With You Always

Siya was having a headache from the day’s work. She has ploughed the field and irrigated the farm in the burning hot season.

She went back to her house to have some water when she felt the house shake!

Everything started shaking like the Earth wanted to get rid of the burden placed on it. She could see the lamps hung on the wall fall down with a crash. The books on the bookshelf fell down along with the book shelf itself.

She felt frightened after all she has never seen such an episode. All the things in her room was slowly turning into rubble. She has hid herself inside a table as the ceiling collapsed, her heart was racing and her stomach churning with all bad thoughts. The thought of her mother and father came to her mind but if she moved a little something will fall on her and the door was blocked by the rubble!

After a while the shaking stopped and loud noises of people crying took over. She felt her legs wobble but she got up and felt an adrenaline rush, she needs to find her parents who would tell her that there is no problem and everything is fine. She needs to get to them to find comfort in this dreadful situation.

But the door wouldn’t budge, she looked out the window and saw that below it is a plank and she was only on first floor which was near to ground so she jumped out of the window with her tiny legs and her eyes clutched shut in fear of pain.

When she felt like she had landed she looked around to see her demolished house and it was not only her house which was in shamble but everyone’s.

She shouted for her parents but got no response, feeling ominous she entered the house to see it was completely wreaked. She couldn’t even move as all the bricks and concrete were strewn here and there.

“Ma! Papa!” She shouted but no response and the silence was eating her up.

She tried to lift the concrete but she couldn’t budge it even an inch. Coming out she saw few children crying and few people injured, some men were using some big things to remove the blocks of concrete. She wished she could use it too and get her parents out but she didn’t know how to use the big giant yellow thing with a scooper in the front(crane).

She went to one of the men and tugged at his shirt.

“Ma, Papa are inside take them out!” She said frantically as the man nodded and the big yellow thing came to our place and started removing things. Our neighbor Mrs. Verma also came by me and held my shoulder as tears spilled down from my eyes.

Suddenly she pulled me in a deep hug not letting me see what was in front, I cried to let me go but she kept hugging me and patted my back.

“Why?” I sobbed as she looked at me with tear stricken face.

“Your parents are no more.” She whispered as I got confused how can my parents not be in there, they were in the dinning room.

“No they were inside!” I shouted, maybe I didn’t understand her words maybe my heart and mind didn’t wish to decipher the meaning.

“They have left this world.” She said explaining me while comforting me. I felt my little world come crumbling down, what is she saying? How can my parents die and why was this earth shaking suddenly? Why is everyone around me crying? Why are so many injured?

Was god angry that he made the earth shake?

Why is everyone hurt? So many questions swirled in my head but I had no answers.

But before I got my answer the earth shook once again and the shambles of concrete which were in front of me toppled on me. I could hear the scream of Mrs. Verma but my senses became too dull for me to realize what was happening.

The next time I opened my eyes I could see only darkness and rocks all around me. Some rods were sticking out and I could hear a stream of water flowing. I looked around me to see the water level was slowly increasing.

I could hear subtle rustle and felt scared. My parents are also not there with me and this darkness was frightening now why are there ghosts also there in this place?

I felt a searing pain when I moved, I looked down to see a rod was stabbed in my leg so every time I moved it pained so bad.

“Don’t move or you will bleed to death!” A voice came. Do ghosts talk?

A boy came out, I guessed it from his voice which sounds like he is young, I couldn’t see him but could hear his footsteps as he came closer. In the darkness I felt his cool hands on my leg where the rod was jabbed in, he was looking at the injury.

“It is not deep but if we remove it you might need to amputate the leg.” He said studying my leg while I felt my heart thump. I will loose my leg? I didn’t want to loose my leg, I felt more scared who is this person who is scaring me to death here?

He was wearing a cap which had a flashlight, he had switched it on and I could see his green eyes which were so different. He was wearing school uniform and looked about 15 years old but his face was so cute and lively like he was younger than that but his demeanor exuded confidence. He looked at me who was staring at him like he was a different creature all together.

He smiled at me, “don’t worry I won’t hurt you.” He said and oddly I was comforted and believed every word of his.

He removed a bottle from his back pocket and handed it to me.

“Drink you are pale from blood loss.” He said as I could only nod.

I drank some and passed it to him.

“How do we get out?” I asked feeling scared.

“We will get out once someone comes to get us if we move anything right now it might cause the whole structure to collapse and we will be in more trouble so remain calm.” He said smiling and his smile was so peaceful.

“So forget about that tell me what is your age?” He asked curiously wriggling his eyebrows as I couldn’t help but laugh. His actions are humorous and they successfully diverted my pain.

“I am 8 years old” I said as he nodded.

“I am 12 years old.” He said.

“What is your name?” He asked.

“Siya” I told.

“My name is Rahul” He said smiling.

“Siya, so you know the meaning of your name?” He asked as I nodded a ‘no’. I never asked anyone what it means. What does it mean?

“Siya was the name of devi Sita who was an avatar of devi Laxmi. She is the consort of Narayan, she had taken birth on Earth along with Shri Narayan who was called Ram and his brother Lakshman who is the serpent on whom Shri Narayan lay in Vaikunth.” He explained patiently and I was engrossed in the story forgetting about the pain in my leg.

“Where is Vaikunth?” I asked.

“It is a place outside Earth in the universe where the river is made of milk.” He told as I nodded in understanding.

“Why did devi Sita and Shri Narayan come to Earth then?” I asked curious as he smiled and patted my head.

I let you control me, I let the waves crash onto me while I stood still.

Whenever you wish we can stop this game, no one wins this game

You hurt me and I say my mind which hurts your heart. We were never meant to be.

Can we stop now, I am tired of this never ending game, I accept my defeat.