First Breath of Freedom

By Viransh Shah

After the survival of 264 hours in a room of cream painted walls with a door and a small window,

With the light blue blanket and white pillow.

With 100 - 96 degree of body temperature variations,

To tons of various home remedials,

I survived the unprepared examinations.

After severe body pains,

To ultimate weaknesses,

From virtual wishes,

To untouched hugs,

I witnessed the real thugs.

From the hot steams for inhalation,

To the cold breezes for ventilation,

From 10 min of morning meditation,

To 30 tablets of regular medication,

I felt the first breath of extrication.

From the darkness of the room,

To the small peaky light from the window,

From the Insta feeds,

To the WhatsApp chats,

I whispered some unheard chants.

From the room of walls,

To the put-on shawls,

From the bed of big naps,

To the switching of couple apps,

I travelled that entire timelapse.

Finally, after surviving the trauma of eleven days,

I took my first steps out with a craze,

From visualising the outside world,

To living that moment with a whirled,

With the feeling of coming back after a notorious war,

I felt the victory like a lion's roar,

I inhaled the breeze as I ate the apple of Eden,

I took my first breath of freedom....

By Viransh Shah