The EarthQuake

The earth rumbled, the sky shook… hell broke loose. Within a couple of seconds, the whole earth was shattered. There was chaos all around. Huge cracks had spread into the wall of my rented ground floor apartment. In a place which was once called Heaven on Earth, now it was one of the most terror stricken parts of the world. Nature had struck again. I was frustrated with my life. Not a single day had passed when I had not come face to face with blood, death and agony. My feelings had got numb to death and terror. It was a part of my daily life. It was my life.

I had to call up my family. Check whether they were safe. I punched in the phone number on my cell. The call dropped. Networks must have been jammed. I ran to the telephone in the adjacent room. Maybe landlines were working. I picked up the receiver - no tone. The phone was dead. I had to get to my family. I had started living alone since a few years. Being a reporter, my life was in constant danger. I could not put my family in jeopardy. So I picked up my camera and cell phone . I had to go back home.

The earth shook again. Now, it was even more violent than ever. Something hit my head…

I opened my eyes. There was an intense light that came from the usually dull streetlight. It was night. I did not remember how long I was lying there. I was surprised no one bothered to wake me. I saw a broken concrete piece lying next to me. I turned and looked into the street. My memory gathered momentum. I remembered the earthquake in the morning. I was to head home. I hope my family was safe. I ran to the main road. I put out my hand to a passing by taxi. The taxi whizzed past. Another one whizzed past. Not a single taxi stopped. I started running on the road. The road was deserted than ever. I frantically waved out to all the passing vehicles. None of them stopped. It was strange. It all felt like a dream. Or was it a nightmare. I did not feel cold as I should have. Nights are usually cold. Very cold.

I remembered my sisters. The eldest of them was to be married next month. She was the most intelligent. She had taken up the responsibility of the mother in the family after she passed away last year, falling prey to a stray bullet at a terrorist crossfire in the market place. Farida was like a mother to both the younger sisters and my father who was paralyzed on the right side. My youngest sister was in school. Her smile was the sweetest in the world. She had lost all her teeth to chocolate. Her hair bounced like a mop as she ran towards me anticipating a box of choclolates. Diary milk with fruits and nuts was her favorite. My middle sister, was of the intellectual types. She was studying medicine and madly in love with a Hindu guy. No one was aware of this fact except me. It was news that could have a dire consequence in our community. I wanted them to get married and stay abroad. Maybe in London, Australia or Canada. It would be safer for both of them to stay there. I was the only person aware of this secret. Father was bedridden. Rajiv, my friend who lived in Mumbai always cursed me for staying away from my family. He said I was selfish. He said that by living away from my family, their life was in constant danger. Maybe he was. If I were with them today, I would not be here running around deserted streets without a clue about my family. I should live with my family. Their need for me was bigger than the danger I anticipated.

I reached home. There was a crowd outside. The sound of howling echoed into the lane outside the house. The people around were animatedly talking if something very grave had happened. No one reacted to my presence. I ran inside. I saw my father on the wheelchair sobbing. I turned around. I saw my two younger sisters crying. My eldest sister was missing. I was shocked, words failed to come out. I was speechless. The sound of an ambulance filled the air. I rushed towards the ambulance. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Farida… where was she? The back of the ambulance opened. Farida stepped out. I heaved a sigh of relief. Two men alighted after her with a stretcher. I went forward to hug her, to tell her that I was so relieved. That’s when my eyes went to the stretcher. I lay on the stretcher. Cold. Dead

Introduction to GOD

I feel very cozy in my own space. Cuddled inside a little bag floating in a space of my own, I feel completely in sync with my surroundings. I wonder if this is life? Feeling one with my own self. The world around me keeps changing all the day. But all I can do is feel. As time passes by, I hear voices. Are these voices from my inner soul or is it from God? Mostly, it is a continuous chatter. I can here laughter, I can hear people talking. I try hard to talk back, but always fail. In frustration I try to move my hands and legs. I feel tied down. All I can do is move my legs a little. As I kick, the voices increase. I try looking around. Cannot see much, there is darkness all around. It has always been that way. Ever since I was born.

When I was little, there was more space around, but it was of no use. I had limitation of movement within my own self. But as I grew, the space around me grew smaller and smaller. Now I had more ability of movement but hardly any space to move. I feel cramped in here. I try hard, but moving out of my space hardly seems to be in my hands. I try my best, and when I get tired, I give up. The voices grow louder as I try to move. It irritates me. I pray to get my own space, a space where I could be on my own, without any limitations, without any bindings. And then I hear the voice again. It is a sweet lullaby. A sweet lullaby that puts me to sleep. I doze of into eternity. Darkness envelopes my mind and heart.

