Trishanku- The End

………It was early morning, when somebody did finally notice a dead man lying. Don't know but this is the worst that can happen with you when you go for an early morning walk - seeing a dead body in a pool of blood and that too dried. Anyhow, much to this early riser's dismay the person was no more breathing. He called up the police.
Within a few minutes, there was a huge crowd. Like flies swarming in on an open sweetshop. Some said the guy was drunk, while others postulated the theory of a hit and run case. Whatever, only two females noticed that his clothes weren't torn even after that crash. He simply died.

The police finally arrived on the scene and the crowd dispersed like someone has fanned the sweets. Some people still lingered, curious enough, like flies, which hang on at edge so as to comeback. Police interrogation was quick, the person who had called, narrated the story. Once more, all over again. Another set off human flies gathered by the end of his version but nobody cared about those that were now trying to enter the dead man's nose. There was a buzz all around……

Our dear friend woke up. Neither in the clouds nor in front of a big beautifully carved golden gate. He was at a place, where he had spent his childhood. His first home. The place, where he very much wanted to be when he was once lost at a bus station. At that time he must have been five years old and the bus station was crowded. In the mad rush, somehow his little fingers missed his mother's hands and then the panic set in. People asked him - Who he was? Where he wanted to go? His answer was Home. And right now he was in front of that home. He wanted to go inside but something bedazzled him and then….

Like a movie the scene changed. He could now see himself out of his class. Somehow he felt he has received some kind of punishment. He was almost kneeled down, waiting for someone to pull his ears. Eyes closed…eternal wait……and a sudden jerk.The dead body was lifted and put on a stretcher. The man who had spotted the corpse first was calling home and informing he'll be late. The wardboy who lifted the corpse thought to himself - "He died young."

Our dear friend was confused. He was all set to write an exam. Perplexed. According to him, he had passed the exam some few odd years ago. But why he was nervous? The exam paper can anytime be on his desk. He wanted to check each one of his pens. His father had given him a new one. He wanted to start with that………

There was chaos at the hospital. The doctor was adamant not to take the new corpse. The morgue was already overflowing. The doctor refused to co-operate, "What check? No room," was the standard reply. Police was yet to ascertain the identity. The body was almost some odd hours old, in no time it would start to smell. "Identify the corpse," said the police officer to his junior, "Fast. This is a sort of crisis," he added in a visibly rash tone.

Crisis. Our dear friend was undergoing through this right now. He was unable to comprehend, what's happening! One moment ago he was all set to write the exam and now he was in front of his college. He noticed that the beautiful girl, he was interested in was unaware of his presence. He wanted an identity. At least in front of her. She was smiling and as he moved towards her from nowhere came a door.
The agitated officer flung the doctor's door and walked out. There was no alcohol in his blood, only nicotine. Now he may have to investigate a hit and run accident. He was on night-shift but had to wait until identification….huh!

Our dear friend was investigating, this narrow passage, as soon as entered the door, which separated her from her sweetheart he was lost in this passage. It was dark and he was afraid of the dark. His hands searched his pants for a matchbox. He generally carries one. As soon he lit a matchstick. He saw the passage had come to an end, it took him to a hill top and from there he could see a beautiful city, tall minarets, busting market and a well lined road…..

Road accident no. 19. The officer filed in his office. Last night there were 19 road accidents, only one died. Bad luck both for him and the one who died. The corpse had been identified, investigation may go on, the one who died was 25, lived away from his parents, alone in this city……

The city mesmerised him. He wanted to go down that hill. But he cannot. He was in mid-air and then something bizarre happen…..like several televisions screens opened in the thin air. One of them was showing a Tamil channel and on one Discovery was on. The city was slowly fading away as if night was to begin and the pictures from screen also blinked to death.

"Body now in freezer Sir. Thank your gods, one was taken away by the Municipal authorities a few moments ago. "Is city mein bahut tension hai….yeh body to patla tha isliye ghus gaya," said the wardboy. (A lot of tension in this city, this corpse was lean that's why it got fit).
Trishanku….didn't die. He is hanging…..Waiting for the light, for the city and for those screens….I don't understand why he does not fit-in after all he has a lean body frame.