Station

what if

i don’t succeed

in the mission..

what if

my train stops

before reaching

the destination..

what if

there isn’t

enough time

Mother..?

what about

Death

and Life..

Mother

..?

life and death

sleep and wakefulness

are mere stations

child..

passing

and transitory..

your flow

is irrespective

of each..

none can influence

your journey

this journey

is longer

than i thought

Mother..

will it take

several

lifetimes..

Mother..?

before Mother

can answer..

some co-passengers

laugh out

aloud..they say

look everyone

look at him

that swami..

look at his hand

such expensive

watch

on a sanyasi..!!

they clap

each other’s backs

and laugh

like mad

deeply bothered

the figure replies..

‘the difference

between

me and you..’

says he..

removing the watch

‘is

this..’

he continues

letting it drop

out the window

into the river

below

stunned..

they quieten

quickly they abandon

their seats

next to

the robe

as the figure

recovers

its composure..

Mother asks..

child..why

did you throw

that instrument

away?

‘to show them..’

the voice replies

‘..that

even without

it

i can be

happy..’

‘to show

the difference

between

them and me'

continues

the robe

then it comes

that moment again..

of learning

dawns..

oh how vain

have i been..

says the robe

quietly..

it is i

that was

the problem..

the symbol

of difference..

without me

watch..

or no watch

would not

have mattered..

now poor watch

got thrown

in the river

when it should

have been me..

i..i lie

at your feet Mother

my ego..

is shattered..

i accept

i have

no specialty..

please accept me

Mother..

i lie

in surrender

She smiles

but now

it is time

to alight..

to continue

the journey

on foot..

as the train

pulls

to a stop..

as we hop off..

Mother turns around

addresses

the figure..

speaks

without a sound..

‘by the way

child..’

the figure stops

‘..the river..’

Mother continues

‘does not require..

a watch’