This is a Blog that I had written like almost an year ago for a Short Story competition. Reproducing it here on request from some friends.
Gravity is working against me and gravity wants to bring me down. It has been trying to do this to me ever since those wings grew out of their bud. Here is the story of a heart’s flight to the skies, the heart of mine 13 years ago.
Circa 1995: A printed sheet of paper fluttered in his hand, as he stared into the blue sky and wind and gravity attempting to snatch it from his hand. It was his appointment order. It was no ordinary letter; it was his ticket to freedom. Yet it was the one paper that is going to change his entire life. A job which was 1000 miles away. His mind had decided already, it was already fluttering and flapping inside him. Yet an unknown force was pulling him down, making him sad and at times his eyes welled at the corners. He can’t cry, he should not cry. He was a Man now and it made him angry. The incongruity of his anger was he had wanted to leave for long, but yet he doesn’t want to leave.
A silent fist fight between his emotions and passion ensued ever since the joy of “I did it” subdued. Ever since he turned 15 his ambitions outgrew his emotions. He talked about big achievements and success and rattled brand names one day he will own. His first aim to buy a full set of Gillette personal toilet kit, the brand new twin blade razor, cream, gel and works!! Car, House, Rolex Watch, he wanted to travel, he wanted to own a bar.. The list was long but it was there. This is it. The passport for all those dreams. “Mom, I need money for the tickets”, he spoke after almost what seemed eternity, but couple of hours. His mom looked at him with queer eyes. “Are you Deaf? I kept the money on your table long time ago!. Now hurry up before the booking counter closes. You have to make a list of things to carry….”.. again his eyes stared at infinity as mom’s instructions faded into the background. He had his own things to do.
In another five minutes the bus will stop. That made his heart heavier. His science told him he would be at 5G now. He gulped as the bus pulled over. A smile greeted him from the bus station. He stepped out and sat in the empty seat. “So, why are you a grumpy bear today” she said in a voice which made candle wax out of his heart. “Let’s go to the park” he stood up and she followed.
She was happy and jumping in joy when she read that paper. “You got a fine job! Time to be happy, u silly boy”, she pinched him. He looked at her with total amazement, bit his lip and “shhhhhhh” a finger closed his lips. “Men don’t cry” she whispered. “I can get another job here, near to you” he forced those words through that finger. “I can’t do this”, his eyes showed the signs of his pain. “You know you have to go right? You need this freedom. You need to discover yourself. You are cutout for Bigger things. You need to fly”, hands gesturing a soaring eagle she was enchanting him and trying to get him smile.
They had arranged a farewell party for him. It was a decent party. His eyes were fixated at the entrance. “Don’t worry dude, she will be here. For everything under the sun she won’t miss this” said his best buddy and gave him a glass. And then he saw a silhouette. His heart was racing and pounding. The last time he felt this way was when he told her his love. It took 5 minutes then, for her to smile and shy away and return his love.
Seemed it took like eternity for her to walk upto the entrance. She still had that smile. He could swear it was she who got that job and not him. “Congratulations! And here is something from the one in your heart”, she placed a box in his hands. There was a small card on top of it. When he flipped open the card “Heart knows what heart wants” it said. That was it. His eyes misted, blurred. He lost a fight. His will power lost to his emotions. Tears flowed down his cheeks and “Shhhhhhhhhhhhh” he felt that tender finger on his lips and he was sobbing like a baby on her shoulders.
Hiding under the shade of the overgrown Hibiscus plant, he held her hand firmly. “So you are back again in 3 months right? Hmmm I will be still here with no job though” she giggled. “Don’t forget to get my pictures ok? I will kill you if you didn’t. Oh one more thing. Promise me you will NOT open this present till your train leaves, ok?” He nodded. “Ok I have to go and you have to go now. You have your train early morning and you need to be with your mom and dad now”. For the first time in last 1 hour he spoke “I want to miss that train”. A sharp smack on his wrist “NO you don’t” said a stern voice. “You know how much I love you right, I will miss you” he said in words fighting back tears. “Hey! What happened to my strong boyfriend. Bring him back. You will be back silly” she smiled. “I promise I will call you” he said as he climbed into the car, his friend at the wheel. “All the best and I know you wont forget me, Love you my heart”, she kissed his hands and as the car moved she let go his hands. He swore he saw tears in her eyes. He turned back, she was running into the house.
The train was about to leave. His mom and dad were giving him instructions and advices. “..call this gentleman when you are there, he will help you”, “Ok dad, I will.” The whole train now knew where he is going and why!! The train started moving, his heart fluttered, he was waving back at mom and dad. Mom sure was crying, but she wont show. As the train cleared the station he felt the breeze on his face. It picked up speed steadily. Cleared the city limits. A smile broke on his lips… Blast of wind on his face as he yelled out his joy. The sound of the oncoming train muffled his triumphant voice. He looked up, an eagle up in the sky. He smiled and stretched one hand out. It was like flying, like an eagle soaring.
He remembered suddenly, eased out the blue wrap box from his bag. Smiling at the small card on top, he slowly unwrapped it and opened the box. His felt like finally gravity pulling his wide open wings. He felt heavy, dropping like a iron body from the sky. His knees went weak and he sat on the seat with a thud. He wanted to stop the train, he wanted to go back. He wanted to hold that girl and tell her, “I don’t want to go”. His ambitions fighting hard with his emotions. His wings flapping hard against the pull. Tears rolled down his cheek as he read the note inside, “You can strike off the first item off your list – Your Love”. He was staring at the box, it had the latest Gillette works, everything, down to the imported perfume, All Gillette.
As the sound of the wheels on the tracks muffled his silent cry, Gravity was working against him, it wants to bring his soaring wings down.
