Life Works Out. (A Puppet Show - Part II)

Three simple words – and yet most of the times it seems impossible that these words will figure in our lives one day.

…

She came and spoke to me in my sleep. Did I hear it right? I don’t think so. It’s a dream, a silly thought – that I wish was somehow true.

I woke up with a smile – a big one. For a change I could actually feel my muscles stretching. I looked into the mirror. So this is what genuine happiness felt like?

I rubbed my eyes hard so that I was sure of what I saw.

There were no more strings attached to my body. The pain was gone and I felt light – almost feather like.

Was it true then?

I had to be sure and there was only one way to do so.

She was standing at the door, gazing out into the open sky – lost in her world. Somehow I mustered all the courage that I had in myself to ask her and just as I opened my mouth, she looked me in the eye and said -

‘I trust you. Don’t let me down.’

I noticed the sun coming out bright and shining and a smile on her face - I think!

…

In its own funny way – Life does work out.

For all those still waiting for the sun to shine. It will.

- Dedicated to Shruti Swaminathan.

A Puppet Show

I woke up this morning with a strange feeling. I didn’t know what it was or how I felt. It was just different, unlike anything I had every felt before. The moment I got down from my bed, I felt a jerk. I felt my body was being pulled behind, a sharp pain at the back of my neck – as if somebody was pushing a needle through it. My elbows were stiff and my back was rigid. My shoulders were pulled back and my knees hurt. I touched myself but found nothing. My face hurt. I felt suffocated as if I was being wrapped with plastic. There was nothing pulling or being pushed into my body, but somehow I could feel the burden. It was heavy – heavier than anything I had ever carried.

There was nothing and yet I could feel the pain.

I looked into the mirror – just stood and stared into it. My eyes refused to believe what they saw. Was this even possible? I understood the reason for the pain. The sharp pains at the joints were needles and the reason for the stiffness were the strings attached to my body.

I had turned into a puppet. Or was I always one?

How could that be possible? I always got what I needed. I did what I liked to do. I ate what I felt like eating.

I looked closely into the mirror. I noticed the string attached to my right shoulder was broken.

NO. I got what was given to me. I did what I was told to do and I ate what was served on my plate. It was true. I was always a puppet. I continued to stare into the mirror. My cheeks were wet, I could feel the tears rolling down – I just couldn’t see them. My heart cried like a baby and yet I could see myself faintly smiling.

I guess it didn’t matter if one string let go of itself. I have to wait for all of them to break and let go of me. Till then I will be trapped in the body of this puppet.

It’s just a matter of time.

For all those waiting to break free.

She.

She was a flower that once bloomed to the morning sunshine,

Now she struggles, for she withers with time.

She was the daub of paint on every canvas made,

Now she goes distant, as her colours fade.

She was a dreamer with a zillion stories to tell,

Now she gazes, with nothing to sell.

She was their ray of hope,

Now she battles, only to cope.

She was the pensive to her memories,

Now she stares at the blank pages of her diaries.

...

She was a believer,

Now just a follower.

She was a flower that once bloomed to the morning sunshine,

Now she struggles, for she withers with time.

For all those who look into the mirror and see 'her'.

To Life

To Passions,

To Dreams,

To Hope,

To Belief,

I'm coming.

To Faith,

To Aspirations,

To Will,

To Desire,

I'm coming.

To Family,

To Love,

To Friendship,

To Virtues,

I'm coming.

...

To Life. Im coming.

For all those who are lost. Life will find you.

The Hurricane (The Flow Part II)

It was a quiet and beautiful day on the Island. The sun was shining bright and the birds were chirping melodiously on the beach. Fresh winds were blowing and the sea felt refreshing. The soul and its breeze were wandering on the beach, hand in hand, relishing the comfort and richness of the beauty of the island when suddenly, a fierce force of the wind hit them.

