Listen Here
|
River Ganga was flowing with its full force under the Mahatma Gandhi Setu in Patna; with down pour leading to the rise in water level with every passing hour. Patna had never seen a weather where the low-line areas were vacated due to the fear of flood. Drenched in rain was Lalit, sitting at the edge of the bridge and staring at the dangerous flow of water. As the sun began to rise, the clouds too started to cool down a bit and it was after a constant down-pour of 8 hours that Patna saw a clear daylight. Lalit had been sitting at the edge since last night, waiting for that courageous moment of ending his life. Lockdown had hit businesses hard and to him a bit more for his restaurant was just a few days old when the lock-down happened. With all his savings being used up to create his dream restaurant, Lalit didn’t have much in his hand. Elderly parents and a family of his own, the expenses for living were increasing daily while there was no stable source of income. Despite all his efforts, the restaurant didn’t really work well post the unlock and neither were there any job opportunities available in the market for him to take up. Trying all that he could, the only thought that gave him solace was the idea of ending his life. And it was last night after the bank recovery agents bumped into his restaurant to claim the loan amount that he finally decided to end the daily trauma and embarrassment for ever.
Wish a heavy heart and teary eyes Lalit stood up and looked back at the city for the last time to bid adieu to all his loved ones. Closing his eyes, he was all ready for his jump into the holy river when a distanced noise took his attention in that moment. Looking around he saw a lady, somewhere in her mid-thirties, crying and yelling at the top of her voice. Lalit didn’t want to interfere initially yet couldn’t resist himself. “Are you alright sister” asked Lalit with a strange fear within. Mrs. Bhatia was astound to see him, as if she didn’t realize his presence earlier. Both of them had teary red eyes and looking at each other, they somewhat guessed the reason for the other person’s presence. “Are you too here to die?” asked Lalit directly (hoping to have someone with him through the act). “No, I’m here to wish for my survival. I wish I live” Mrs. Bhatia didn’t make an eye contact while saying. “I have a 5 year old son and a loving husband and a wonderful family but I also have Cancer. In this battle of life, I wish the love and prayers of my loved ones win. They need me, don’t they?” streams of tears flew from her eyes.
“Life is never about just you, your problems, your failures or your misfortune; it’s sometimes also about your family and loved ones. Your escape might solve things for you but bring-in a bucket-full for them. And still if your life hold no value for you, go and ask those who are running short of it and I’m sure you’ll find new reasons to live and overcome all the obstacles. Like Mrs. Bhatia said “Donate the years of your life to someone who needs it, for they are too precious to be wasted. “ And if you can’t do that, appreciate what you have because there are many who aren’t blessed like you. ” Lalit summed up his first ever virtual Tedx talk as a suicide counselor.
This is so relatable to many in the current scenario and ever. Good to see that Lalit found the guiding light and pursued it. Choosing life is what surviving is all about.
I am glad you choose to show hope in the story, yet all content that has a mention of suicide must be with a trigger alert. Thanks.
Beautiful message conveyed through this story…loved the way you have given a positive perspective to life. Visited your blog for the first time, thanks to MFA. I find your content very interesting. Keep writing :).
Lovely post Parul ji. Indeed a thought provoking is. The irony is that sometimes we find courage not when our backs are against the wall but when we see other’s struggles and their stories. That is the time we realise what all we have. Everybody thinks that their pain is the greatest. Nice inspiring one. Keep the beautiful work going.
#MyFriendAlexa #ContemplationOfaJoker #Jokerophilia
Yes, we dont love a solitary life it’s always connected with family and friends and so are our emotions. I loved your post and its deeper meaning
Wow..that was really nice.. it always not about me and my problem..so true..
Lovely piece of writing and an important one for today’s day and age..
Lovely writeup and a relevant one in today’s day and age. I guess we can never know what was the last thought in someone’s mind before he or she took their own life. I won’t judge anyone who did it as selfish, but id always say “death is so final, while life is so full of possibilities”.
Yes, the love of the loved ones matter the most…really happy to read this post.
I like the positivity is this sad story. To be selfless can actually help us feel better. Think good things and brush away what hurts you.. Not easy but not impossible too.
The best way to make life meaningful is to live for somebody else.
A lovely post. The line “Your escape might solve things for you but bring-in a bucket-full for them.” really got to me.
We never know who is going through what and how precious life is.
The despair and the hope. I’m glad it ended on a hopeful note…very well written.
Beautiful story ..true life gets depressing when all odds are against you ..but ask a dying patient what life means !
It’s so tough to know what another person is going through!! I am happy that you shared this
Loved this one. Keep writing such beautiful messages for life. Best wishes.
It’s hard to be hopeful all the time but it’s the only way to survive. Nice message.
A true message conveyed very nicely. Often the hardships take a toll, we are humans but we have overcome and fight and not give up.
One more thing I would like to share is irrespective of anything we should stop being judgemental
Life is valuable and someone else need it really bad than you. Parul , I am glad I am back at your blog through #MyFriendAlexa.
Wow. I was completely moved reading the story. Life is valuable and one should really appreciate and be grateful for this gift. You have so well narrated the story, loved it.
Very touching post with a message filled with hope.
Glad that he ran into Mrs. Bhatia in time and decided to give life another chance. Suicide can never be the answer. Our family needs us!
I am glad you showed the positive side of the tragic situation in the end, life is full of surprises, one should embrace it with all wit. Ending life isn’t a solution for anything, glad Lalit realised seeing Mrs. Bhatia.
Its very difficult to know, what someone is going through. Only one thing that keeps us going is hope…
A different perspective to see how valuable your life is. Loved the fluidity of your storytelling. It touches a chord and gets home the message to all your readers. Life is precious and must be lived to the fullest.
#MyFriendAlexa #spoonsandsneakers
This blog post is all I am feeling throughout this 2020. There are people losing job, shuting their business, feeling suicidal, irritated by constantly staying home, people are mentally ill and everyone is facing something. This does not mean to end life. Times are hard for all of us in some way or the other. There are people who were perfectly fine just yesterday and are gone forever today… Some still are not able to come to terms their loved ones are gone and they may not be able to see them again… It’s so hard….
What a motivational TedX speech. This is a very interesting motive for the people who want to end their life.
Such a beautiful yet impactful post that conveyed the message so positively. Loved reading the blog
What a great post . Topics around suicide are always a very tender subject to deal with it. But you have delicately handled it and with a great message being conveyed. Loved it totally.
What I thought was going to be a heartbreaking post turned to be such a hopeful one. Beautiful story and lesson here.
A beautiful story of hope and life. I am glad it had a happy ending.
Great read and great photos!
This story has such beautiful content. Thanks so much for posting it.