What have you done? Where are you going? What will you be?

Multiple long queues, traffic jams, phone calls, notifications…

you wake up one fine day, determined – you wanna be free, be wild, scream out loud, be free, free from the shackles of the rules of no-mans-land.

Into that grind…slowly but surely your brain is taken over by the arrows shot at you from all sides. Your body wears out, it’s getting old, breath is shallow, maybe you need some water, fresh air, soft sand, wet grass.

That song remained inside today as well, couldn’t sing, couldn’t dance to it’s tunes. Maybe you’ll call your beloved to share your feelings. But wait, how could you. It’s not practical to be half asleep and climb a mountain on a rainy day even if the summit will bring tears to your eyes. It’s not practical to to dive in the ocean from a 100ft cliff even if the thrill builds your confidence, toughens you and makes you young, sure as hell not practical to leave everything and be sitting in an ancient cafe in a random city sipping on hot coffee in cold weather at 3 am and waiting for sunrise.

What have you done? Where are you going? – Did you ever ask yourself this question?

From loading up your school bags with multiple notebooks to maintaining discipline even when you felt like LOLing, to fearing backlogs in the college, to climbing the same old stairs of the corporate, to begging that girl to come back into your lonely life, to looking at your spouse with lifeless eyes expecting them to save your soul. You’re dying…is this all what a human life has to offer?

What will you be?

It’s 5 am, dark and wet outside. You open your windows and the rain drops hit your face. Something’s not normal, you look around your living place – confinement, time is short, you’re dying.

Maybe it’s a wake up call, maybe this room seems small and cluttered, boring. You drag your ass to the closet to take out the office wear – there’s a headlamp underneath those trousers. Look around, that old tennis racquet is hanging there since ages, those dirty hiking boots were used just once 5 years back. Not sure how your feet might feel in them. Where would you go? There’s a little tinch at the back of your head, your breath is heavy and shallow and your heart’s racing….You keep staring at the clock.

It’s getting dark, the winds are cold, there may be snow anytime, miles to go on this rocky terrain. A deep breath – sigh! It’s a relief, feels good to be here amongst alpines. No cellular network, no concrete walls, no more horns blowing up your ear drum, legs shaking with that 10k climb since morning. Eating whatever frozen pieces left in that small tiffin box. The backpack isn’t heavy anymore, the snow flakes look like flower petals falling off that dusky sky.

Hook your tent and light it up, it’s a wooshy cold night. The summit seems far, maybe your ligament is ruptured from that nasty fall, survival resources are minimal, you may die climbing the summit tomorrow.

There’s a smile on your face. This death won’t be painful. Looking back won’t be great. You woke up late, took your time to break the shackles, backed off from her for good, didn’t respond to VP’s email and danced with your spouse leaving behind all the rules and judgements. But there’s a satisfaction, breathing is slow controlled and deep, there’s this entire night for you to sing your heart’s song. A satisfaction that you dared to place your feet in those old hiking boots.