Scarred face, rugged look, tattered clothes, I saw the man coming out of
the abandoned area of the fort. “Must be a madman”-I thought to myself. But
then I looked closely, and the face looked familiar. And why not, I felt like
looking at the mirror. It was me, the very same but yet so different. I was not
hallucinating, for I had no reason to do so. So, is it a ghost? I was thinking
to myself when I noticed him walking towards me. I tried running, but my legs
won’t allow. I was stuck there, for reasons unknown. He kept walking towards me
in a slow pace, till he reached where I was sitting and sat beside me.
I couldn’t speak, I choked and the throat dried up. “You must be
wondering who I am”- he asked with a feeble smile. I just nodded. “You already know
the answer, don’t you?”- He continued asking, with the strange smile still on
his face. “What do you see when you see me”- he kept on creating suspense. I
kept staring at him. I still didn’t know what to say. “I am a part of you,
brother. The part that you knew exist but chose not to reveal”- and thus he
introduced himself. I kept listening to him eagerly, though I didn’t know if
any sensible person would do that.
“You had always avoided me, brother. I was never given the recognition I
deserve. I empathize with you, for I knew it was hard for you to bring me to
light. I was your share of tears, your share of anger and hatred, your share of
agony and pain, of fear. Feelings that men try avoiding. Yet, I always hoped
someday I will be introduced to someone who won’t be judgmental, who would know
how to provide you with ease and comfort. I saw people coming and going, both
right and wrong, but you never took me out of the shell. We grew together, but
you imprisoned me forever.”
“Today
while you stand with a recognition, wearing that fake smile on your face,
behaving you have friends for all walks of life, I laugh the sarcastic laugh
standing at dark corners, for I know the truth, for I am the truth. I grew up
with every feeling you suppressed, I fed on every lie you spoke to hide the
unbearable truth. And if you are wondering about my looks, I tell you this
brother, this is what you are from inside. Poor, pathetic, alone and hopeless.
I couldn’t stand it anymore, and so I came to tell you that it is yet not too
late. Accept me, I am dark but I am not evil. I complete you; I am not the
reason for your eternal shame. And if you still continue to avoid me, I will
only become more terrible, more haunting. The words were mine brother, but the
choice is still yours. Choose wisely.”
He didn’t wait for me to respond. He just walked away, and disappeared
in the broad daylight. And he left me wondering, if I was dreaming. But
somewhere, deep down, I knew I wasn’t. He kept an invisible mirror in front of
me, and I kept on gazing…..
DAICHI
17th
May, 13
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