Chapter 3: The Dream

The Dream
Felicity felt her jaw drop as her wondering eyes took in the sight before her. Crowds of people all dressed the same, jostling for space, as a catchy song in the same baritone voice she had heard in Margaret’s car accompanied with thumping music, blared out from huge speakers dotted around the ground, assailing her ears and stopping her in her tracks. She felt an unfamiliar sensation of quickening of her nerves as her feet automatically started tapping to the beat. The crowd was swaying and stamping and clapping as it sang along. She suddenly realised that Margaret had disappeared into the sea of humanity as if engulfed by a wave.
As Felicity stood there undecidedly, much as one learning to swim would hesitate before jumping into the pool, she felt a surge of wild excitement exploding within her and laughing aloud she plunged into the crowd clapping and dancing merrily. She immersed herself totally in experiencing the vibrations of raw energy and unbearable anticipation swirling like a whirlwind all around her.
When she came to her senses, the music had stopped; the ground was almost in darkness except for some dim light from two lamp posts. The last few stragglers were wending their way towards the massive gates. Felicity looked around for Margaret but there was no sign of her. She suddenly felt cold and weary and slowly made her way towards the exit. There was turmoil of never-felt-before emotions within her which she could not name. One of the emotions was a great despondency – she had never come across such indifference from others on Planet Felicity where everyone took care of everyone else and they were like one big happy family. She looked up at the moon which seemed cold and remote in an overcast sky. She felt lost, lonely and helpless. As she made her way down the long winding road it started raining. Felicity started running as she desperately looked around for some sort of shelter before she got absolutely wet. She stubbed her toe on a stone and arms flailing wildly ran headlong into a person coming from the opposite direction. “Hey, hold on. Look out where you are going!” rang in her ears as she was held up by a pair of strong but gentle hands. She looked up into the saddest and kindest pair of eyes she had ever seen. There was a smile on the pleasant face of her saviour as he looked down at her curiously from his great height. “So what do you think you are doing at this time and this place my dear girl?” he questioned and without waiting for her reply he caught her hand and shouted “Let’s get into the house before we get wet.” Dragging her along, he started running towards a cottage which she had not noticed before, as it was standing in a copse deep in the woods bordering the road.
Her companion opened the door and escorted Felicity into a warm and cosy room with a welcoming fire burning brightly in the fireplace. The kind stranger helped her into a seat near the fireplace and took a chair facing her. She noticed that he had a royal bearing and noble features though he was simply clad. Felicity could not help noticing that his eyes still carried a trace of that deep sadness which she had seen before. He held out his hand and said “Let me introduce myself. I am Cedric.” As Felicity shook his hand she felt a deep trust for this young man. She said “I am Princess Felicity and I have come from Planet Felicity to visit your planet.” Cedric’s eyes lit up as he heard her answer and with sudden interest sharpening his voice he queried, “What brought you here to our planet?” Felicity took a deep breath and found herself recounting everything to him – her planet, her people, the happiness, peace, prosperity, love and caring, the natural beauty on Planet Felicity, her boredom with all this, wanting to experience something different and her wish being fulfilled. As Felicity described her experiences on Earth till now, her voice involuntarily became lower and her expression changed. Cedric watched her intently as different emotions flitted across her face. She could feel that he was listening to every word of hers with bated breath.
Felicity did not know how late it was when she finally stopped speaking. Cedric was looking pensively into the flames. He appeared very distant and she again got the vague feeling that his young shoulders were carrying a burden far beyond his years. Loath to break into his reverie, she timidly asked, “Won’t you tell me about yourself?” He shook himself out of his trance, looked at her and gave a weary smile. “Yes. I am still trying to come to terms with your description of your planet and your people and the reality of our planet as it is today. Princess, are you ready to face the facts about Mother Earth?” Felicity looked at him in astonishment, taken aback by the intensity in his eyes and the depth of pain and anguish in his voice. She could not bring herself to speak, but wordlessly inclined her head to signal assent.
There was a long pause during which Cedric appeared to be collecting his thoughts. And then he started speaking, “Since the first of time, before our ancestors even thought of time, first light reveals a treasure almost beyond imagination – the elegance of diversity and the rich tapestry of the natural world. Ours is also a world shaped by people, just like yours - by those who are strongly tied to the land and who draw from its bounty. They suffered during hard times, only to be renewed by the birth of each new generation. This is also a place our ancestors never could have dreamed of, with mega-cities of glass and steel, the home to expanding populations, powered by a global economy, and fueled by never ending images of consumption. Even when the sun gives way to the glow of neon, we've found a way to continue the frenzy – a way to freeze time – until we reach the very edge of night. Yet all too often first light brings a more sobering reality – perhaps all is not well with the state of the planet earth. If I had to use one word to describe the environmental state of the planet right now, I think I would say precarious. It’s in a very precarious situation right now. Today our planet is faced with seemingly unprecedented environmental challenges.” Felicity was listening with rapt attention, trying to understand a situation which seemed so alien to her.
Cedric continued eagerly, as if the very act of sharing his burden with someone who was willing to listen and at least trying to understand, was healing in itself. “Princess, as I was listening to your description about your planet and your people, I was struck by the irony of the situation. Today, we are desperately in search of and badly in need of exactly what is available on your planet. The very things which seem so boring to you today, are the things we have lost – humanity, sensitivity to nature and the planet, to the flora and the fauna. We are so busy living life in a narrow self-centred groove that we are drying up all of Mother Nature’s resources with nary a thought for the future generations.”
“The state our world is in today, is the fruit of the seed of destruction which has taken root in the human mind from god knows how many millions of years ago. We humans have become so myopic that we do not even realise that we are well and truly on the path of self-destruction. Yet, there is some hope my dear friend! There are still some groups of people all over the world who are doing all within their power to heal our planet and our people – but they are too few in number and the time is too short.” Cedric ended on a poignant note. Felicity felt her heart reach out to this beleaguered planet and its people. She felt wetness on her cheeks. She touched her face and stared in wonder at her moist fingers – she had never seen tears in her life…………
She could hear a far away voice calling her insistently by name, “Princess Felicity, wake up! You have never slept so long. Your father the King has sent for you. Something very important has come up.” Felicity woke up with a start and found herself on her tree-house. The moon had long since disappeared and the sun was happily beaming down on her. She rubbed her eyes unbelievingly and stared at her friend Faith, “How did I get back here?” she questioned “What? You must have been dreaming my girl. Now do get ready and come. The king is waiting for you.” Her mind in a complete whirl, Felicity got dressed and followed Faith to the Palace tree where the King was holding court. She could sense a feeling of suppressed excitement in the air. The King smiled at her and directed her to a seat next to him. “Come my dear. We have been waiting to give you some thrilling news. Our scientists have been able to intercept signals which are coming from some planet in another galaxy far away from ours. The inhabitants of this planet call themselves humans and the name of their planet is Earth. They seem to be in urgent need of help.”

