Today's dream felt more real than reality itself — as if my soul had wandered into another world, one eerily close to our own, yet far too strange to explain.
It all began with something simple:
I was sitting peacefully in a theater, watching a program, letting the lights, the music, and the emotions of the show wash over me. The room was dim, yet full of life, each scene on the screen pulling me deeper into another world. But then something strange happened. One of the characters suddenly changed. His face shifted, became unfamiliar. A strange dizziness swept over me, and the next thing I knew—I fell. I fell hard and found myself lying in the middle of a street, alone and disoriented.
My head throbbed with confusion. Where was I? Why was I here?
Panic rose in my chest. The road around me was unfamiliar. I didn't recognize any of the buildings, the lanes, or even the sky. With trembling hands, I reached for my phone and called my brother. I tried to explain, barely holding back tears, "I think I'm lost. I don't know where I am."
His voice on the other end tried to stay calm, but I could hear the worry. "Keep walking forward. I think there's a coaching center nearby. Look for it. There are two girls standing outside—you'll see them. Wait there. I'm coming to get you."
I held onto his instructions like a lifeline. I walked ahead slowly, my senses still spinning. And just as he said, I saw two girls standing outside a building. Their faces were familiar—neighborhood girls who had once gone to that coaching center. I approached them and waited, thinking I was finally safe.
But just then, a sweet smell filled the air.
It was the unmistakable scent of gajar ka halwa—carrot pudding—warm, rich, buttery, and nostalgic. The aroma wrapped around me like a memory. Unable to resist, I followed it like a child chasing magic. It led me down a small alley, deeper into the unknown. There, I saw a large cauldron placed over a fire. Men and women bustled around, cooking what looked like a feast. It reminded me of preparations for a wedding.
Drawn to the halwa, I asked a man nearby, "How much for a plate?"
He replied, "400 rupees."
I checked my pockets. Empty. Not a single coin. My heart sank. I smiled politely and turned away, pretending it was too expensive, trying to hide my disappointment. But my eyes couldn't help but glance back, again and again, at the large pot filled with sweet, steaming halwa.
I sighed and walked on. I'd gone farther than I realized. As I continued down the road, the streets became quieter, the houses larger, unfamiliar. There were no people now. Just silence. An eerie silence that made every step feel like an echo.
I had wandered too far.
I was lost again.
My mind screamed for help. My brother must be searching for me by now. I had to return to the coaching center. I had to retrace my steps.
That's when I saw it—a white swan sitting peacefully on the side of the road. Something about it was calming, almost divine. As I moved closer, I saw a framed image behind it. It was Goddess Saraswati, seated on her swan, holding her veena, radiating light. I froze in reverence.
But then, a group of girls arrived. They picked up the swan gently and turned to leave. Confused, I asked, "Where are you taking it?"
"We're preparing for a cultural program," one of them said, slightly annoyed. "Please don't disturb us."
I stepped aside and watched them disappear into the fog of the unknown street. I continued walking, but the path became darker. It led me toward what looked like a deserted cremation ground. Dry leaves rustled under my feet. My stomach churned.
Where was everyone?
Where was my brother?
Why did I feel like I didn't belong here?
Suddenly, I spotted a police officer walking toward me. Relief flooded me. Finally, someone who could help.
I stepped forward and was about to speak when a young man appeared out of nowhere. He grabbed my arm and whispered, "Don't talk to him."
I looked at him, startled. "Why? I just want to ask for directions."
"No," he said, his voice firm but low. "Look closely at him first."
I turned and observed the officer.
Something was wrong.
His uniform was covered in dust and mud. A vine-like plant had wrapped itself around his shoulder. He was mumbling to himself like a madman. "House 401… House 402… House 403…"
I turned back to the boy. "What's wrong with him?"
The boy looked into my eyes with a seriousness that made my skin crawl. "He's stuck here… just like you."
A chill ran down my spine.
"Stuck? What do you mean?"
He paused. "Tell me something… That street where they were cooking… the wedding feast… Can you still see it?"
"Yes," I said without hesitation.
His face changed. He took a step back. Horror crept into his voice as he shouted, "She can see them! She can see the spirits! Catch her! She must not escape!"
My heart nearly stopped. Before I could react, more people appeared—dozens of them—chasing me. Their faces were dark, empty, hollow.
I ran.
I ran with every ounce of strength I had.
I turned a corner and ducked behind a building, gasping for breath. My legs trembled, but I couldn't stop. Suddenly, they were upon me. They reached for me, tried to pull me into the shadows.
But something strange happened.
A surge of energy burst through my legs, my arms, my body. My feet moved on their own, lifting off the ground. I fought back, striking them with a strength I didn't know I had. It felt like something, someone, was helping me. Like an unseen power had taken control of my limbs and was protecting me.
I broke free.
I ran again, faster this time.
And then, out of nowhere, I saw the coaching center. I had made it back.
Relief washed over me like rain after a drought.
But as I approached the building, I saw my own body, bloodied, lying motionless on the road, just outside the gate.
A shiver traveled through me. My heart refused to believe it.
In that moment, everything made sense. The fall from the theater, the confusion, the strange streets, the people, the wedding feast, the ghostly swan, the mad policeman—all of it.
I was dead.
I had died when I fell.
My call to my brother… my walk to the coaching center… everything had happened after death. I had been trapped in a world between worlds.
A place where lost souls wander.
And I was one of them.
Author's Thought:
This was my dream on the night of July 10, 2025.
Strange? Scary? Mysterious? Yes.
But dreams like these are a part of me. They don't just come and go. They linger. They leave questions. Why do I see such places? What does it all mean? Am I being shown something hidden from the world of the living?
Maybe dreams are more than just dreams. Maybe they're messages, glimpses, memories of a world we forget when we wake up.
I don't have a steady income. Life is difficult. But I haven't given up. Instead, I've chosen to share my dreams with the world. Maybe, through them, I'll find purpose. Maybe you'll find a part of yourself too.
Do you have strange dreams like this? Do you feel like there's more to them than meets the eye? Tell me in the comments. Share your stories.