"THE DAY HE SAW AND WISHED FOR HIS DEATH"

Completely depressed and deeply buried in his thoughts he just collapsed on the riverside, begging for mercy from the unknown forces that were causing so much distress in his life.

He was physically exhausted by pulling a big trolley and carrying a small full packed bag on his back.

He couldn't believe that such a place existed, how can he when he had traveled for 12 straight days to reach such a place, which hardly would be less than 500 kilometers and one day's journey away, only if not for the forest and village route which lead it there.

He had not chosen this place, is it sacred or not so sacred, he felt it is not the time to think about it.

When he was about to enter deep sleep, he suddenly got up with the painful thoughts which were coming again and again.

He looked up and saw a dimming light coming out of the sun which was about to set, he couldn't control the anger, he just shouted out loud saying, what have I done to do this to me....No response

He knew nothing was going to happen...he was not expecting a miracle, he was just there to some lonely time before ending his life.

He as if he realized something, grabbed the bag and dug deep searching for a sheet of paper, here it is he told to himself while grabbing the paper out. He laughed out loud, not able to control the foolishness with which he was following the words of an unknown saint.

He just told to himself, either way, I am here to welcome death, after death, whatever happens, who will be there to witness it.

There are so many things on this earth, which can't be put and defined under the wording of science. That's why there are words in the dictionary which are there to express the inexpressible.

The modern era has made Men to search, research everything before storing it in his memory. Such advanced methods also can't reveal something as there are many things that go unnoticed, and not documented.

Here was a mid 30's guy, in the midst of so-called sacred place along with a bag full of precious gold bars worth millions, only to sacrifice a life which no more he calls it worth living.

The saint had told him to not ask for any details on the day he left him , also he gave the freedom to believe or not to believe his words.

As the guy bowed to the saint, the saint gave him a black thread and the sheet of paper, told him that this will only help him in fulfilling his wish within 48 days. After that, it's of no use to him or to any living being.

He now was left with a rush of thoughts swinging in all directions, all kinds of questions popped out of his head from stupid to scientific, to dream to reality to a blessing to curse to true.

He felt immense pain in his head, he just managed to see the saint's path until the saint disappeared into the dark jungle.

The next day when he woke up out of his lavish 5 bedroom apartment bed, he wrote using a big black marker on the full-length imported shining mirror "LIFE IS ALL ABOUT CHOICES, RIGHT OR WRONG, ALL CHOICES ARE RIGHT AS LONG AS WE BELIEVE IT IS"

He couldn't work anymore in the office, each hour in the office felt like a day in his life, the Red Porsche car which was once a status symbol parked in the parking lot felt like a just another car in the pool of cars.

The hard-earned and saved money which he got as perks, salary, incentives, kickbacks, what not, all felt like numbers with no expressions.

There was nothing which gave the feeling of fulfillment except for the words of the saint, whom he had met a few days ago.

Saint had revealed a secret that had brought peace into his life.

He immediately took his laptop, grabbed a cappuccino, and went to relax in the lounge, looked around to see there was none observing him.

He took out the paper which had some details which saint had told and started searching for that place.

Oh, my God, he said to himself in the lowest tone of voice possible.

Everything here looks as new as it can, he told himself. Where this is going to lead me is the question that was jumping around in his head. He was neither there to witness the days pass, nor ready to take immediate action, such was the intensity of the things in that small 4-inch paper which saint had given.

Back In the Jungle, There was a confirming sign of sun setting as the flocks of birds were flying with their all strength to return back home. He laid back in his newfound home, as he grabbed his backpack to take the bottle out he noticed a small glowing light at the farthest end, which disappeared in a blink, he told to himself, this might be a signal that

I am here a the right place, yet another confirmation. His face was now becoming a bit bright.

The reasons for his mixed extreme emotions were due to uncontrollable anger and excitement. He wished not to live and he wished saint words came true.

Not knowing how his death going to approach, he just waited there for the time written on the paper given by saint. He was ready mentally, the thread was in his hand-tied tightly, enough petrol to burn the wood whole night, a black silk cloth and few cut pieces of wood along with some which he had gathered from the jungle, to keep him warm and safe from the untamed jungle.

He out of urgency first lighted the wood and set them on fire, keeping them in a big circle form, making sure there was no way for anyone one to come near him except death. There were only 2 more things which were left for him to do, one was sitting on the black silk cloth and other was to start chanting the mantra non stop at the time which was written on the sheet of paper given by saint.

Gold-filled bag, his small pack bag, wood needed to burn the whole night, he and the stuff which he had taken out of the bag, all were safe from the jungle's cruelty.

He once in a while poured some petrol to the few feet up burning fire, he was making sure that he didn't end life before he began the process of chanting the mantra.

The whole world is filled with the process, from birth to death to planting a seed to make it a tree to the list never ends.... He was very much aware that his life should also end according to the saint written process otherwise it will not get him what he wants.

With 3 more hours to go for the time to come, he stretched his legs took a piece of wood which was next to him, poured some petrol and pointed at the burning flame, the wood caught fire as if it was born to burn and lighten up the forest. He held it high to see how vast and dark was the jungle.

Curiosity is man's way of assuring. Here he was making sure that the nap which he might take out of the physical strain should not put him to sleep of his life and make him miss the only opportunity which he has....

Back at Office, Where is God came reply from the back of his mind... he looked again at his laptop taking a relaxed position on the chilling air coming out of the AC. He just stared and stared at the location which saint wanted him to go, what was so sacred about this h asked to himself.e

He reassuringly told to himself, there are so many manuscripts, kings, saints who have born and left their lives on this land, which place has what hidden story under its roots, only the raising and setting sun should say. Taking the black thread out of his purse, he said to himself where all the energy or supernatural powers can be stored. what can science or scientist say seeing this black thread? For some its just a symbol of style, for a God believing person its a symbol of Shree Raksha [ thread is worn for protection ], same old thread taking different forms in the hands of different persons.

Life is full of mysteries, only observing eyes are required he smiled at himself in the way he and his thoughts had changed after the brief encounter with the saint, such was the powerful conversation which had happened on that first and last encounter with the saint.

He was still in a dilemma, whether to pursue or not to pursue the path, the saint had laid down.

When the time comes, some force makes thing happen. That unknown force is what no one notices. That is what happened to him.

With some urgency, he grabbed his laptop, threw the leftover coffee in the bin and headed to his desk. With unfulfilled tasks at his desk, he grabbed the keys of the car and hurried towards the lift.

In a couple of minutes, he was in the car... with excitement, thrill, newfound wisdom, don't know what was making him so mad.. He just zoomed in his car to his apartment. He was badly in need of solitude.

Watchman got up to the sound of the car, rushed towards the car, opened the door to him, Saab you are early home today, anything wrong, Nothing Ramu, I have an urgent meeting tomorrow, I have to prepare something, don't disturb me and don't encourage anyone who comes asking for me.

Such was the popularity of his talent, that even competitors of the company which he was working for were ready to spend some handsome money to buy some time of his.

Man, why did I take that trip, what adventures trip it turned out to be, this sheet of paper, the saint, oh common is it all real. Was I too drunk on that day? How come I was out of my gang for full 20 hours, was it not a group trekking, who pushed me to the side, what animal was that which was chasing us.... why did they not search for me, how did they find me later. Why nobody saw the Sadhu....

Who is going to answer my all Why's ... he said to himself as he opened the bedroom door.

He saw the first sign as the Saint has written in that paper, The signal on the 7th day of the 48 days.

Shocked by seeing it, he slowly collapsed to the ground, kept staring at it, all his words pulled back, he shiveringly saw, hoping that it goes away...

TO BE CONTINUED........