He stood on the pinnacle. The horizons spanned without end, revealing nothing but nothingness. The stars prepared to drown into another day of oblivion as the Sun cast its shroud.
He had been forewarned to not climb up the summit. It was a harsh climb, which tested a Man physically but tortured him far more mentally. But he had not looked back. Though he had his moments of frailties and self doubts, he had plodded on. Bruised, tired, parched and hungry yet his face glowed brighter than the child who had started the climb.
He sat there. There was no applause to commend his ascent. No one would know the heights which he had reached. But he had never looked for recognition. He was lonely. It was his summit. He was its Lord.
He gaped around in wonder. Was the loneliness his prize? To not die amongst billions of mortals a conventional death, but to die on a pinnacle, his pinnacle.
He beheld a greater peak opposite to his perch. The chasm between them was wide. On the peak stood a Citadel. It was not possible to estimate the scores of centuries which shielded its age. But it would not have been less than the abode of the Gods (or as we know them)
There stood a Lady on its terrace. Tall, serene, wise, noble and sharp. Her face was fair with proud cheeks and fiery black eyes. Her frame was slender and yet she was unperturbed by the gusts of wind which fanned her long locks of flowing dark hair and the first sun rays which touched her skin. She had been born on the Citadel and was its keeper. None bothered her as she was protected by the sheer immensity of the peak on which the Citadel stood.
He had never beheld such beauty (without and within). She was proud but content with herself. Devoid of any guilt of her greatness. He felt himself filled with mirth and admiration as he looked at her. Here was one, untouched and unscarred by Time. The seed of all purity and its beauty, which we mortals seek (though each of us does so with different intensities and honesties) and aspire to achieve in a life, maybe even a hundred. He now was aware of what divinity meant. The prize of his pinnacle! He thanked himself.
Her gaze fell on him. Nothing could remain hidden from her as her eyes penetrated his form. She saw his handsome frame, his powers, his virtues, his resolve, his grit, his guilts, struggles, fears and pain which he had devoured through his years. She saw his radiance and his puissance as he perched on his pinnacle. A King amongst Men and A Man amongst Kings. At last, a soul had risen to the realm of Gods because he dared and because he deserved.
His gaze met hers. She acknowledged his gaze with her eyes and the subtlest (but conspicuous) of nods.
A communication took place in a glance which was nothing short of a conversation across eternity.
Amen. Peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment