The Tempest

The words Pratik had spoken to console his Beloved had left him restless. No matter how much he tried to push those thoughts aside, it would come back, each time with more vivid imaginations of losses. If not imaginations, his thoughts would go back to the very words he had spoken. He was revolving in an endless circle where he had professed his love to Beloved and hugged her tight in an embrace that he never wished to go. Again, his thought ran back in time…

What would he do if one day, he found Beloved wrapped in the arms of death? His heart laid still—the answer, he could never answer. Tears streamed down his eyes. What if he were to die? What would happen to Beloved? Would the memories be painful? Or would the memories become a guiding angel in her life? After all, both had promised to be there forever.

What was forever? Pratik’s inner voice queried. “Forever is until you die,” one part of his inner voice spoke. “The moment you die, your forever is gone too.” Then, another voice spoke, “Forever is forever. It is eternal, despite death. Even when we cease to exist, we will still be there, around us, around those people that we loved the most.”

“Eternal?” the Devil’s voice spoke. “Nothing is eternal. Everything ends the moment you loose your breath. Eternal is till you live. Nobody will see you after you’re gone. You are tangible and tangible things finish the moment their lives end.”

“We are tangible beings with eternal soul and memories. We will cease to exist for we cannot play with nature, but just like nature, we will always be there. We will always be there in the memories of the people whom we’ve loved. These memories will forever bestow humans with hope to move on, despite adversaries,” the Angel’s voice spoke.

As the tempest soared and calmed, Pratik continued to stare at something his eyes could not catch from the windows. His breathing was heavy but his eyes were lost—to those very imaginations where the Devil and the Angel were fighting to win over. As he stared to the peculiar landscape trying to find the answers, the voices spoke again.

“The rule of nature is not eternal. It is about ceasing to exist after it has lost. Only the fittest survive. Once you die, you will never know if you will be ever remembered. Neither can you be sure that you will remember your Beloved when she is gone,” the Devil’s voice spoke.

Pratik was immobile but his eyes were now moistened. His heart thumped like it had never before. He longed for an answer where this would all end.

“No Pratik. Every one of us will be remembered, just as you told your Beloved. We live n memories, forever. Yes, no matter how much we wish, we can never meddle with Nature and death is inevitable. But memories live forever. These memories will always push others to go forward. These memories reside in Love and give others Hope. Your Love is your Beloved and she is your Hope. Even when you’re gone, you will always be in her heart and soul. Forever.”

Just when the Devil’s voice was about to speak, from the depth of his heart, a soothing voice came. It was his Beloved’s, and she spoke a lyrical hymn that dispelled all the other voices. In her hymn, Beloved spoke;  

“Take my hand and take me to the stars, to the moon,

To the place where butterflies emerge from cocoon,

Enchant me with the beauty of your favorite lagoon,

Don’t let a second though cross your mind, make it soon

Make me smile and fill my pains,

Engrave my soul as yours, be in my veins,

Till the flowers blossom and thunder brings rain,

Take a vow to hold me tight, let my beats remain

Love me all and do it with our heart,

Make love to me all night long till I fall apart,

Show me how to break the rules and give a new start,

Keep my heart safe, atop your priority chart”

As Beloved’s voice stopped, Pratik was pacified and sanctified. No words could ever console him as the words from his Beloved. Finally the landscape was clearer. He saw buildings and mountains and the clear blue sky of the October sun. He made a vow to love her, more, and more. 

He did not know if heaven really existed, but he knew, heaven was in his Beloved’s lap. God was there when his Beloved touched his head and smiled and kissed his forehead and blessed his soul. Heaven was when he would die on Beloved’s laps. Heaven was his Beloved. Then, he whispered, “I love you Beloved and I wish to die on your lap and arms.”

Across the distance, Beloved felt something chilling. It was something that she had never heard before. “I hope you are fine Pratik. I love you” Beloved spoke.

Pratik smiled and walked away from the window. Just as clouds were about to hover at the clear blue sky, wind blew it.