Survival

The last lights were turned off…
The house plunged into darkness.
Tired souls retired to bed,
To be fresh for the next morning chores.
But somewhere there was sleeplessness,
Waiting for the cover of the night…

She stealthily rose from her bed,
It must be done tonight…
She couldn’t face the world,
Nor could she keep hiding all her life.
She had made mistakes,
And it deserved punishment…

Everything was ready,
Time awaited only the execution…
There were choices,
She just had to take her pick…
Which would be the easiest,
The quickest and painless?

For one last time she turned…
The wide windows,
The table full of books,
The almirah full of clothes,
The room full of memories…
Tears welled up inside her…

Clutching onto her little teddy,
She sat down near the door
And she cried and cried…
She remembered her family,
Every little thing done for her,
The Charming Princess of this house…

Slowly she composed herself,
The trance was steadily breaking.
Her mind floated in a tranquil state…
And a voice questioned her,
What was she about to do?
How could she be so selfish?

She turned on all the lights,
The room came alive…
Her large mirror beckoned,
She obliged with joy.
The moist eyes were bright
And her face was fresh…

A load had been lifted,
A knot had been untied…
Some bonds strengthened,
Some rendered redundant…
Her inhibitions were gone
And she had gained courage.

She collected the ‘options’
Scattered all over the bed…
A bundle was made of old letters,
Gifts, toys and the ‘options’…
Did they not mean anything to her?
Maybe once, not anymore…

Sleep eluded her that night,
She moved about tidying her mind…
Darkness gave way to dawn,
She left the room, bundle in hand…
A hole was dug, wide and deep
And into this went the bundle of misdeed.

The sun was up in some time,
Its yellow light bathed a sleepy world.
A world which might have
Witnessed a death last night.
The survivor now stood her ground,
An undaunted figure of strength…

Betrayal, pain, sobs and sniffles.
Life has them aplenty….
The greatest test of character is thus
Not giving in but overcoming…
She buried the past and buried it deep,
Only a blooming present does she seek…

-- Sucharita Saha