GOD of a man

“When your patience is being tested, that’s the best time to have it all the more!”

Chapter Thirty Two: Pitched battles
Dated: 2nd March, 2427

Of all the things considered invaluable and precious, money fame and prestige happen to be the ones’ most viciously sought and fought for. Often thought to be the hardest to earn and easiest to loose, the three are however beaten hands down by a priceless commodity called patience. Patience, a virtue which is none’s birth right nor an inherited trait. Patience, a virtue taught by the life through its vagaries and nuances in the toughest of fashions, a virtue hardest to learn and imbibe, the most precious asset and the one easiest to loose. And once this virtue is lost, everything else including afore mentioned entities can be lost in a blink.

Life teaches and tests patience alternatively. And life happens to be one of the most indirect and passive teachers that actively influences an individual’s growing curve. All the hardships and setbacks one suffers in the quest for an achievement, they test one’s patience. If one is persistent in the quest and is able to realize one’s desire and dream, one also learns the invaluable lessons of patience and perseverance along the way. And then there is another situation that tests how well the lessons were learnt and how much was actually retained of the learning.

The moment both Steve and Clara had been patiently waiting for arrived but unfolded in the most horrendous fashions, something they couldn’t have imagined even in their worst nightmares. Steve nearly fragmented but Clara held not only herself together but saved Steve from loosing it all. She gave him the strength he needed to recover from the shock and also for the pitched battle that is going to ensue, the battle that will test his patience much more than the agonising wait that just finished.

It’s easier to wait for someone who exists only in memory and not in sight, but when the same person is right there in front of you and yet, is farther than ever from your heart and reach, the pain is unbearable. Steve survived the distance between him and his wife because he had the hope that one day he will reunite with her, even if that hope was slowly fading away. But now things are different. His wife is right there in front of him, only a few metres in between, yet the distance that separates their hearts is greater than the distance between the two Poles. If he breaks now he looses his wife forever and to hold himself together, is going to take a lot more than anything has ever demanded of him in his life.

Risking your life for a greater cause is easy because once you are dead nothing matters anymore, but fighting a wall of lies that is cutting your heart into two is the toughest test a man can be put to. The fact that the walls of lies stand tall day in and day out until they are shattered, the fact that the one you love hates you for what you are not, the fact that you desperately want to be with them and yet can’t get any closer for no fault of yours, these realities are like javelins piercing your heart. They don’t let you live while your love won’t let you die. You life becomes a living hell. And hope? Yes there always is hope, however faint it may be, that one day your love will get across the walls of hatred and show your true self to the one you love. Steve is living in the same hope now. His fight is against the lies that have cut borders between him and his life. His fight is to prove his innocence, restore Clara’s dignity and get Katsuo the adulation and acceptance he deserves. Besides the remainder of humanity needs him to win this war as well, for its’ own good.

“Steve,” Andy’s voice surprised both Steve and Clara.

“Andy! What are you doing here?” Steve may have been surprised at someone not following the community orders but was nevertheless happy to have a new company in ages.

“I am sorry Steve I couldn’t be any help,” Andy was dejected at his own haplessness in the entire scenario especially in the light of the fact that he knew the truth, “No one believes me.”

“That’s fine Andy, you tried your best,” Clara just about managed to hold her tears.

“I mean, just because I believe in GOD, they won’t believe me,” Andy lamented.

“That’s fine Andy, GOD is watching it all. HE will punish them when their time comes,” Steve said as an astonished Andy looked on.

“You believe in GOD too?” a surprised Andy asked, “I mean, I knew about Clara but you, I could never imagine!”

“Andy, where are you?” before Steve could answer Andy’s question, Natalie came looking for Andy, “Oh! There you are!”

“What happened? Why are you looking for me?” Andy asked.

“Nothing, I found you missing and something told me I’ll find you here,” Natalie replied.

“You shouldn’t be here! You’ll get into trouble,” Andy advised her.

“And so will be you, but that didn’t stop you from coming over, did it?” Natalie questioned as she stepped up to Andy as if confronting him, “So what’s the truth?”

“Truth is what I told everyone! This is Nakata’s son,” Steve replied for Andy.

“What is your take on it? I don’t care about what Robin alleges and neither I am interested in knowing Steve or Clara’s side,” Natalie spake looking into Andy’s eyes, “I am your doctor and you are my responsibility! What matters to me is what you have to say.”

“Steve is telling the truth!” Andy replied, “Trust me!”

“I do,” Natalie replied.

“Natalie! Natalie!” a loud searching voice distracted everybody’s attention. Daniel was looking for Natalie.

“What does he want?” Natalie was irritated, “Doesn’t look like a man who’s lost his beloved wife only a week and a half ago.”

“Daniel lost his wife, how?” Steve was curious.

