A Manifestion Story

By Esther

On an alarmingly hot summer, Dr. Chauhan is on his way to his insipid and lackluster routine, a routine that is carefully constructed even before he became a man of his own. This routine is not generated by the paroxysms of freedom that he suffers from, but it is a result of the oppressive circumstances that were occasioned by his hard-nosed parents. Chauhan has always been a brooding man. And it is not because of the infernal heat of the day. He was a marooned drought, and the trenches were blazing with infernal loneliness. He was a man of educated disposition, but his education has rather dulled him instead of lulling him into the solace of erudition. Although he was a revered armchair scholar, he was only recognized by his awkward gait and unconfident countenance. He had never been a paragon of virility, and his academic diversions were only a rebellion against his social ineptitude, although he believes it to be otherwise.

Anyway, he commences his ritualistic day with the roar of his scooter, which is also a residue of his past. The vibrations soothe him, reminding him of his glorious achievements. As you can tell, he is not fond of garish displays of wealth. However, he didn't mind being a nuisance to the neighborhood. His scooter was the instrument of horror, but to him, it was essential for his sentimental journey. He reaches his destination (which is a college), as he is a government lecturer. He soon carries out his practiced work until his gaze suddenly falls on a man, with unrecognizable handsomeness, adorned with a crisp suit; a woman with a striking face and a lithe body. He is filled with the reflexive curiosity to know who this enchantress was and the man she is tangled with. His languid demeanor soon transforms into stiff alertness. However, his face puckers up when he realizes it is no other than Mr. Sharma, a man who is thrust in with good luck and nothing else. Eventually, their glances meet, and Mr. Sharma shouts with smiling eyes “Namaste Chauhan Ji, please join us”. By this time, the couple had flocked around with colleagues and staff with similar inquisitiveness and blandishment. Chauhan enviously calls him a bastard under his breath and forms up a rigid smile that convinces no one, not even him.

He approaches them to sleuth out the answers to quench his jealousy. After dispensing pleasantries, he discovers that Mr. Sharma has recently been appraised with conjugal privileges of life and his consort was not just a random lady, but an extraordinarily charming woman possessing all the high virtues according to Chauhan. All the high virtues like incomprehensible beauty. His curiosity changes into restlessness. As he was departing, he is suddenly stopped by Mr. Sharma and his twinkling eyes and lofty appearance that brought only spite to Chauhan. Mr. Sharma enquires “are you doing well, Mr. Chauhan? You look more perturbed than usual” with a casual laugh. “I would not be as perturbed if I had a glorious creature in my arms, Sharma Ji.” He replied damply. Mr. Sharma flashed a pallid look and ushered Chauhan to the corner with his arm snaked around his neck, which made Chauhan frown more severely than usual. Sharma then explains to him in a careful monologue that his fulfillments were only possible because he employed the method of “manifestation”. It is a ploy of mentally visualizing your wishes and they will come true. Chauhan felt a laugh gurgling in his throat; his superiority complex was stroked with this ridiculous idea that was spat out by his colleague. He was truly amused. But a grain of doubt emerges in him after noticing the patronizing eyes of Mr. Sharma.

The germ of doubt that sprouted in his mind could not be removed even with continuous fumes of cigarettes or innumerable glasses of liquor. The idea which is unconsciously being concocted in his brain could not be faltered with conscious efforts. He dreams of a partner day and night in a poetic reverie. As he was a government worker, only the reflection of Parvati would please him. His appetite for superlatives made him restless. And he finally gives in to the inevitable. One day he conjures up an angelic creature with his manifestation; she was endowed with the highest form of beauty. Her skin was smooth and fairer than any woman he could possibly marry on his own merit. The swell of her chest, waist nonexistent like vapor, and skin like a newborn without any sign of age pleased him. He is satisfied with his life; his heart is filled with gratitude for the Homeric heroism of his friend. As days unfurl his love bloomed in his heart, his work, and his Home. She slowly becomes his last string to humanity; everything will reach him through her grace. She showers meaning to his mundane life; he will cling to her to obtain coherence in his ruthless life. He sparked envy in his colleagues and neighbors.

However, slowly the effect will slip away from the fist of excitement. Staccato soon transformed into clamors of abuse. His love slowly morphed into grotesque indifference. The indulgence of his lover did not make his daily inconveniences vanish; in fact, it aggravated his daily struggles. For instance, the scooter was terribly small for two people, and the angel’s ineffectiveness in the kitchen tortured him. She was frail against the tempest of everyday life. The prongs of desire began to hurt, and it did not give him any comfort whatsoever. Now the scooter’s pounding is like the maddening drumming of impending doom. Her cluelessness in the vegetable market did not help the situation either. Annoyed with his life, he turns his attention to Manifestation, the only god he will listen to. And this god will listen to him even if his wife doesn’t. He manifests domestic wisdom in his wife. Eventually, his wife is now erect with the upsurge of industriousness that previously she was lacking. She proves herself capable. And that sufficiently pleased the husband. Now the marriage was repaired, thanks to Manifestation.

Until she spends way too much time in the kitchen making her look like any other woman in the world. This gravely disappoints Chauhan; he is disillusioned to an extent that he contemplates manifesting another wife. Anyhow, the repercussions of the social world and his faint and dwindling attachment stop him from doing it. Just like any other couple, in an attempt to solve marital problems, they find a temporary respite in having a baby and their effort fruitions when they have a baby boy. It gives them the utmost joy and mirth. However, Chauhan’s progeny was growing up to become starkly different than his father, a complete delinquent, and a loud moron. His malice for his son grew unfathomably and his son failed to be the refuge of his disillusioned life. He is bound in this chaotic nightmare called family and he had never been lucky in that respect.

While he tries to manifest correction in his son, his wife asks him “why do you always see flaws in everything? Is the universe just a cosmic vending machine for you? ”.The question surprises him and he replies “why do people perform yajnas and pujas for what they want, why is it any different from manifestation? How is Manifestation any less honorable?” This silences his wife, and later she mumbles “sometimes you need to accept the way things are”. What does his wife know? She was just a fairy that somehow adapted to the ways of the world. Naturally, he scoffs at her. Soon enough the scooter is replaced by a brand-new car and the family is drunk on the hedonistic lifestyle, drunk on idleness. Lethargy and idyllic desire consumed them. All the financial manifestations made them completely unstoppable. The provider left no tables unturned. They visited the fanciest restaurants to maintain the spark of life and intermittently stayed in resorts to remember the simple pleasures of life.

One day they go on a family vacation to the fanciest resort. It was a dry and thirsty summer day, arid like the dust of ashes. Chauhan absorbed the heat and the scarce breeze of the day. After devouring his English breakfast, he inhales some good tobacco to start the day right. As he is stretching, he receives a call from work that requires immediate attention. He has to leave abruptly, and on his way back, Chauhan meets an unforeseen accident, and Chauhan loses his life. Fortunately, he has left enough for his family to fall back on. And He transcends to Paradise accompanied by seraphs. Nonetheless, we can still see him restless, tip-toeing around, manifesting his peace.

By Esther