This is not an adventure for me. I am someone who loves adventure but believe me, I never want one like this. This is something that I am forced to do, that I need to do in order to find out the problem and its solution. In the movies, such a scenario can look good with the downcast lighting on tall buildings, forlorn streets filled with ominous silence, the fit protagonist and his trusted four-legged companion, and the zest to find the solution to the problem. Only the zest part is true in my case. I want to find out what caused the phenomenon, why it occurred, and the means to reverse it.

In a way, this is the biggest adventure in the world, maybe even the entire universe. It is just that I didn’t want to be a part of it. I still don't want to. If anyone is hearing me know this. I will gladly give way to anyone else. Take me along with you, wipe me out from the face of this planet just like how you did to my wife and the millions out there. If I can’t be with her then I don't think I want to be a survivor. I am happy to go away. I am not the player for this game of yours. I truly am not. And just like everyone, I don't want to be forced into doing things.

But the bitter truth of life is you are forced to do things you don't want to. That's how things go about among maximum humans. You are forced to do a job that you don't like, forced to live a certain lifestyle because of what you earn and spend, and forced to follow the etiquette and norms established by the society in order to be a part of it. Everyone is being walked down the conveyor belt whether they like it or not. Very few jump off it and explore what remains while managing to avoid getting back onto the set path. The people who jump off will be viewed as castaways and treated differently by the majority. Some find ways to absorb the treatment, while others succumb to it. They get back onto the conveyor after which they cease to entertain the possibility of a life beyond it. They become part of the effective system running in place to tame us all and keep us going on the conveyor belt.

I have been in this conveyor belt for my entire lifetime. Everyone I know is in it. The conveyor belt is my world as well. I didn’t know if there existed a possibility outside of it. I did happen to glance across a few of them outside of the belt. They seemed very much out of context to me. They were being coaxed into getting back into the line by various methods. Some of them got back. Others took the plunge. The ones who fell in line are a part of this more than ever. Those who took the jump were nowhere to be found. I hope they have escaped to a place where they feel at home. For me this is my home, this conveyor belt is where I have been my entire life. I have thought of exploring the fringe ends, thinking of what lies beyond it. I have looked into the abyss a couple of times. It stares back at me. It scares me. So I retreat back to where I come from and go on with my life. But I have never given up on thinking about it. I don't know if I will be able to jump off one day just to explore it. It will surely change my perspective cause that is what I have come to see. People who have left are misfits. They talk a weird language, do weird things that are non-conforming to the established and accounted ones, and have an exotic take to life. They have been branded by different names throughout the millennia. But the meaning remains the same - the other ones. Since they constitute a minor part of the entire population of the species they pose no threat.

The ones I have come upon haven't looked dangerous in any manner. Instead, they come in peace and only wish the best for us. They want us to think for ourselves for once and decide without bias. This is a rarity in a world where our surroundings heavily influence our decisions. We are molded in such a way as to take these influences as part of everyday life and adhere to them as much as possible. How many of us question authority? How many of us question the society we live in? How many of us question our parents? They want us to take the first step to question. That's it. From there it is solely our path to tread. They can only show the way, like a teacher.

I am on the uphill portion that ends in Pattom Junction. As I am about to reach it I decide to take a left turn. I did traverse it when I was going in the opposite direction. I had taken it to the hospital opposite where my friend stayed. But I hadn’t taken the remaining stretch that leads to medical college. I want to take this stretch now. I want to reach medical college and go to her department once again and look for her. One more time before the day ends. I need to do that.

The roads and the streets remain the same throughout my journey. The minor difference is the silence that hangs in the air more ominously owing to the lack of noises generated by anything that used to feed on electricity. I can see the electricity board building in front of me. I look at it as I pass it. The windows on the top floor have the glow of the setting sun. The lower ones are dark and desolate.

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Just beside the main building is a smaller one that caters to the needs of the common people. I have come here to pay the electricity bill when we were staying in Marappalam. Back then it had to be paid in person. Now the process has been digitized. There is hardly any crowd anymore in front of it. Only a few from the older generation visit it to pay their bills. Internet and mobiles have made it easier for us in ways we can’t imagine. But in the current situation, they fail to be of any help. They too need electricity to function. It makes me realize that electricity should be declared as the fundamental right of every individual. The Internet is just one of its derivatives.

Opposite this is a school. It looks spooky now. Is that possible? Like can a place feel different in a short span of time? The only difference is the lack of power. And that is normal. But I don't know. It feels weird in some different sort of way. Or is it the whole atmosphere that is responsible for this feeling? I don't feel like pondering on it, so I continue on the road.

The road follows a gradual decline onto the hospital and the street where my friend lives. I continue straight. In the junction up ahead, I take the straight road. After the small uphill portion, I cruise at a leisurely pace. The couple of food joints that have opened recently remain closed along with all others. I wanted to try them out. One is a shawarma joint. The other is a takeaway run by a family. Their dishes have a homely touch according to the reviews I have got from my friend. He is a regular here.

This road ends at the medical college junction. I am back again to check on her. I don't care if I have to do it many more times. I will gladly pitch a tent in front of her department and be on her lookout.

I reach the junction. In the setting sun, the place has a cooler feel to it. This is very much bearable and pleasant compared to the hot atmosphere in the mornings. You will get a tan in no time if you are not careful. I am definitely not. But then I don't go out on the scooter at that time. I did today. I look at my arms. They might have tanned a wee bit. I can’t say it with surety cause my arms have a dark brownish complexion than the rest of my body. This is a result of all the football I played with my school friends in the baking hot sun. Our uniform shirt was half-sleeved shirts. I took it off on the hottest of all days to help myself cool down. That combined with the constant exposure to the sun at my workplace has given me this permanent tan. I don't mind it.

Nowadays I have started wearing full sleeve shirts because they suit me better than the half sleeves. When it comes to tees, I always prefer half sleeves. She has sensitive skin. She gets a tan quickly. For this reason, she prefers long sleeves. I always tell her to buy a light jacket kind of clothing with long sleeves to cover her arms whenever she rides the scooter. She nods in approval but never buys it. I think I will get her one. It would be a pleasant surprise for her when she is back.

I take the left turn onto the hospital premises. Even here, nothing has changed. A couple of dogs roam around one of the blocks. I reach the front of her department. It is as it was in the morning - closed. The window of her room remains open. I realize that she is not here. I decide not to go inside and check it out. I will come here tomorrow morning.

I take the roundabout and exit to the right. I pass her department, the nursing college, and the multi-specialty block where she used to go for her Covid duties. It really feels weird to be out here without any presence of anyone, looking for my wife. I can’t ask for any advice, nor can I know where else to look for. I have looked at her department thoroughly and its immediate surroundings. I don't know where else to look for. Sigh!

A weakness grips me. I feel tired all of a sudden. Tired of this ordeal. If this is a test of sorts, I really want to quit it. I really want it to end as I don't care about excelling in it. Whatever or whoever is responsible for this phenomenon, this disappearance, I beg you to stop testing me. I surrender to you. I really do.

I say this having stopped my scooter at the intersection. I was looking up at the sky as the thoughts flooded me. I wish something happened up there to tell me that I have been heard. I wait for a sign. Nothing happens. The skies are slowly turning orangish and grey. The fluffier clouds have gone, leaving some of the high-altitude ones scattered in the sky. I take out the bottle of water from my bag and drink half of it in a go. It is a thirst fuelled by helplessness. It is a thirst unquenchable. It is a thirst that has an origin but doesn’t have an end in sight. The long gulps of water bring me momentary respite. As soon as I am done with my last gulp, the thirst returns. I keep it back in my bag. I take out the walkie-talkie and broadcast a message through it.

‘To every survivor out there who is hearing this message. You are not alone. Please do not panic. Stay calm. Try replying on this channel. I will hear you out for sure if you can’t then try to figure out a way to come and meet me. I will be in Pongumoodu junction in twenty minutes. Please do come. Let us figure out what has happened and how to solve it together. Please. Do come. I repeat you are not alone. You can do this. We can do this. We just need time. I will be waiting for you in Pongumoodu junction from six o’clock. Over.’

I wait for a reply to come. Nothing does, not even the static crackle. I put it back into the bag and wipe off the tears that have welled in my eyes.