Many days pass by. Nothing changes much. Things only get worse. The darkness is haunting. I cannot just lie here doing nothing. In fact I don’t have any reason to be upset. I am never hungry. I am well taken care off, but it gives me a shiver down the spine. I am choking to death. I try wriggling my shoulders. I hear the voice. It’s a loud shriek. The voice goes piercing into my ears. I feel nauseated. I feel a chill. I feel I am going to die, but the life I am living is itself killing me. This life is not worth at all if I cannot do the things I want to do. So I wriggle harder. The voice gets louder. I feel myself being squeezed to death. I feel huge pain. And the screaming voice does not help either. I feel choked. I try to gasp, but I cannot. I feel death is close to me. I can feel its presence. The sound just keeps getting louder. I feel I am stuck. Stuck somewhere in between life and death. And suddenly I feel a huge force. I feel myself dying, being hurled into another world. And suddenly there is light. Just like God created the universe by saying “Let there be light”. I know I am dead. This would be heaven. The light pierces my eyes with fierce intensity. Slowly the light settles down and I see a face. Is this what God looks like? The face is smiling. I realize the voice is the same as I heard in my dreams, my inner voice. “Isnt she beautiful?” she says. Another face comes in. “She has got eyes just like you, Rachel” he says.

“We will name her Sharon” God says.

The tale of two shoes

Michael, as always when in a dilemma would go trekking. He would climb up a little mountain to see the spectacular view of the forests that lay in the heart of the city. A place where nature whispered in the wind and soothed the heart with a soft caress of solitude. Lonely that he was, he trekked up the mountain, heaving with heavy breaths, his shoes squeaking at every step.

It had been a long time since his shoes had been loyal to him. Around two years to be exact. When he picked it up from the shop, they were gleaming from the window, waiting for a person who would make them their own. They were called the He-shoe and the she-shoe.

Location: SHOE STORE

He – Shoe: Hey, look at that guy, I wish he picks us.
She – Shoe: Why, just because he has worn a Diesel t-shirt? Look at his shoes. He has hardly ever washed it. Imagine how he would keep us if he picked us up.
He-Shoe: Yes, you are right…

Days pass by

He- Shoe: Till when will we be tucked in this shop, looking out of the window, smiling at people trying to be picked up?
She-shoe: Patience He… It is better waiting to be picked by someone who will be nice to us.
He-Shoe: The purpose of our existence is to walk and keep walking. Not to be a window dressing…


One day Michael was passing by a shop. Christmas was just around the corner. Sales galore in all the shops around the streets and spectacular lighting donned the windows of the shopping mall. He went into the shop and searched for a pair of shoes. There was a sale going on. He saw a nice pair of shoes tucked on to the window dressing. He picked it up and tried it on…


He-Shoe: Hey who is this guy who has picked me up. I cant see him, She, can you see him?
She-Shoe: Don’t worry, he looks like a nice guy. His feet are clean. I think he will take care of us. Just pray we fit right on to his legs..

Michael: (to his friend) Hey this fits perfectly. I think I like this.

He-Shoe: Yes we have done it! We have been owned.
She-Shoe: Finally we have got a home, isn’t it sweetheart?
He-Shoe: Yes indeed.

As they were packed into the shoebox, they snuggled with each other. They felt content, full of Hope not knowing what their future would hold.

The shoes were very comfortable. They used to hug and caress his feet as he strode down the alleys in the few early mornings that he used to jog. Later the jogging stopped and once in a while, he used to climb the mountain nearby that bordered on a forest nearby. That day, when the monsoon had just ended, on top of the mountain, the grass was green laid out like a carpet and the soothing wind that made him feel like he was in paradise. He removed the shoes to feel the grass below.

He-Shoe: Isn’t this a beautiful place?
She-Shoe. Yes indeed.
He-Shoe: I used to have nightmares while I was in the shop. What would it be in the world outside? Inside the shop, it was so cold, neatly placed, with hardly any dust. But now even though I am allergic to dust, it is so wonderful to be to different places.
She-Shoe: Yes.. Remember, the other day when Michael was watching the film.. Forrest Gump. I heard somebody say, ‘The shoes tell a lot about you. Places that you have been and thinks like that.’
He-Shoe: Isn’t it nice to be a shoe? We make so much difference to people’s lives.
She-Shoe: Yes it is. And today is the most beautiful day in my life.
He-shoe: I am so happy, I have these moments to share with you.

