FREEDOM....

A narrow rivulet of translucent sweat meandered down my temple...paused a while in silent contemplation at the bridge of my nose, only to steer right, and then took the mighty plunge into the deep dark heaving crevice below hidden ever so cunningly by my faded green dupatta and i gave a tired sigh....
The seemingly tamed serpent in iron and steel slithered along its metallic tracks...a whirlwind of 'Heavenly smoke' from an idle smoker's middle-aged cigarette-butt and grains of earthly dust nudged the lethargic blades of the rusty ceiling-fans above,giving but momentary respite to the passengers below....and the ailing serpent crawled on through the concrete jungle....
The resolute little ant slipped the thirteenth time....sliding down the glass-pane, it hit the dirt-clogged sill below with a silent thud! However, regaining composure with the air of a ruffled hero,it continued its up-hill climb...
A blurred kaleidoscope of red, blue, green and grey,symbolic of terraced hills,harnessed rivers and cultivated plains swam by...ocassionally,the gnarled ribs of trees caught my eye...i shuddered at the sight of its petrified leaves...it seemed almost dead...dead and embalmed...The sun hooted...its cynical laughter echoed in my ears...i could hear the earth writhing in pain and distress...the earth was being tossed over and over in the hot saucepan..it was being roasted alive...the terrible nauseatic stench of burning flesh attacked my nostrils again....i gave another tired sigh....
The minutes ticked away menacingly,the serpent echoed this warning in the mundanely rhythmic chugging of its wheels...the heat bore down on me,oppressing my spirit, making my patchworked heart grimace in excruciating pain and all the while, the rivulet of sweat continued its journey into the dark vortex of oblivion....
I could take it no more...red-hot anger burst through my veins,the unseen shackles held on to my being like a constricting python..tighter..tighter...my breath came in short uncertain puffs...Earth turned a nasty brown like overcooked onions....and i wrenched open my clumsily sequined cloth coffer,delved a greedy hand into its pregnant interiors and in a final act of difiance,threw all my wordly possessions out of the window...my coffer gaped at me in derision...i smiled back at its chagrined countenance!
"Ticket!", "ticket!"...the conductor stretched out his shamelessly greedy palm..a self-styled beggar,demanding to be fed...i smiled ...the same peaceful smile...he did not smile back...his bushy brows started crawling slowly,threateningly towards each other....i had sinned..there was no redemption....it would come...my freedom would come....the minutes held their breath in suspence...and then, as i had expected 'the civilised Man' to behave, i got pulled up from my seat and then, a push...a mighty push...a push....and that is all i remember....
They do not sell newspapers in the Other World...but they do carry tidings from the breathing world to this one now and then...i heard that i had landed on a pavement..my blood had created quite a gory masterpiece there...people had gathered,bewildered,excited...the Press had taken pictures of me...and in all of them,i had this peaceful, angelic smile on my face....