Damsel In Distress – An Adventure Gone Wrong Poem by Alok Agarwal

I first felt that such a horrendous event must not be jotted down. It should just pass down on the memory lane like a dream, which is never remembered once consciousness is achieved. But, I slowly realized that I am no Lord Rama that someone special would take care of writing down about the events that occurred in my life. So the scourge task of giving words to my thoughts had to be done by me. I must take the responsibility to distribute Gyan to the literates holding a driving license.

Cruising at the speed of 120 kmph, with my group of friends – I was driving like a prisoner released on parole. Oh yeaa! The driving wheel is in my hands. Whoa! I am feeling intoxicated by the rumbling sound of cold breeze passing my ears. The sound of the gas guzzling engines is adding to the music. What else do mortals crave for in this earthly world?

Now I tell you, what people do miss at the speed of light? At this marvelous speed, you don’t hear the lyrics of your favorite musician playing on your car stereo. It also kills the valuable conservation that occurs between the group mates – no one discusses about the Katrina’s raunchy bold scenes in her recent movie, you don’t joke about Arvind Kejrival being the Chief Miser(ster) /Aggrivator/Agitator/Allegator, no one talks about the petty mischief he has done in his adolescent age, nor doth one mimics about his horrible bosses. All eyes are glued on the roads and minds on the One. A sense of insecurity lingers around the walls of the cabin.

Still cruising at that mystical speed, suddenly a truck incarnated in the midst of nowhere.

“HEY! Did you see that? ” a shrill shout knocked my ears.

“Yes. Of course! I am not a four-eyed man.”, I replied carelessly.

There is still a lot of distance. I relied on my skills as a Schu(Shoe) maker. Don’t worry! Daddy is here.

The difference in distance is eloping with time. There is nothing much that can be done now. I have already applied full brakes, but my car is still under the spell of my speed thrill. It won’t stop on my orders. Now what? What are you gonna do now? Destiny is not your home grown child.

The inevitable will certainly happen. The car has refused to answer the call of his dungeon master. After all, it also lives in a democratic country of liberty, equality and fraternity. Blah! Blah! This is not time to argue with thy master. I command thee to stoppp……

Bam! ___________

I took a free i10 crash test. The Hyundai should hire me. The beating of the retreat ceremony is here.

Have I done a commendable job? Am I not aware of myself being a cat having the luxury of nine lives?

The blank(dark) ness and my self-obsessing crude monologues will take time to ooze out. Just as my reader is taking time to realize that have I really collided with the truck or not; I also took the same time to actually realize that my wind shield is broken. Luckily, all the human souls are intact in their physical bodies; and not a drop of blood spilled.

I stepped out of my defaced car, and didn’t dare to have a glimpse of my fellow passengers. The burden of lives of others is indeed too heavy to be handled by my obese shoulders. The not-so-peaceful silence has camouflaged the entire situation.

“Where’s your damsel in distress? ”, asked a cunning bystander.

“She’s having an evening tea with my neighbor”. I gave him a Medusa-like stare.

“Ohh! Then better you hurry”, replied his brother.

In no mood to extend the conversation, I sought refuge in a reclusion camp to create a facade of emotions, creations and passions (Don’t find sanity in these words, as I am deeply traumaticised in my Kingdom of Dreams) .

Things happen. Lessons learnt. Life is always on a roller-coaster ride, but we must play calm – to say soothe, “there is never a damsel in distress more precious than human life.”