That day the sunset was the most beautiful. Everything was so perfect. Michael felt at peace with himself. Later as it became night, he started climbing down the hill. From that place above, he could see the entire city lit up like jewels scattered around. The light of the city reflected on the rocks that paved the way down. In the partial darkness, he twisted his ankle and his shoe brushed with a sharp rock. He reached down limping and caught a rickshaw back home.

Many days passed by. Living in a city, the usual paths became the ones he took from his work to home and the reverse. Life started getting monotonous. And one day, for a change, he decided to meet a friend. It was a long time that they had met. In fact he had nurtured secret feelings for this girl, but he was very scared to tell her.

He-shoe: Hey finally has wiped us clean. Looks like there is something special about today.
She-shoe: I was wishing so much that he cleaned us. I have been praying to God everyday. Finally my prayers have been answered.
He-Shoe: Today is something special, I don’t know what it is, but I am sure about it.
She-Shoe: I wish every day was special like today.

That day was indeed special. They went for a drive and spoke till it was late in the night. That night as he dropped her home, he told her what he felt about her. She smiled and left. As she entered her home, she turned and waved goodbye. Later sitting alone in the car, Michael cried silently. There was no one around in the stillness of the night. He could not imagine a life without her. She was the only girl with whom Michael felt so complete. The only time he was truly himself was when he was with her alone.

He-Shoe: So Michael has found love, isn’t it?
She-Shoe: She is a nice girl. I think it will work out
He-Shoe: I don’t know… if she loved him why didn’t she say anything?
She-shoe: It is a girl thing you know. A good girl will never say yes on the first proposal.
He-shoe: Why?
She-shoe: It is like that, that is why. Probably, because you guys don’t have the value of things which you get so easily.
He-Shoe: You women are impossible! You women love to complicate things, don’t you?
She-Shoe: It is not complication, it is sophistication.
He-Shoe: Sophistication my foot!
She-Shoe: You ARE the foot!

Time flew by. Seasons changed. Michael’s life was in doldrums. The girl was marrying someone else. On that day, he decided to trek to the top of the mountain. He wore his old shoes. It was torn in more than one place. It was time to change them. It was the law of nature, the old gives way to the new. With heaviness in his heart, he trekked up the mountain. His shoes squeaked. He started gasping for breath. It was indeed a long time since he had climbed this mountain. Step by step he forced himself to the top. As he almost reached the top, he heard a tearing sound. The sole had separated from the shoe. He removed them and kept it aside as he went ahead to the stone that donned the peak of the mountain. He outstretched his arms as the wind caressed him. The wind spit below his arms as if it was holding him. He closed his eyes. He saw her eyes.

He-Shoe: Are you alright?
She-Shoe: I am torn completely. I am of no use!
He-Shoe: Don’t say that. Accidents happen.
She-shoe: No, I am of no use. Look at me… I am a disaster. He is going to throw me.
He-Shoe: You know something? There is one thing that is the best for shoes like us.
She-shoe (sobbing): What is that?
He-Shoe: Look at him. He is standing there dejected. He has nobody with him. God made everybody in pairs, but for humans, He makes humans search for true love. Look at Michael, he is all alone. We are not. We are together. We were made in pairs. If you are torn and thrown away, I am of no use. I will be thrown away too. We are of use only when we are together and we are of no use when we are separate.
She-shoe: (sobbing) I guess you are right!
He-Shoe: So no matter what, we will be together, till death do us apart.
She-Shoe: I am so glad we are made this way. Look at the sunset. I wish we were here till the end of our lives.
He-shoe: Isn’t this the most beautiful place on earth?
She-shoe: I think this is a beautiful place, but what makes it even more beautiful is that you are there along with me…

It was a nice evening. In the loneliness, Michael spoke loudly to himself. It was time to accept change. It was time to change, for the better. It was time to rethink about his life. It was time to leave old things behind. He left his shoes on the mountain. The path down the hill was rocky. He cut himself against the sharp rocks. But the pain was lesser than the pain he had in his heart. With hope in his heart, he trudged on…

He-Shoe: I think your prayers have been answered again.
She-Shoe: Yes, isn’t it so nice? The rest of our retired life in this beautiful place…