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Nighttime is a safety blanket which envelopes each one of us, whichever part of the world we may be in. It lends tranquillity, peace and an absolute slowing down of senses. Just like a dip in a placid lake, it relaxes every sinew and gently eases a stressed mind. The deepest sleep, albeit for a few minutes, is like armour that protects us from the stiff challenges a new day brings. Research reveals that sleep deprivation can really hamper one's faculties. Children could even go a few years back in their learning age if they miss out on just one hour of sleep every night. Beyond a shadow of doubt, nighttime is best used as bedtime. Now that's a calming thought to seduce that all-elusive sleep...come hither!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:off ice:office" /

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As I'm counting sheep on my bed, I always think of those who do not have the luxury of sleep by nighttime. A blue light ambulance whizzes past my window and it awakens a series of questions - Who is the unfortunate soul in the ambulance? What could have gone wrong with that person? Is there any fighting chance of survival? My mind searches for reasons and the sheep start to jump all across the sleepy canvas. I try to calm my mind with philosophical thoughts like destiny and how the future is pre-ordained for everyone, how someday it could be me in that ambulance. I inadvertently cross-check the phone line by my bed to ensure it is green and live, just in case. After much effort, I lead my mind to focus on the fact that the unfortunate soul is now in the best hands possible at the hospital. This however tips my mind open up another Pandora's Box of thoughts. Paramedics, doctors, nurses and A & E staff, how tirelessly they work putting others before them. The very idea tires me as I try to softly chant and woo sleep.

A police car shoots past my window like a bullet. The sirens jolt my mind to start thinking again. Oh I hope there hasn't been an accident. What sort of crime are they dealing with? Murder, knife crime, shoot out? I deliberately slow my racing thoughts down by auto suggesting that perhaps they dealing with a bunch of unruly youngsters who have had one too many. A cackling bunch of youth goes past confirming my hunch and there I go trying to sleep again. The clock tower rings an ominous ding, dong, ding. Three o'clock! I must sleep now, to hell with the world. If I don't, I'd end up in the hospital rescued by a cop looking a like a vegetable. So although the world works hard at this hour and I salute them for it, my best contribution would be to sleep. So Gute Nacht!

Learn more about this author, Anamika Viswanathan.
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