I was on duty in an
examination class. The kids had to write a story ending "....and it was
exactly as she had said it would be". So I wrote one too. Quite
rusty...but you may find it readable... “......it was exactly as she had said
it would be.”
x x x x x x
One glassy eye looked in the general
direction where she thought my face would be. It was actually an apology for an
eye; more of a ball of yellow putrefaction. The other one was a shade easier to
behold, simply because of its total absence; atleast the lid closed over a
hollow pit was not so repulsive.
Dishevelled hair, some tied back in a
long-forgotten plait, the rest like a halo of dull silver around a leathery,
weather-beaten face. She could have been just another beggar in the crowded
thoroughfare, were it not for the fact that she did not hold out her hand or
carry a container of any sort where pious humanity could hear the humiliating
clink of the coins they dropped. What had attracted my attention as I walked
around this small hill town and had almost passed by her unseeingly, one more
of so many poor wretches dressed in rags, was that she was humming, not quite
under her breath.
I noticed that she was blind, so I
looked openly and unabashedly. The appearance was, well, not very attractive,
but the voice was intriguing, and incongruous, to say the least. Not going
anywhere in particular, I paused to listen for a moment.
She sat to one side of the path,
oblivious to everything around her. All of a sudden her voice rose, and I was
rooted to my spot, mesmerized! I did not understand the words, but to me she
sang like...like...well, like chimes in a slight summer breeze, cowbells dinging across the valley on the far slope, ewes reassuringly nudging their lambs as
they wander homeward come evening, a young maiden’s ‘paajeb’ as she shakes a
dainty foot lost in thoughts known only to young maidens...
The dreams spun by her voice
enthralled me. It took me three days to get her talking. Her tale came
haltingly at first, as of one who is not used to conversation. But as my
interest grew, she seemed to sense the beating of my heart, the rush of blood
in my ears, and the words came pouring out.
O what a tale it was! A highland tale
of joy and merriment, of carefree days and starry nights, of gentle slopes and
bleating sheep, of the confident radiance of ripening fruits that know the
magic of their fragrance!
I sensed, or rather, my mind
insisted, that there had to be tragedy and misfortune. I tried to coax it out
of her, but she would have none of it, gazing right through my morbid curiosity
with eyes that had seemingly closed in spring!
Rather than succumbing, she lifted me
up, up and away from what the ‘caring’ world insists we must dwell upon. She
would not let me turn my thoughts towards misery and wretchedness. She gave me
the gift of sight that is blind to what must not be seen again and again out of
a sense of duty and guilt, and sees that which brings joy and exhilarates!
Now, two months later, I have found
my way to the gentle mountains she talked of, and sang for. I set foot in this
pristine highland, still a bit doubtful..... but it was exactly as she had said
it would be...!
Zeina Glo helps you strip off layers
of inhibitions, hesitation, and cynicism, allowing your thoughts and emotions
to flow freely.
Zeina Glo helps to douse the flames
of insecurity and guilt, to open the windows of mind and body to the cool fresh
breeze of love.
Zeina Glo encourages you to
spread inner peace, good health, radiance, exuberance, warmth,
joy and the glow from your inner being.
Zeina Glo brings the beauty of your
own thoughts back to you!!”
For, questions,
criticism or advice, please post comments here, or write to zeinaglo@rediffmail.com or zeinaglow@gmail.com
