Stranded

That morning I was over the top, visiting my family after a whole year of hard work. Just holding the glistening boarding pass in my hands, among my fingers gave me a strange sense of satisfaction. “Oceanic 815” it said “From New York to Los Angeles”. Who would have thought that something so joyous would turn into something so perilous? Before I knew it we hit turbulence... And suddenly everything seemed hazy. Darkness hovered over my eyes.

The last thing I can vaguely remember was the pilot trying to comfort his passengers by saying that the aviation control crew was trying its best to rescue us. All I remember after that was a ‘thud’ that marked our crash landing and that I lay unconscious. I finally woke up after…was it hours? Days? Months perhaps? I did not know and there was no way to find out. As I picked myself up and the vision cleared a tad the sight made me wish that I had never woken up. All I could see around me was sheer destruction. A hundred and eighty voyagers slain on the ground, smeared in blood along with a few parts of an erupted airplane. I looked down at myself and what I saw shook me to my core. I saw horrible, painful bruises oozing blood and stinging so hard that they made me want to lash out and cry. I calmed myself, counted my blessings for being the sole survivor of this tragedy and took a look around. All I saw was vicious beauty. Never ending blue sea, a deep mysterious forest and menacing hills hanging over me. It seemed pretty much abandoned which added about 100 points to its dangerous character. I realized that I was on my own. I headed forward and delved into the darkness of the forest.

The sun shone brightly with the heat almost piercing my throbbing body. Soon I developed a thirst that burnt my throat. The bushes brushed against my body with the thorns inflicting pain. By sunset I came across a stream of water and in that moment it was like I had found the route to salvation. It instilled into me a strange sense of hope and it made me want to move forward. I washed up my bruises and quenched my thirst. Ultimately, I decided to set camp at that very spot for the night. Watching the stars twinkle and the cool breeze swaying across my throbbing body almost made the rock that I rested upon the softest pillow that mankind had to offer.

I woke up with first ray of sunlight that hit my face. I freshened up and re-embarked upon my quest.  The rats hopping in my stomach had turned into the size of mammoths. All I wanted more than anything was to go home! As I was walking I heard a crashing sound in the undergrowth and I embraced myself for a death through a combat with a wild beast. The sound became cleared and to my joy it turned out to be a sheep, followed by a cattle rearer. The fireworks of joy filled my mind and my heart began to race. He took me to his home- a half damaged hut that seemed no less than a heavenly abode to me. I fed the beats growling in my stomach and connected with my loved ones. The threatening yet inspiring journey had finally reached its end.

                                            High hopes and self belief can make you achieve wonders.

- Rtr Rima Jain

Rotaract Club of NM College

The clue to the next article is :

I LOVE BLOOD. IT'S SMELL. IT'S WARMTH. BUT I AM NOT A VAMPIRE. I DO SURGERIES TOO! BUT I AM NOT A DOCTOR. WHO WOULD I BE THEN..?

Let's see how smart-witted you are to  answer this riddle and thus, guess the theme of the next article...