The Story of Rebirth

The river far below was reflecting the stormy sky in its roaring waves. The mountain cliff was standing tall over the waters as if inspecting their course of progress. Atop the cliff, standing as the overlord of the environment was Vikram, with his sling bag and blazer. He was emptying the contents of his bag into the ever-thirsty mouth of the river. One by one, he cleared off his books, his sentimental key chain, his most-valued Parker pen and finally his hard-earned certificates from kindergarten to till date.

There was some sense of serenity prevailing in his eyes. They were neither uneasy nor restless. They betrayed no nervousness as he dispensed off with his blazer and his beloved smart-phone. It was with the same serenity and patience that he finally dumped himself into the embrace of the river below that one wouldn’t realize that he just performed an act that even the bravest of the hearts would dread to take up even in the wildest of their dreams. Vikram had just committed suicide and he knew that the word would spread like wild fire much before his smile could be suppressed by the roaring tides. As he journeyed from the edge of the cliff to the heart of the river, he let his memories entertain the gushing air which was trying its best to counsel him against the fall.

As he recalled all the events that led to this drastic decision, he remembered the people behind it. As he remembered the people behind it, he smiled at their foolishness for thinking that he was a weak heart. As he smiled at their foolishness, he realized the irrationality hidden behind his own supposedly-brave act. As he realized the irrationality, he repented his imprudence at life and then he yelled. He yelled at his cowardice, he yelled at his idiocy, he yelled at everything and everyone that led him to his end and much before he could yell further he was silenced by the welcoming waters.

Peace and solace prevailed for a while. Then out of nowhere, he popped out of the waters, gasping for breath. Once again he was pulled in by the water. Some more silence and once again he broke the stillness with his heavy gasps. The exercise continued for a while until the river finally won over his weak system. His will to die could decently bring him all the way from the cliff to the river, but his will to live couldn’t succeed in taking him away from the river to the cliff. May be that is what life is meant for. To be safeguarded and protected as a piece of land that claims millions of lives for its mere existence.

Vikram however seemed to have one more chance. After what seemed to be a life-time he once again began to feel the beauty of respiration. He was still surrounded by water but somehow the water didn’t seem to show its ferocious face. He might have been washed into a water-cave, given to the mossy surroundings. He was tied to the walls of the cave by a creeper. There was some construction work going on above the cave. He tried to explore further but suddenly realized something else. At first he thought that it was the interiors of the cave that blinded his vision but slowly he realized that his vision was lost forever in the turmoil. 

He tried to unfasten the creeper but in the process became conscious that the cave was slowly closing in upon him. He yelled at his helplessness but sound wouldn’t come out. He repented his foolish decision and as he tried to control his emotions, a voice reached his ears. It was a yell of pain and as he strained his ears to concentrate on the source of the voice, he realized that it was none other than his sister. “Shahana!” he tried to shout out for her but in vain. What was she doing there? Was she crying for him?

“But Shahana, you shouldn’t cry. You have a baby growing inside you”, he wanted to tell her if his voice permits. He relaxed his straining mind to think of a way out. He should somehow soothe his sister into solace. “How did he forget about her when he foolishly jumped off the cliff? He should have at least thought of his mother. Mother! Yes Mother! How was she? How did she take the news of her son’s death? Shahana! I am coming for you”, he tried to break open the mossy walls of the cave. As he gave a huge blow, the cave seemed to give in. But in no time, there were tremors all over. Did he unknowingly irk an earth quake? He didn’t know. Somehow, he gained more strength and kicked at the mouth of the cave. As he kicked, he felt more tremors. But there was hope, hope of going out alive, hope of seeing his family once more, hope of learning to live in the face of reality, hope of appreciating the beauty of being alive.

With hope he garnered more resolution with more resolution came determination, with determination came will power and with such newly acquired power he gave one last kick at the wall before he lost consciousness at the impact. By the time he woke up, the smell of drugs told him that he was shifted to a hospital.  He felt around to see if he was in full shape. He moved his limbs and arms and felt them active. He touched his head, eyes and ears with his hands when suddenly a sharp pain hit his eyes. His vision seemed to be playing tricks with him. He managed to shut and open his eyes while someone seemed to carry him in their arms. He wrinkled his eyes to take a look at the big eyes poring at him. As his vision settled, he realised who it was, he cried. He cried and this time his voice broke out high into the air with no mossy caves or viscous waters to hold it back. 

“Shahana!” he wanted to hug her but the smile on her face and her huge features communicated something else. He was alive, yes, but not as a young and energetic brother but as an infant shoved onto the world once again to restart the lessons of life this time with dedication and courage. As he cried at his fate in both joy and grief, Shahana looked at her mother and whispered “Vikram”. As the family smiled at the newly born light in their family Vikram forever wiped the darkness of past from his memory all geared up to start afresh into the family of love and affection.