PAST




















Pic.:Unnati Jiandani





Twenty years ago, my class teacher insulted me before my classmates.

I still hold a grudge against her!

I still ask others – “How is she, is she still the same?”

And, when someone describes, how the Principal pulled her up one day,

Or, how a bully student made her cry the other day,

I feel thrilled, satisfied!



In my SSC, I got beaten up by one of my classmates after a heated argument.

We joined different colleges; but, I still bore my vengeance…

and, after four years, I went with my college friends to take my revenge!



The other day, when I tried to get in from the front door of a BEST bus,

the driver screamed in front of a busy crowd: “Get lost; there is a door for you behind.”

I was stunned, speechless!

I got in from the door behind, but steam building up from inside…

a thousand thoughts passing through my mind…

waiting for some chance, waiting for someone to pounce on him…



And, it happened!

When a passenger, by mistake, pulled the bell, the driver started yelling at him.

It turned into a heated quarrel…

The bus stopped… Some grumbled… Some joined the debate…

Others watched mutely…

I enjoyed every swearword hurled at the driver!



Many an injustice was done against me.

Yes, I was stripped, I was mocked, I was beaten… I was cheated.

But, all this was in the past… when I was ignorant, helpless.

Today, it is a new day… It is sunshine everywhere.

I have grown up… I am aware of what is going on around me, in me…



I have a choice, too –

to let go my harsh feelings, to laugh at everything…

or, to tense-up my muscles, and vent my poison.



Yes, the choice is mine – to be dacoit on the run… or, a dove with freedom!



GERALD D’CUNHA

P.S.:



‘THE COBWEBS’ was one of the popular booklets I had written and published for THE DAWN CLUB in its early years. It was first published in 1991. Once again, what made this book connect with the readers was that it spoke in first person… The passages – some twelve of them - seemed straight from one’s own heart, they sounded like one’s own voice…

This passage – ‘PAST’ – is one of the popular passages from the book – ‘THE COBWEBS’.



Comments

Uma Niwas said…
Powerful insights! Uma Niwas
December 13, 2013 at 4:15 PM
Divya Rani said…
Past is gone, and buried it should be. Divya Rani
December 13, 2013 at 4:37 PM
Nitin Sharma said…
Inspiring post, thanks. Nitin Sharma
December 13, 2013 at 6:11 PM
Dr. Deepak Lokhande Joseph said…
I see the passage with a fresh perspective Sir...
December 13, 2013 at 6:58 PM
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