Of Crossroads
Have you noticed the criss cross of tire marks on cross roads? The scars left after a hazy decision to go in a particular direction? You couldnt possibly have. They are so much in your face that you would miss them.
Just like you miss a lot of other people. ordinary ones. You stretch your eyes so much to see the person sitting at the fringes that the one in the centre fades into oblivion.
People reach a cross roads. Sometimes not having a clear idea about where they want to go. Wishing that the crossroads itself would inspire them. Funny. These people. They spend their lives digging a tunnel to the crossroads. Planning. Everything, every minuscule detail. Removing the pebbles that stop their spades temporarily. Dreaming. Not dying.
Yet they never think beyond the crossroads. They reach there and stand. Befuddled. Stupefied that they've reached there finally. As if in the heart of their hearts they were hoping they'd fail. Wishing that the tunnel would cave in someday, with them caught in between. To see with their own eyes, the epic spectacle of a choked up dream. A murder.
They decide then, after reaching. Bringing in logic, practicality,priorities. How enterprising the destination would be. And after all that, they turn. Towards the destination they have figured out. Just that brief moment, they are scared. The past whistles by and they hold on a for a second longer. Eroding what was beneath them slightly. Creating scars that would need charcoal,tar and a somebody to patch them up.
That moment passes. The weight on the shoulders gets bulkier and they move. Leaving the scars behind.
Funny. These people...
There are so many important things you've mentioned in such a small space Parth!The hollowness, the parallels, the dreams, the images.. :-)
ReplyDeletethank you neelashi. :) I am glad you could see what I was trying to show.
Deletein the heart of their hearts they were hoping they'd fail.
ReplyDeleteInsightful. Though, I guess I did not understand the last paragraph. Pls Explain. Plus take care of your punctuation, great poets, the likes of Dickinson, never cared for it, however your punctuation is of a prose. I really think I did not understand this save in bits and pieces.
Hitesh
Hitesh- thank you for reading.I treasure a readership of your level. I just wanted to talk about how people bring the indecisiveness they face in relationships to an end. The dilemma on whether to take the plunge or to move on. I am bad at explaining about the pieces I write. I am just hoping this helps. keep reading. :)
DeleteInsightful, Indeed. Too Sarcastic, way too much though. People get stuck on the crossroads because by the time they reach there, they are so used to being influenced, that when they are alone, making a decision, for themselves, they are just lost. I like the way you observe things. It's uncommon. And Highly Appreciated. Keep Writing!
ReplyDeleteThis one is a personal favorite. Love this.
ReplyDelete"As if in the heart of their hearts they were hoping they'd fail. Wishing that the tunnel would cave in someday, with them caught in between. To see with their own eyes, the epic spectacle of a choked up dream."