The Lantern Yard

With moon hung by our shoulder, we were seated in the varanda feeling the slightly cold breeze pass by us. We got startled by the unappealing sound of the ambulance siren. I gave a sigh of relief and turned back to take a look at my granny. I got confounded by what I saw. The paled hands of her with wrinkles like that of a cotton shirt that had been left unironed for decades, came together, prepping for a prayer. Her eyes shut down instantly and I could see her lips which were pulled inside, mumbling something. There was this strange tranquilness in the air for a second and then she opened her eyes and continued reading Ramayana. Driven by my anxious mind, I asked her what was it all about. She passed this pleasing smile and started talking," This world we live in is quite a selfish one. We make wishes for ourselves hoping God will listen and make them come true. But that's not how it works." I was listening but I couldn't help but notice that her voice was not quive...

Climb up the highest place you know. Stand at the edge and listen to the wind. It's singing a song for you. Let your hair open and let them flow 'cause you are a queen and the world must know. Open them, your eyes and look at all those wonderful things around you, 'cause it's only one life that we've got and we must live it! For a moment get all those things out of your mind. Let them say what they want, let them do what they want for they are in search of a happy life that you are living already. Scream your lungs out. Say those words they say you shouldn't be knowing, do those things they say you shouldn't be doing 'cause now, right now, right here, it's you and it's your life. And you know what? You can do whatever you wish to do. Forget those rules, they aren't for you. You've got no time to follow them for you have got much better things to follow. Forget that grief for there's an ocean of things for you to feel happy...

That night, I was all alone. ‎I ran into the darkest room I could find ‎And locked myself in, so tight! ‎I sat beside the window ‎with tears rolling down my eyes. ‎I looked across the street ‎through the window ‎with millions of things inside my mind. ‎ ‎l've done wrong. ‎A plenty of them indeed. ‎I have been through the worst ‎and that's enough, I think! ‎But for what I've done ‎I don't deserve to be even alive ‎'cause there's no forgiveness ‎for those who let down their parents ‎ a thousand times! And what about the wrong that I have done to the people all around. But yes! I've been punished And I have learnt my lessons, so well. So, why shall I regret now? when I should never! I have got dreams now! I have got things to chase! plans to follow, people to live for. Then, why can't I still get out of the fear? Why is it still Haunting me everywhere and every time? Why is it despair that is all I see Whe...