What an Experience!

Reena’s exploration challenge #160.

You go down in a lift that doesn’t stop for hours. When it finally opens, what do you see?

Anthony Tran@unsplash.com

As a kid, the land of fairies and goblins, witches and demons, knights and palaces always fascinated me. I looked up in awe at the mythical characters with their super powers. Their gift to fly in the open sky or dive to the bottom of the ocean, save the princess in distress… ah the world of fantasy always enchanted me. Well, real life is poles apart from this utopian world. Growing up, this fascination got buried somewhere deep in my heart. Life and routine happened.

 Exhausted after another long day at work, I headed towards the elevator to get home, praying that I would be spared by the serpentine weekend traffic. I pressed the parking level button and was catching up on the messages on my phone. Wondering what was taking so long for the elevator to reach the basement, I looked up to see the indicator. I was shocked to see a blinking red arrow pointing down and felt the elevator spiralling down. Panic hit me. I tried to ring the alarm bell, make a call on my phone but none of them worked. After what seemed an eternity, the elevator finally stopped and the door opened. With trepidation in my heart, I slowly stepped out. The sight that greeted me was out of the world.

Bright sunshine smiled as if to welcome me. The green grassland with huge castles caught my attention beyond the valley filled with cascading waterfalls, chirpy birds and meandering butterflies. The moment I stepped into this place, I underwent a magical change. I found myself in a pretty white gown with a tiara and wings.  The breeze swirled, infusing sweet scents of the floral tapestry. A feeling of ecstasy enveloped me. Happy and smiling, with my arms stretched out, I spun around, my gown billowing, as each color embraced me with a sweet song.  I was pleasantly surprised when my wings started to flap and I could fly. Soaring into the blue expanse, I flew through the duvet of clouds and sparkles of rainbow. A fairy appeared before me. In a sweet voice she asked me to wish for 3 boons.

As I was about to ask for my wishes, I felt a thud. The door of the elevator opened and I found myself staring at the parking lot of my office building.  I walked towards my car, wondering whether I was day dreaming or was it an esoteric experience?