The World Of Freedom
Kamala Sarup
I feel a little ambivalent about trekking at midnight.
"We must do two more hours of continuous trekking," Navina, my friend told me. "Isn't it pleasant to walk out of a crowd in such a differerent, distinct way?"'
It seemed that she was not interested in answering my question. We are walking alone on this trek. It is lightly showering now, after a heavy rainfall. In the far distance, we could see cars' headlights. On a lonely and calm road, we were walking silently. I tried to draw the attention of Navina with my words, "you seemed to be talkative but now you are silent. Perhaps, you are tired."' But she didn't listen, but instead persuaded me to keep up the pace.
"Nights are generally fearful and dangerous. If possible, no one should walk during the night." Before, I didn't heed nor care about my father's words, but now I realized the importance.
In order to lead a disciplined life, sometimes the suggestions of elders play a vital role. "You have a letter from home," Navina handed over a damped letter and left to take a hot bath. I opened the letter. It was from my sister. She loves me as the moonlit night. It is raining outside and a slow breeze is entering the windows.
Everything is invisible in the dark. I could see no light in people's houses. I opened the letter and read, "I can give you love by heart with the help of which we can survive. It is a compulsory need to accept someone's help to lead a life without pain."
The first paragraph of the letter overcasts joys in me 'from an opposite corner of the earth, it provides a great pleasure to read your received letter and to write you a letter in return. I am really happy to see the day to day growing relationship between you and me.' I started to write her a reply.
"I have a repeated opinion on you. You are trying to cross the dark nights and reach to the world of love and light. Your letter suggests that you are very near to that light." I began my letter of reply in such a way.
"I remember what you had told - I am happy and satisfied with my second marriage. Once you had explained me about your view on love, sentiment and tears. Marriage does not mean a biological need only. Marriage means to unite the minds of two, a matter which is wider than the sky and attractive as the rhododendron flower which blooms in front of our houses. As I am far from you, I remember the morning that we wept while remaining hand on hand. People were walking through your houses. I thought, how could the people be so happy? I could see them laughing in louder sound. "It is better to live and laugh than to be serious all the time," you told me.
"Everything is okay, we are living and surviving, but our country is in peril. People are killing people of the same nationality. I think, there is no meaning of sympathy to man." My mind ordered me to stop in the second paragraph of the letter. It is raining heavily outside. The night has matured. I kept the letter under the pillow and managed to go to bed.
"It is already morning. Won't you get up?" Navina's harsh sound woke me. The sun has already crossed a long way into the day. The flowers blooming in earthen pots gave me a kind of pleasure and mental peace, but the peace inside in the mind, and that outside in the environment, is a very differerent situation.
The naked sun is producing heat outside. We can't exist here without hard labor like own county. So, work is a must here. In leisure time, I compose the lines of poems.
It is worthless to laugh and weep alone.
I wonder and think, what would be the degree of business for a man? Rest is most essential. "We are in sorrow." you wrote. I immediately began to compose an e-mail.
"Struggle and satisfaction/happiness are synonyms, is my ideology. My daughter is in London, my son is leaving for India to study. I am happy with my children. I began to consult and think about your e-mails. I expect peace in the country. Every citizen must get the chance to live in peace and harmony. Your lines in the email provide context and I too intend to enlighten the light of peace and harmony. I have composed some poems and written short stories. I must increase their number. I thank you for such inspiration. Your email has shown me right path of life. Now sitting on the top of the house, I am counting the stars in the sky, the age I passed, and am trying to compose a poem for the successful betterment of the forthcoming new year. The road is vacant. Children are not making merry in front of the house."
"Sister! the fire of revolution has burnt down the villages, towns, hills and Terai ( plain land). Everything and one seems as if they are weeping for peace and security I can't remember the moment when mothers wait for their young sons to return from lplaces of labor. The wives who are bound to accept their own widowhood at any time. Howare they weeping, beating their hearts?" Bimala sister's e-mail has made me serious and sympathetic . I have decided to make them the principles of life without any comment .
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