Monday, May 10, 2010

At a distance from life

The tyres rolled in perfect harmony, as he steered his bicycle up the mountain. It was an idyllic morning for a ten year old to commute on his rusted bicycle. So indulged he was, that he didn't care about anything - even the lurking dangers.
Before he could even realize, his bike was descending down the cliff. His face gleamed in the pale golden light of the sun, as he glided down, past the clouds. Although his blurred silhouette was getting nearly lost in the valley, there was an antsy feeling in his heart. He could hear voices in the distance, calling out his name over and over again. His head met with the ground with a heavy thud - and he woke up from his gut-wrenching dream, in a cold sweat. It was morning again.

The crust was so dense, that his red-swollen eyes barely managed to see two faint images. He felt as if he had slept for days, yet he was tired! The maelstrom of emotions inside the young heart, drained all the chirpiness. His head was filled with the insalubrious thoughts of the happenings of the last night.
"Why do you have to be so dull in the morning time? Rise and shine dear!" She carped.
With tired eyes, tired mind and tired soul he moved around his body sluggishly to do the morning chores.

Days at the school were arid. Although the atmosphere was filled with chaos, with kids running across the corridors, screaming and fighting on the playground, having lunch together in large circles, sharing stories and discussing cartoons, but for him those few hours were dreary, without any friends to hustle-bustle with.
He didn't really exist in the school and no one bothered either. He was shy, incoherent, rickety and his jerry-built was a topic of mockery, yet he was at peace with the world. Everyday he used to sit in the same corner of the ground to have his lunch, sinking into the atmosphere, hoping someday he'd have company to share his heart with. The blue hours used to get over imperceptibly and it used to be afternoon again.

The alluring hours of the evening, at the playground, used to be filled with livelihood. But his evenings were turmoil, yet his surroundings as calm as a toad in the sun. There used to be no signs of life on the terrace of his bungalow, where it was only his ball and a pair of stumps which used to accompany him throughout the setting sun. Twilight would fade away and his shadow would dissolve into the moonlight again!

He had no friends in the real life. The only friends he had were the stars, the moon, his soft toy, his quilt and his pillow. Yes, the bedding! Every night he used to put his heart to ease by blubbing it all out and assuring himself that someday he'd not be deranged with his life! After meandering through the upheaval of emotions, he used to fall asleep with his soft toy in his arms and his face inundated with tears. Yet smiling! 

There was no love in the locker of his fate. Yes, emotional abuse! No hugs, no kisses and no visible love, can be as fatal as physical abuse! The scars that their words left were deep enough to fill his heart with darkness forever and to tear him apart irrevocably. It was not that they didn't love him, but they didn't know how to express it. No matter whatever they did, it was derisory and he was always at a distance from life! 

They are all the same. It doesn't matter if you are in Africa or America or even India. They are all the same! 

But he wouldn't be!

7 comments:

Nethra said...

Hey,
That was an awesome piece of work. I immensely enjoyed read it. The emotions were portrayed well and so was the hard reality of a rich but poor boy. Now, I'm following your blog to keep reading your posts. :)

Deepali Varshney said...

They are all the same but he wouldn't be.
They are all so inane but he wouldn't be.
They are all running a race so otiose, but he wouldn't.
They are fighting for a different existance, but with the same cliched ways.
He wouldn't.
They all have turned out to be yet another inconspicious part of this plasticine world.
He didn't.
He was so variant. He is so different. He is so full of emotions. He has turned out to be best.
Because life taught him young.


Beautifully written :)
ILY! :*

Tejas Jain said...

@ Nethra
Thanks a lot. :)

@ Roopali =D
ILY :)

Anjoo said...

hey its awesome..:)

terminal.insanity said...

Bro this is beautiful!!
and since the word verification is asking me to type polegi to main jhhoth nahi bolegi!!

samprati said...

heart touching...no words to appreciate

Tejas Jain said...

Thanks Pratik and Samppu

=)