a day with the calmest of waters. a ship sailed upstream. the wind was its only guide. the sail billowed. the day was warm. bright and sunny. the captain and his met sweat it out the entire day.
they knew of the storm that was foretold for the day to come. panting they pulled the strings and tried to reach ashore.
the afternoon grew into evening. having worked all day they decided to take a break. over beer and sandwiches they spoke and the joked. the ship sailing on at a steady rate. now they knew they were there. joking and singing they let time while away.
having rested well the captain returned to the stern. alas! they were off route. their compass spun like it had never before.
heart in their mouth they all got to their posts. but to no avail. down to the west they could see the tiny blink of a watchtower. the lighthouse hidden behind the low hung clouds. panic struck the ship. night had fallen. they had nothing to follow but a faint glow.
land was not near, they knew not what to do. they could just look at each other and raise their hands in prayer.
a sailor screamed "I see something"
it was an angel he said. he said he could see her clearly beckoning to them to follow her. he steered the ship after her. his comrades laughed. the puzzled captain knew not what to do. it was his duty to save his men.
they might be wading into literally dangerous waters.
"what rubbish" they heard him scream over the now roaring black tides.
the white angel shook her head in distress and disappeared. faith lost in her was their distress.
left seeking the now mist covered lighthouse they wandered away...
and I,
I heard their story from the gust of wind who but tried hard to help them...
they knew of the storm that was foretold for the day to come. panting they pulled the strings and tried to reach ashore.
the afternoon grew into evening. having worked all day they decided to take a break. over beer and sandwiches they spoke and the joked. the ship sailing on at a steady rate. now they knew they were there. joking and singing they let time while away.
having rested well the captain returned to the stern. alas! they were off route. their compass spun like it had never before.
heart in their mouth they all got to their posts. but to no avail. down to the west they could see the tiny blink of a watchtower. the lighthouse hidden behind the low hung clouds. panic struck the ship. night had fallen. they had nothing to follow but a faint glow.
land was not near, they knew not what to do. they could just look at each other and raise their hands in prayer.
a sailor screamed "I see something"
it was an angel he said. he said he could see her clearly beckoning to them to follow her. he steered the ship after her. his comrades laughed. the puzzled captain knew not what to do. it was his duty to save his men.
they might be wading into literally dangerous waters.
"what rubbish" they heard him scream over the now roaring black tides.
the white angel shook her head in distress and disappeared. faith lost in her was their distress.
left seeking the now mist covered lighthouse they wandered away...
and I,
I heard their story from the gust of wind who but tried hard to help them...
They wandered away all night..looking for that tiny source of help..their hearts had already been purloined of all the hope..the sailor was too much in awe with himself to let his leadership go..the little cherubic character appeared again, for it couldn't resist undaunted courage..mesmerized it returned to their rescue..
ReplyDeletetheir fate didn’t enjoy this new development, it loathed revival..soon the faintly visible lighthouse was enveloped with mist as thick as my index finger..soon the low hung clouds, wanted to turn dark, n noisier..but this time, the captain didn’t want to lose his nerve..he didn’t lose sight of the flickering light, nor the compass that seemed to be pointing towards hope n life..
the crew suddenly remembered their Sunday mass at church, their children running around the porch..their wives making the ritualistic tea n butterscotch cake..the men discussing baseball, with dying cigars..
the crew didn’t want to lose out on all that..not this time..when their courage had shown them the second chance..
soon the rock started to appear, and wind began to fall, for it was just not effort but prayer n some little drops of tear..
they learned their chapter n stored it in the deepest corners of their hearts.
Just when the land seemed just miles away, it happened again..the slight breeze n quite sea, were just prophesying what lay ahead..n this time the troubled waters came prepared enough, to take the ship along with it..the vessel began to yaw..the salty waters turned bitter, claiming the ship..causing undulations similar to a sibilant..the clouds cracked open n collided with each other..causing torrential rains with thunderstorm..the sailor found it difficult to hold the ship, his faith in his uniform began to sway..the crew was stuck to their positions, doing little to help themselves..n then the bolts gave in, the cracks came like an earthquake had hit the ship, the tides rose several feet..
and I stop the wind from speaking more..for I had woven stories about a happy ending..but the wind told me something I’ll always remember, if u have missed out on opening the door, prepare to fall, because opportunity strikes only once.
yet... yet the back of my mind reminded me again and yet again...He who prides in being the ultimate examiner is an amazing guardian too... He is the one who holds every tiny little finger to encourage those tiny feet to walk.
ReplyDeleteleaving back every inhibition every thought of defeat..
and yes he was still there. each of the sailors hearts held him together. each of their prayers drew him out of the mass consciousness of this world. HE is there for everyone and he is there for them.
At-least then...this timid story teller knows not of the near future.
The ship now had no mast...it had broken long back. the stern now holds no controls but the man who stood in-charge...he, he refused to budge. he took the oncoming spray to his now almost bare chest. each man had tried his best. their muscles were stiff. mind boggled. clothes torn. sail adrift. yet their spirit was yet to be dampened. their belief yet to be wavered. yes they knew trust was their only saving grace.
the storm didn't dim. they went on in a direction neither of them could decipher least of all decide. the waves tossed them around. the compass had long blown away with the wind or may be eaten by the waves no one could tell. the steer was lofted to one direction and a innumerable men fallen overboard.
the water and the wind roared over each other. it was a battle of voices. musical if the situation was not critical.
but more than that sound what i remember hearing was the 12 hearts beating fast and the murmurs of prayers being sent to heaven at a speed faster the lightening moving the other way...!