Sunday, March 30, 2008

Consequences of a convincing lie


Not every sun promises a bright day and I'm not the least unaware of the veiled acrimony such circumstances can hold, particularly after the consequences of a certain spring afternoon.
A sordid silence seeping into the heavy air, escorted by a grotesque silence and amidst it all, my own pensive mind, encroached by bohemian thoughts. I was bored, utterly bored to put up with the mundane surrounds any further and the only thought embracing me, in which I could afford to take refuge was that of sauntering in the lonesome boulevards of the locality that afternoon. I walked out, keeping the sleeping occupants of the house in happy ignorance of my absence, only to come back and be engulfed in my parents' fierce anxiety.

'
Why... where the hell did you go?'
'Dad, I actually...
', and there they cut me short.
'
Roaming on the roads like a true useless fool, I presume?'
'No Mom!'
'Then?'
'Wait, let me explain! I went to pay Sara a visit!'
I managed to stammer out.
'
And pray why?'
'She had called up and asked me to do so. And probably I'll have to go again. She needed help with her home-work!'

And I finally managed to subdue their wrath, with my lame yet presentable excuse - in short with a convincing lie. They couldn't mark the absence of candor in my words, so I proudly called it convincing.
'
Well then, we all are just ready to leave for the amusement park! Since, you are all so engrossed, I wouldn't hinder any of your activities. We'll be back I a few hours! And yes, if you leave for Sara's house again, see that the mansion is well locked up', mother replied in a placid tone.
'
It's going top be a little disturbing to enjoy ourselves out their without the person who actually had made all the hue and cry about it!' chuckled my cousin sarcastically.
And what was all this out of the blue. The amusement park! I wanted to go there by all means, and why wouldn't they take me? I could promise them I would get ready in a minute. They most probably wouldn’t mind. But then, I couldn't. They had a reason and I was the one to invent it! I'd explained that I was busy and would have to pay Sara a visit.... I couldn't contradict myself now!
They departed, all so mercilessly, leaving me to my own self in the abandoned mansion. But who was I to blame, other than me? The evening grew darker, and I was feeling all the more lonesome. I hoped, I could really drop by at Sara's house... but that couldn't possible be! While all these thoughts were gnawing at my sanity, the drop bell rung. So, they were finally back! Hurray!
'
Alice!'
'Hey... everyone's back!'
'Ah! Yes.. There had been a call for you. It was Sara wishing to drop by our house for a minute or two to have a word with you. And I bluntly refused, without any regrets. Weren't all those hours you spent with her enough for a day?
' my dad explained.
I was dumbstruck! I had read in one of Paulo Coelho's books' that there are omens strewn along life's path. All you need to follow your dreams is to learn the art of reading these omens. I felt the urgent need to learn how to read these omens, with a great deal of desperateness as well as regret!

Lost and found!


A faded deer-orange sky and the twilight sphere setting behind a mob of tall slender trees – I found it best to gaze at the scenic beauty of a winter dusk than being a part of the lunacy of my cousins; They were seized by a weird idea of venturing into the nearby hills and returning the other morning, fearless of the night for the presence of several caves. Although least interested I was compelled to join their trip.
'Utter insanity! What the hell of an idea is this... going on a night-trip!' I cursed on the way, but in reply they tried to explain that this trip only portrayed their adventurous spirit and not insanity. I wasn't convinced, but my reluctance was thoroughly baseless now for I was one of the seven teenagers on their way to the hills, 6o km from town, at 7:30pm!
We reached there without much difficulty and my anxiety as well as discomfort had dwindled to an appreciable extent. We hunted for a cave, settled all our bags, bottles, food packets and other necessities in a corner of the cave, and dimly lit it up with a hand-full of candles that I'd managed to get with me. However the rest were bent on setting up a bonfire and I was sent to fetch some thin boughs, dry and worthy of igniting a fire. But Alas! By the time I sauntered back to the cave, our asylum, nobody was to be seen. My nightmare was carved into reality. I assayed keeping tranquil intact by consoling myself. Perhaps it was a mere insensate prank played by my mischievous cousins... Perhaps it was not! If it's just a joke, I'll be all fine and if not, nothing would be fine!
What could have made them do this? Did they really flee from here or were they somewhere around, waiting to see me reach the cave and go up the wall! In short, I was scared and scared to death. I sat down with my eyes closed in a corner of the cave, for a considerable time. Perhaps anxiety tempts hunger- if not for others at least for me! I nibbled at every packet in the other corner and sat a little distant from the packets for an assumed security. What sort of security, I least knew that! I was lost and that was all I knew for then! No sign of human life... I was confused, frustrated and disturbed! After quarter an hour I ran out of the cave and paced up and down before it, absorbed in thought. I needed a way out of this disgusting silence and solitude, I fled from the cave, straight towards the spot where we had parked our vehicle, although I believed that nothing would be there. I wasn't really sure of where it was parked, so it can be said that in a way I fled aimlessly, without a destination, without my senses intact!
But perhaps, Providence choose to lend a ear to me. What a pleasant yet shocking joy was it on my part to discover our vehicle on a fairly elevated land. So the whole gang was around after all! Within ten minutes of walking from the stationary vehicle, I stumbled across the whole group, in their usual chaotic merriment. All my frustration and anxiety was finally swept away by a mellifluous sigh of relief!
'What were you doing? We told you we'll be near the vehicle, didn't we?'
'Nay, I was told to be by the cave.'
' You dumb creature. Well, how on earth could you hear with all that unnecessary tension that you were burdening yourself with. Anyways, where are the sticks?'
'Oh no! I’ll just go and fetch them in a minute!'
'No way.. never, you’ll get lost again!'
, was the unanimous scream.