THE SPIRIT OF OUR TIME

There is a wound in every soul. Some wound heals with time. Some wound just gets worse. But between wound and no wound, what pains the most is having a wound which does not gather memories.

a

‘Are you happy today?’ The beggar questioned the lady.

She walked away.

The beggar asked the same question to a teenager who was busy texting and also to the man holding an expensive umbrella and also to the random couple.

Then a photographer passed by, he was confronted with the same question, he looked at the beggar and instead asked, ‘Can I take a picture of you?

The beggar disappeared, the photographer went his way.

b

The photographer goes to his apartment. He lies down on the floor, takes out a coin from his pocket and looks at it. The head and tail shimmers to bring a smile on his face, with the help of his thumb and index finger he holds the coin and in an automated mode takes a shot of the coin. He emails the picture to the Editor of a reputed photo-magazine with the caption, Two Faces of Life.

Weeks later, he gets a call from the Editor of the magazine. He is hired.

He gets a call from his sister who in all sobs tells him that her marriage is falling apart.

c

The photographer goes to comfort her. When he is about to leave, he hands over the coin to his sister saying it might bring luck.

She in full skepticism pulls the drawer, keeps the coin.

Months later, before she leaves for a new city, she pulls out her drawer, the coin shows its majestic silence. She gives it to her neighbour’s daughter.

d

After reaching her room, the young girl smiles with the belief that the coin is doing some kind magic on her. She goes to school, under her skirt’s pocket sleeps the coin.

The answer sheet is distributed she gets an A+ in her Physics paper giving her the guarantee that she will be eligible to go to the best college in the town. A celebration party is hosted for her success. Everyone is happy except her elder brother who is tensed for the upcoming dance audition. She goes to her room, picks up the coin from the bowl and gives it to her brother. Her brother keeps the coin in his bag which he carries the next day.

e

The auditorium is packed by dancers anxiously waiting to show their skill.

He tries his best. Alas! It’s apparent from the faces of the judges that he will not be qualified.

The list comes out, his name is not in the slot. He takes out the coin from the bag, tightly holds it in his fist and throws it on the floor cursing, ‘stupid coin, this is where you belong.’

The janitor in charge of the hall picks it up and puts it on his pocket.

f

The janitor is a man in his early sixties. He pulls out the coin from his shirt’s pocket.  It starts to rain, his vision gets blur. He is drunk and he knows he won’t be able to cross the road. He looks at the sky and feels alive; he opens his arms wide as if to embrace the moody sky.

A black limousine comes in great speed. It hits the street light. The driver steps out.

‘Sir, a man has been run down,’ he panics.

‘Relax, just get in the car,’ the gentleman suggests.

After few minutes, people gather at the spot. The rain is gone; the blood of the janitor is washed away finding its way in the drainage.  The coin that fell from his pocket lies on the road unattended.

Such was the chance, such was the injustice, such were the lives that was before us and will be after us.

Such is the spirit of our time.