The Man
It all happened so suddenly. The night before was marked by landslides
and torrential rain. The morning looked calm. But the peace was suddenly broken
by a booming crash of thunder. Massive, dark surge came rushing down at
incredible speed from the hills. A cloudburst probably had occurred at a lake
in one of the nearby mountains.
Heavy rainfall wreaked havoc on the region because of the fragile
nature of the area and the poor stability of its soil. Water, slush and
boulders as big as houses struck so suddenly leaving very little time for
anyone to escape. The entire area was full of water. All roads, houses, shops
and vehicles were swept away within minutes.
My wife and daughter were swept away. Vehicles full of people were
swept away. 556 bodies have been recovered and there were reports that more
could be buried under the debris.
The ordeal of the survivors was traumatic. They had to sleep, if sleep
was possible, with many bodies strewn around the temple premises, some of which
had begun to decompose. Amid the stench of death, they remained foodless and
waterless for over one week.
Rescuing survivors is topmost priority but alongside, security forces
have to be alert to the possibilities of child trafficking. Missing children
and unaccompanied girls have to be identified; otherwise it will be too late
once they fall prey to child traffickers
The living are starving.
The dead are being robbed.
The kids are getting kidnapped.
And you are patting your back.
And complaining of others not acting.
The Nature
It has been in the making for more than a hundred years. I was able to
hold on for a long time. But l have been deprived of all my internal strength.
I have been broken, bore’d, butchered & botched up. I could hold it no
longer. I have to let it go. I have to let it go.
I am not fragile. I was never unstable. Rains only made me stronger.
It made all living things on me merrier. At least till a few years ago. Strange
things have been done to me by the creatures who call themselves intellectuals.
I was deformed. My arteries are blocked. My body is infested with this tumor
called construction for comfortable living. And all along I know one day I have
to let it go. I have to let it go.
I was tunneled. All my precious belongings have been sucked out or extirpated.
All the plants & animals on me have been exterminated. And whatever remains
have been polluted and stripped off its natural self. I have no strength to
hold it any longer. I have to let it go. I have to let it go.
The ordeal to survive is traumatic. I have to serve, if serving was
possible with plastics chocking my breath, with acid and chemicals running down
my throat all the time, with radiations bringing all kind of suffering on me while
I have been placed over a fire grill. I could take it no longer. I have to let
it go. I have to let it go.
I stopped as soon as I could. It’s sad to see people suffering. If
only you had been a little kind on me, I could have held it all to myself. In
spite of this massive suffering I could soon spot your true self. You kidnap
the children, do unthinkable onto the girls. I know I could hold it, but I
could take it no longer. I am letting it go again. I am letting it go again.
I have been robbed of everything.
All my belongings have been destroyed or abused.
I am left to starve, left to die.
And with whatever little that is left of me.
I shall give you peace. I shall make you happy.
The Man's version of the story is mostly copied as-is or with modifications from ndtv.com & rediff.com.
