At the bridge of Life.

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.