Chapter 2: The Earth Journey

Hey babe, want a lift? “ Felicity pondered awhile, did people on earth have a really long life span, she was sure she didn’t look like a child anymore, yet the full grown human in front of her was calling her ‘babe’

“Yes kind sir, where are you headed to?

“Wherever you want to, your highness” The man said with a leering laugh

Felicity was too busy being happy as was her wont, to notice the leer or the fact that nobody knew she was a princess on this planet. The people here
are so kind and polite; I shouldn’t have let the old eagle get to me, thought Felicity to herself and got into the car with a cheerful smile.

As Felicity sat in the car and tried to ask the human more about earth and the amazing life span of people, the man suddenly increased the speed of the car and the volume of the loud thumping music.

As Felicity watched round eyed, he started taking a swig from a long brown bottle and held the foul smelling bottle to her lips as well. Felicity shook her head, but the man just laughed and forced the liquid down her mouth.
Felicity almost gagged on the foul smelling brew and was feeling very worried and scared by now, feelings she had never felt before. Before she could act on her feelings, the man suddenly stopped the car and started pawing at her.

Felicity was too taken aback to know what to do, she started hitting out and screaming at the top of her melodious voice, but the man just laughed at her attempts. Now petrified than ever before Felicity suddenly felt some age old instinct taking over. She swiftly re- acted by reaching out for the long brown bottle near the wheel and smashed it on the man’s head.

Felicity hastily got out of the car with her packet and started running along the road without stopping to look back. Her dress of shimmering gold kept getting caught at her ankles making her stumble now and again. She swiftly tore at it and stopped to wear her ‘earth’ clothes. She kept running till she was out of breath and the sun was low on the horizon.

