The Perilous Walk (746 words)

              (Please write your name under the comment if you post anonymously)                                       

The weather in this East Coast city is always pleasant and ideal for a walk at any time of the day. The well-kept pathways wind through undulating roads. Despite the salubrious climate, there were not many who walked regularly, save an occasional old lady with her dog or a stray young couple jogging along.

 I always took the pathway that ran along the main road. In my usual route, there was one place where the pathway forked with one of them taking the walkers through a heavy thicket almost forest-like on both sides. The semi-circular path eventually joined the main road. Once you are on that narrow path you never know what lies beyond the bushes and how far the forest extends.

My grandson used to scare me that coyotes are generally seen though a big bear had appeared once from the forest on the main road. I therefore avoided going through that usually deserted way though the young boy would plead with me to take that route and even succeeded once in taking me along with him on this trail. Despite being longer and rugged, it was cool and quiet except for the chirping of birds, the rustle of leaves and the distant sound of flowing water possibly through some creek inside the greenery.

It was one fateful weekday when I cast aside the usual caution and in a fit of bravado ventured alone  into that route. Everything went fine till I went deep into that narrow pathway that was partially hidden from sunlight. Suddenly, there appeared, a little away, two rattlesnakes intertwined in the middle of the path. I knew they were venomous from the rattling sound that emanated from their tails. I stopped abruptly wanting to turn back and rush to the open space. Though the vipers did not slither towards me, they were watching my every move. I stood still almost petrified afraid of provoking them to attack me. A few minutes passed by and they showed no inclination to disappear into the shrub but remained where they were watching me through their sharp glistening eyes.

Just then I heard the shuffling of feet behind me. Wondering whether it could be some joggers, I turned to see to my great horror a large bear with stocky legs, dark and shaggy hair and a dirty wet snout, ambling towards me. With danger from both sides and with no exit sideways, I was paralysed with fear. My throat went dry, my limbs numb, and the sweat drenched my clothes. It was my bad luck I had left my cell phone on the dining table. The bear was closing in and its angry snorts made no secret of its violent intentions.

As I stood frozen in fear, something pulled me inside the shrubbery away from the road. Strangely I could see no one around making me confused. It was scary but the thought that I had escaped from the poisonous snakes and the terrifying bear gave me a momentary relief.

 I had a glimpse of the stream with gurgling water for a moment before I noticed to my utter shock two crocodiles slowly crawling towards me. I moved backwards with my body coming into contact with the thick foliage when I felt a hand press my shoulders. Slightly relieved I turned to see again to my great horror a pair of bony hands clasping my neck. There was an eerie laughter that sent a chill in my spine and the last I remember was the scream I let out before fainting.

I heard indistinct voices and several hands gently shaking me when I opened my eyes in the large lounge of the North Shore Mall. There were anxious eyes on me and I was blinking awkwardly. It was then my grandson and daughter came running from the nearby Apple store and asked me with great worry “What happened, Appa? Are you ok? You declined to come with us preferring the lounge to watch the jungle picture on the TV. Why did you scream?”

When I kept quiet, someone who was sitting by my side said “He was uttering something about snakes, crocodiles and bears. Maybe he dozed away while seeing the jungle picture”

There were peals of laughter to the chagrin of my grandson and the embarrassment of my daughter. On our way back home in the car, my grandson said emphatically to my daughter “Mom, I will no longer accompany Grandpa to the mall”

(I visited North Shore Mall recently and remembered this old and scary story written more than a decade back. It may be new for many of my current readers and a repeat thrill to the long-time patrons)