Nandhu was walking on the street, deserted, void of beggars, chai-walas and late-night drunken kids sleeping on their section of the street, close to his own mind, void of any life. Traces of life were removed from him when his boss came up to him and said those cold words - you are taking a sabbatical. Work defined most of nandhu, at least to him. His general thought process, unlike any bachelor in his prime youth, was about his work all the time. He wanted to be the greatest journalist ever from his country, trying to get into the minds of his readers and stay there for eternity. Nandhu was good at his words and knew to use his keyboard but was inept at politics. He was about to cover the most romantic times of politics going on in his state, merger of two opposing political parties apparently for the welfare of people. Nandhu knew what the merger was about and got his facts and numbers in place for spinning out his theory to give a perspective to his readers about the reality he is seeing. Nandhu's stroll came to a halt in a traffic signal junction which was flashing the bright red light. Something made him stop. And then god appeared in the form of bright light.
At first he was startled, thought somebody was playing a prank on him, theorized someone drugged while leaving office, multifarious other thoughts flashed in his mind. He wanted to test it out and asked about his theory. He knew if it was a higher entity it would figure it out given the fact that he hasn't talked to anybody about it except for his boss. A mechanized voice, in resonance to metals screeching against each other, narrated his theory including facts he was yet to uncover. He was now baffled and took sometime to make up his mind, a quote from his father came to his mind - don't let reality cloud your judgement. He wanted go ahead with his walk, but eventually gave into this delusion for simply one fact- where else would he vent out his frustration.
He started conversing with this entity.
Nandhu - Why are people so biased? Self-centered? Cunning? Aren't they fundamentally wrong and I am right? May not be all the time but at least this time right?
The entity flashes a bright red light. Nandhu was confused, thousands of thoughts went through his head, trying to find the answer he has been wanting to find since his reality began, and now a higher entity posing as bright light flashing a color towards the red end of the spectrum. Why doesn't it talk? Does red mean something? His inquisition led him to a conclusion to what it is.
Nandhu - Are my interests wrong? Are my intentions wrong? Did I choose a field where I am not good at? My boss just handed me a sabbatical, which is a polite way of saying take rest and don't do what you are doing. Did I do something wrong?
Again red light flashed but the intensity of color was a little pale than before. Nandhu took that to a milder no.
Nandhu - Why are people wrong then? How is it possible that people who do all dirty things and impersonate a good image of themselves survive this reality? Can they survive? Isn't it my job to stop them from what they do?
It was an orange light this time. Nandhu took it as an yes and no.
Nandhu - Will this ever stop? Will this state/country ever become better? Will people ever change? Will people like me who wants to do the right thing in the right way will ever survive this society?
It was a yellow light this time. Nandhu was confused. Should he be ready for something? Should yellow signify anything at all? He didn't know. He couldn't understand.
Nandhu - Alright you talked to me for explaining the plan. Now stop with this light and give me an answer. What will happen to these people? Why are their paths leading others to grief? Answer me damn it. Give me an answer.
Nandhu coughed uncontrollably shouting at the top of his voice to a light in the middle of the road. He felt helpless, pathetic, moronic to shout at a light to serve him answers to his questions in a platter in the middle of the night. He wanted to take control of the situation and thought he should depart from this place after his final question.
Nandhu - Should I go against everybody and write about this political mockery going on? Even if I get killed for it? What would happen to people if they realize they were dumb enough to let this slip their sight? Should I throw light on this?
The light faded away all of a sudden and the traffic signal appeared.
Bright green.
Nandhu took to his walk and reached his senses.
His boss dropped the metal pieces, his flashlight and his remaining stash of LSD in a dumpster and went the other way with a bright smile.
Belated Diwali wishes people. May this festival of light bring you happiness and clarity in whatever you do.