Life is a launched arrow

The people who have pegged immortality find it awfully long but the mortals never stop dreaming about a long life. I woke up this morning with a smile in my face. I ran to the kitchen. My mother was busy cooking up something really tasty, at least that’s what the smell told me. She had tears in her eyes, maybe because she was chopping the onions. I left her undisturbed. I glinted through the window. I saw my neighbour aunty doing her usual pooja routine. I watched the white haired uncle walking his dog out on the street. I tried to observe how she twitched her tail when a bird flew by and how her pace quickened at the sight of a cat. I saw my father with his daily Times of India dose. He spends at least 30 minutes reading only the sports section. I tried to greet him but he didn’t react. I guessed, I had Indian Cricket Team to thank to keeping him so busy with their achievements. I thought of switching on the TV but then I looked at the clock. It was 8 already. Suddenly I recalled, I had to attend today’s function at the college. I was pretty excited about it. I ran straight to the bathroom, finished my nityakarma like a crow takes bath. I went to the closet, grabbed my new Jeans and T-Shirt that I bought this month. I was already running late but luckily college was not too far. I tried to run like Usain Bolt. I reached, 15 minutes late. I went to the Auditorium where the function was taking place. Someone in Black Suit was giving a speech. I grabbed a chair and sat there to listen. I asked the guy who sat right to me about the speaker. He didn’t respond. Okay, I said, cussing about his ignorance. I went to the NCC field where my long time crush had the dance program. She was rehearsing her moves with her friends. I chose not to go near her. I took a chair under the banyan tree and watched her moving her body. She slipped and fell down. They all had a good laugh about it. I saw her from a distance, convinced myself- that’s enough for today. Since I skipped my breakfast at home, I was starving. So I went to our college canteen. There I found Sandip, my proxy partner. Hey Sandu, I screamed as loudly as I could. Canteen was full of people. Maybe he couldn’t hear me well. Sandu BC, I screamed again! Still no reply. He was sitting alone, head down. It seemed he was upset over something. Maybe Rachita and he had a fight, I thought. I decided to cheer him up. I went there. I sat right next to him. What happened this time Mr Devdas? I said teasingly. He didn’t reply. I gave him a punch on his shoulder. I was shocked, he still didn’t react. I was yelling at him in the loudest manner possible. He still kept his head down. He was murmuring something very softly, I couldn’t hear it well. Few minutes passed by, he raised his head, looked at me. He seemed so disturbed. Strange, he didn’t even utter a word and left the place. I was so surprised by his act. I screamed from behind. Everything seemed so strange at that moment. I went back to the canteen uncle. I ordered a plate of samosa. 1 plate of samosa, Uncle- I shouted because the place was crowded and he wasn’t looking at me. Slowly slowly, I was getting pissed off by everybody’s activity.

Why is everybody avoiding me? I asked myself. What wrong did I commit that nobody has time to exchange howdy to this old sport!

I went again to the auditorium where the inauguration program was about to end. I stood outside, waited for everyone to gather. I saw Reena coming outside. I waved my hand at her. She was laughing. I showed my 20 odd teeth in return. Finally, someone recognized her friend, I said while breathing relaxedly. I was just heading forward to meet her, and I saw Abhishek, my best friend. I stopped for a second to slap him on his face because he didn’t stop by my house to pick me up. I stood there, pretended like I don’t know him. I was expecting him to come to me and say me sorry. But he didn’t even look at me and went away. I felt so neglected.

Why can’t anybody hear me?

What’s going on?

It all seemed so strange as if I didn’t exist anymore. My head started to explode with so many thoughts revolving around it. The function didn’t interest me anymore. It was almost 12. I headed back home.

As I reached home, I found people gathered around my house.

What the fuck is going on? I questioned myself.

I was starting to freak out. Is my mother okay? Not a month ago, she was admitted to hospital. Is it about my brother who was in Bombay?

So many thoughts started to eat me.

I rushed in. I ran as fast as I could to the guest room.

Why are they putting flowers on my Photo Frame?

Just when I was going to ask them, I realized, that I am not alive anymore.

Everything started to fit in together. Suddenly, I recalled how I drank that rat poison to kill myself.

I went back to my body in the morgue and tried to talk some sense into him. I told him about his mother, his crush, his bestfriend, his proxy partner.

I tried to unkill myself, but little did I know, what I have done can’t be undone.