hospitalised, at how much their manner disturbed her.
When the doctor let her go three days later on a wheelchair, she stared at her feet too. And though she felt the sun’s heat warming her back- she did not look up.