Their hands lost each other and the soul and its breeze were thrown away in different directions. The sky had turned grey, dark stormy clouds had encircled the island. The sun was no longer visible and it wasn't warm anymore. Somehow, the breeze managed to find the soul lying on the sands - worn out and drained. The breeze caught hold of the soul and pulled it away from the blustery winds.

The winds were harsh and the sky was twisting in ways unimaginable. It was turbulent, gusty like a torrent. Destruction had decided its course.

The soul and breeze tried to look for one safe place. A place to hide, a place to keep each other protected, but in vain. The sky was indefensible. They could do nothing. The breeze had realized that there was no choice and could see only one way to save the soul.

The breeze wrapped the soul in its arms and whispered into the soul's ears one last time. "Its time. Let go. You're not safe with me." It lifted the soul by chin, looked into the latter's eyes and said, "Don't worry. It's the right thing to do." The soul refused to let go and caught hold of the breeze. There was no life without a breath of fresh air - no soul without its breeze. But then, the sky had other plans. This time the winds were fiercer and sky even darker. Trees on the island began to fall. The birds were hiding behind the rocks with fear in their eyes. The storm was tearing the island apart. There was no way out. The soul had realized that there was only one way to shield the life of the island.

It was time.

…

The sky was still dark and the sun was refusing to come out. The trees were knocked down on the ground, there was no sign of the birds, there were remains of the rocks and branches of trees everywhere. The Island was in ruins. The soul was lying lifeless on a small piece of bark. It was stupefied, numb. A drop of tear was frozen in the corner of an eye. The soul gazed at the ruins of the island and wondered "Was it really the right thing to do?".

For all those who thought IT was the right thing to do.

The Flow

A soul at sea, wandering along the coast, drifting aimlessly, was suddenly hit by a breeze. A gentle yet strong, warm force of wind found the soul and carried it along to the other end where it was able to touch the waters, feel the light ripples at the tip of the feet and hear the soft gushing of the stream. It was the best sensation and the most divine music ever experienced by the soul.

The soul was seated on the soft sand carpet snuggling in the warm blanket of the breeze watching the sun setting and the shadow of the moonlight falling on them, when suddenly the breeze whispered softly into it’s ears – “It’s true.” The soul could feel cold shivers run down its spine as the breeze whispered those words but within a fraction of a second, it was warm once again.

It was a new feeling, a good feeling. The soul had now found its breeze to set sail into the sea.

For all those who just feel like going with the flow.

A Bitter Sweet Symphony

It was the first time they travelled together in an airplane. She was filled with excitement -bursting with joy and rejoicing with exuberance. He was quiet, responsible and faintly smiling.

The plane landed and she ran towards the nearest exit without even looking back at him. She zoomed past every other passenger – the little creature that she was, managed to surpass all others boarded on the plane. She raced down the escalator like a tiny flash bolt. Just as she reached the last step, her little feet tripped on her untied shoelaces. She stumbled, lost her balance and her chin hit the edge of the escalator. She tumbled and just as her head was about to hit the surface a small hand that came in between her head and the coarse surface saved her. His little hands scraped on the surface while trying to protect her – his little sister.

…

She was back at the airport, but this time to say goodbye. She hugged him one last time and thought of the times they shared together – happy and sad, good and bad, high and low. He was with her, always. She was going to miss him - her best friend and her worst enemy – her brother.

With a difference of three years and three days, they were as close as hands and feet – distant yet completed the presence of another. It was a bond – stronger than any. They laughed, cried, fought together – with each other.

And today as they complete yet another chapter, the pen is put down, the familiar world they created is turning grey. The places they created, the relationships they formed, and the situations they tackled will return to the imagination from which they came.

A tear rolled down her cheek – the only tear, as she looked at him walking towards the door. Her phoned beeped – Take care little one, I’ll be back in no time. I Love you.

The little castles they built, the imaginary wonderlands they created and the enemies they fought together will remain fresh in her memories forever.

For all those who part only to meet again.