Into Life As We Know It

By Karthik Eshwaran

One day I just woke up and found myself in a small dark room. It was small with no windows or doors but just enough space for me to move my body about. I was alone and I was scared that I tried to kick and move as much as I can. The silence was deafening but it was often interrupted by a voice. The voice of a woman. She spoke such sweet things with so much care and love, the only soothing thing in the midst of my captivation. I would feel the room move at times and at others be completely still. There were these time when I would feels the walls close in on me and then release me from its grip for almost no reason that I could comprehend.

Days passed but the routine remained the same as if stuck in an endless loop no knowing where is the start or where is the stop. But one fine day things changed, there was opening. I felt a pull towards the small opening through which there was some light. For someone consumed by this dark room for such a long time, the light seemed like divine. But alas it was not to be. As the opening grew bigger the room got smaller. It was almost as if I wanted to hold me in that the walls moved it and held me tight.

I could hear voice from the other end and the one that caught my attention was the sweet lady’s voice. It wasn’t sweet any more but in a state of distress for all I could hear were crys and groans for she was in pain which only seemed to get worse. Hearing her screams put fear in my heart for I was no longer worried about myself but only thought about the caring soul who was the only one who kept me company in this darkness. In a matter of moments I felt my world turn upside down.

In one swift movement I felt the walls of the room press against me only to squeeze me out the opening, and into the light. I was out, out from my time of captivity, out from the solitude and darkness to witness the light. But the joy was short lived for I couldn’t breathe my first iota of fresh air. I huffed and puffed with all my might and finally I cried my lung out. I was surrounded by a sigh of relief and the hands around me gave way for a gentler touch to hold me.

The sweet voice was back, but only this time I could see her as well. With eyes brimming with tears which no longer seemed like those of sorry or pain but as the tears of joy she looked at me. At this moment I realised she was special and all the time I spent in the darkness was just my time in wait to land up in her arms. This was true joy, this was true love, and this person holding me is mom

By Karthik Eshwaran