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SHORT STORY: Vortex

Autumn is nice. As if nature is taking a break and in a laid back tone is letting everything and everyone be. No preparation. No hassle. Maybe almost like a girl who is back in the comforts of her room and does not care for her makeup or the chivalrous etiquettes she is expected to put on display.

“Why haven’t I ever paused and looked around?” he thought.

The signs are always there and there are things that are overstated to death that in the end somehow makes us that much more desensitized. A nice stroll does cleanse one’s soul sometimes. He turned to his pal and gave a faint smile.

“Where were you lost for the past fifteen minutes or so? You were just staring at that tree?”

How could he forget that he had been conversing about theories, theologies, beliefs, ideologies, philosophies and everything that drove many to madness before and still continue to do so? Existence does seem like a black hole with vortices of answers whose revelations always cause a ripple effect of pursuit for more questions. They define “vortex” as a place in nature where the earth is ‘exceptionally alive’. Really does sound delightful! It could be something that the jolliest person in the world might use as greet backs.

“How are you today?” -- “Oh I am exceptionally alive!”

What would it imply though?

“So what do you think?”

“Huh?”

“You totally spaced out didn’t you? We were talking about how numbers have defined the way things are perceived in societies? And instead you were here staring at that tree”

“Oh! Yeah! I do believe that the masses and the time given will always dictate the ways of the world. Imagine this. If a person is taught the exact opposites of our common notions of “good” from infancy, imagine that resultant perception. Now apply it for the masses and if the majority believes it, years down the line, wouldn’t the same practices be set as norms? We can tie these up to Chinese foot binding and even the ‘Sati pratha’ that used to be. What if we raised a child never letting the notions of 'darkness', 'spirits' and 'ghosts' sink in? Everything changes and I don’t want to hold any ideology dear to me.”

“So you do not believe that we carry some inherent traits within us that define good and bad?” asked his friend.

“How do you define 'good' , 'bad' and everything in between? Isn't it all based on what you have been fed since infancy? I don’t know the technicalities but what I do perceive is that humans are a race that is slowly maddened by their own mortal nature and the quest for a ‘before’ and ‘after’ life. All we ever find are court of conducts in manuscripts and verbal bindings. The ultimate answer, however crazy it may seem to one, is rational for the other. It’s that fix we really run after? That nature is our phantom limb of sorts. So, I think every belief counts and does not count at the same time. What if what we regard as the mentally ill are the ones with the answer and they see the world for what it is? After all, deviations from what has been defined as ‘normal’ get noticed under the social radar but who are they to give the absolute definitions of it? Nothing is ever ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. Everything is just frequencies and dust.”

“Wow! You definitely are a downer!”

Ha-Ha. He chuckled.

“It would be nice you know…I would not need a promised heaven or hell…religion does not work for me. People take pride in achievements and all that. I was never bothered by it. Or maybe I am not now? Maybe I used to be? The ultimate peace of mind for me would be if I was assured that if and when I die I would get to float around this world for a while observing every life I ever interacted with...and see the true nature of things you know? I want to see whether if it’s their thoughts that count for me? Or is it maybe the freedom to embrace our wanderlust? Whatever we do on this blue marble, we leave it behind. I find words…very hollow...I can’t remember when was the last time I truly saw and felt raw expressions…I hope I can see all of that as I winder around”

“So you have this need for a closure? A need to be acknowledged? Never knew you had this side to you as well. How come we never talked about stuffs like these before?” asked his pal

“Not that kind of a need.” He smiled. “This world is all that we know and don't know at the same tine. There will always be things that never get revealed about a person even after their end. I don’t know what will be the end of me man but I do know I won't ask for more. To have a chance to exist is gift enough...not denying its dualities as well”.

They both got up to leave. Our shadow is a good company.

The wind gently brushed along with the autumn leaves floating around. It also brought a page out of yesterday’s newspaper that read “Horrific accident as a car collides with a roadside tree. Presumably dead driver is in a coma now”.

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