Seeing the sun low on the horizon, she suddenly felt very alone and helpless. Feeling very home sick, she sat on a boulder along the road and began to cry. After a long while as she sat wiping her tears, she realised that she surely didn’t feel happy anymore. But she was also surprised at the realisation that she did feel more alive than she ever had on her planet.

Soon she started singing to herself, to cheer herself up. And as if drawn by the magic of her voice, a car stopped right next to her and a kind looking woman asked her if she wanted to be dropped somewhere.

Felicity nodded with a smile, and gathering her packet she placed her fate in the hands of a stranger for the second time in the day

“Where do you want to go honey?” asked the old woman kindly
Felicity was not going to make the same mistake again, “I was on my way to meet the King, can you please take me there” said Felicity with as much bravado as she could muster.

“Isn’t it a coincidence now, I am headed just that way” saying that the old woman smiled at her again
Felicity began to relax, though she felt alive more than ever before and she was feeling all these new feelings, she was longing to go back. The king would understand her plight and help her get back, she would also offer him all the money she had so that he could start work on it right way.

The old woman was humming along to a song sung by a man in a rich baritone voice, and she urged Felicity to sing along too. Felicity loved singing and started humming along, now quite enjoying herself.

Soon the old lady brought the car to a halt, and she saw many men and women milling around a huge white mansion. Wondering what kind of palace this was, she noticed all the men wore the same clothes, a white suit, all of them wore a wig, large sunglasses and all seemed to walk with a swagger.
Felicity began to feel the now familiar tinge of fear again, “Margaret, where does the King hold his court? I want to see him quite urgently, just tell me and I will go find him”

Margaret started laughing, “Is this your first time to Graceland, my dear? "This Felicity is his court and all these are his loyal subjects, you and me included. Elvis still lives Felicity, come let’s celebrate his birthday as it is meant to be”

Saying this Margaret dragged a now completely bewildered Felicity by the hand and took her to meet the ‘King’.

Chapter 1: The Night at Planet Felicity

Late at night as Princess Felicity lied down on her tree house, she sighed a breath of boredom. The sky was beautifully starlit and her bed warm and cosy. But the princess was tired of being happy. Waking up to a happy morning ever since she was born and everything being happy and perfect had taken its toll on her. She found living very uninspiring. Since there was nothing to look forward to every morning. The moon smiled at her, “What is the matter?”

“I have nothing to do in life. In fact nobody on this planet has anything to do. We are all perpetually happy.” Princess Felicity whined.

“That is a blessing, my dear.” Assured the moon.

“But I am bored.” The princess was not to be consoled.

“So what do you want to do?” The moon queried.

“Is there no other kind of life, where things are a bit different.” The princess questioned.

“How different?” The moon kept on quizzing.

“Well, in every planet is life the same?” The princess wondered.

“Not at all. In fact every planet has its own peculiarities.” The moon smiled.

“So, I want to visit all those places and see how different life can be.” The princess wished.

“Well,” the moon responded, “whatever you wish on Planet Felicity comes true.”

“I know,” The princess went to sleep peacefully knowing very well that her wish has been granted.

Princess Felicity found herself on the seat of her white eagle.

“Where are we headed for?” She stroked the eagle.

“Planet earth,” replied the grim voice of the eagle.

“You are not sounding happy at all.” The princess looked surprised.

“Yes, this tone is called grim, and there is nothing to be happy about this silly decision of yours.” The eagle now snapped at her.

“Look how you are talking to me.” The princess was hurt

“Well, that is your choice. You did not like our happy planet where we were all happy, we loved everybody and hurt nobody. Since you want to experience something different, I have been asked to drop you to planet earth. Life there is definitely very different.” The eagle stopped.

“Well, how different?” asked Princess Felicity.

“You will know it for yourself. And you are no princess there. Well, we have arrived.” The eagle stopped and let her down.

Felicity found herself standing underneath a small hillock, big green trees surrounded her as she stood amidst a twirling road. Happy again at where she was, Felicity smiled at her surroundings. The white eagle gave her a small packet.

“What is this?” Felicity enquired.

“Some money, as they say in earth parlance. And your clothes. Best of luck.” The eagle flew away.

With her small packet, Felicity stood on the road. The sun was about to rise. A big truck made its presence felt on the road. Unaware of this kind of a creature, Felicity was taken aback. She stepped behind as the truck almost ran her down.

Enjoying the drama, Felicity stood there. A car was approaching her. The driver stopped next to her. Felicity smiled. This was of course the beginning of a new life.