“I’ll tell you the story later,” Andy replied, “But we better get out of here before he notices us here with you.”

“Natalie! Natalie!” Daniel’s voice sounded in not too far vicinity.

“You better hurry then! We’ll talk to you later,” Steve told ‘em as Andy and Natalie hurried away into another direction and behind a sand mound.

“Natalie!” Daniel finally rocked up where Steve and Clara were preparing to pitch their penguin skin tent anew. Daniel’s eyes met Steve. Steve’s eyes pumped molten lead into Daniel’s eyes. Daniel almost choked at the thought of being alone in an area infested by Steve. Steve nearly charged at him before Clara held him from his arm. He looked at Clara who shook her head in negative. Steve calmed down but Daniel got too scared. He tried to make a hurried exit but nearly lost his balance and tumbled over before his hands finally grasped the ground and balanced him on his fours. He nearly ran away like an animal on fours, forgetting completely who he was searching for.

The night deepened and a comforting calm engulfed every living soul on that blessed beach of Adelaide. Everybody was asleep, content and hopeful, content with their present and hopeful of their future. However, five pairs of eyes were wide awake, sleepless. While Steve was sleepless fighting for his love, Demetria was sleepless fighting against her love. While Clara was sleepless because of the injustice meted out to her son, Andy was sleepless for his helplessness. Natalie meanwhile was sleepless because Andy was so. The night that started young, slowly and slowly grew old, and finally perished to a new morning.

The new day brought about a new realization about the whole new world that had just opened its’ arms to the entire surviving humanity. The first thing everybody did was to dig around various sand dunes to unearth the buried city bit by bit. The dead and buried were finally disturbed. Beneath the sandy exteriors were ruins of the city, and beneath the collapsed ruins were buried skeletons with skin and tissues dried to the bones. What doesn’t decay dries!

The total lack of planning or co-ordination led to chaotic activity. Ruins were needlessly unearthed only to reveal disturbing skeletal remains of the dead ancestors, remains that still wore ragged clothes, remains that were as shocking in their appearance as in their presence.

“What are we trying to do over here?” the experienced voice of Shiva expressed his shock at the unwanted mayhem created by humans running amok among ruins, “This is a disgrace on humanity and an insult to our ancestors.” Shiva’s rebuke silenced all the commotion and stopped the needless activity.

“What should we do now that we are here? Why have you brought us here? We miss our home and mates?” Diamond Fraser, an Ironsmith by profession represented the state of mind of every individual in the group. Now that they were here at a new place with no home to live in and nothing to do, their longing for their original home increased.

“You are not here for fun!” Steve’s voice roared from behind, “You are here on a purpose, the purpose to make this your new home.”

“How dare you interfere in the affairs of our community?” Robin roared, perhaps realizing the threat Steve’s brain and foresight posed to his continuity as the new leader.

“Steve, we don’t need you or your advice. Please go away,” Shiva made the stand of the people clear to him.

“Even I am not interested in your meaningless endeavours. The only reason I am here is that I cannot stand such amazing resources being wasted,” Steve made his point clear.

“Then get the heck out of here dude,” Daniel spoke from behind a few people.

“I don’t need to hang around here among idiots anyway. But if you have any sense left in you, plan how you will bring the rest of the people here, plan how you will build your houses, how you will use all these bricks you are pulling out of dust,” Steve brought to their attention the things that were important, “Plan how you are going to tackle the water scarcity the entire population is going to face.”

“As if he knows how to tackle all these issues,” Robin commented snobbishly as Steve walked away leaving everyone gaping for breath.

“Yes he does! He has told me exactly how to! But you can’t even imagine those things,” Clara who had also walked up to the gathering, mocked at him before walking off.

“Look, in spite of your hatred for him, Steve did raise some valid points,” Shiva knew the importance of what Steve was suggesting.

“He didn’t say anything new! We knew all along that we need to find a way to bring the rest of the people over here and that we will have to think of a permanent solution for the water problem,” Robin tried to rubbish away Steve’s suggestions. It was important for him to not let the people get carried away by Steve’s genius or he would soon end up struggling to save his position and also trying to escape Steve’s wrath. Irrespective of how much hatred he generates against him, Steve’s charismatic personality, intelligence, foresight and an often altruistic tendency, can easily deviate the inherently fragile public opinion favourably towards him.

“So what would you like us to do? We are waiting for your orders,” Shiva asked Robin.

Robin thought for a brief while as every body waited impatiently for the next set of instructions from their President. Finally he came up with a plan, “I need a bit more time to formulate the best possible strategy on how to tap our available resources. You will appreciate that I’ve just suffered a great personal loss and am struggling to come to terms with my life without my wife and kid. Although I ensure you that I will not let my personal life affect my professional capacities and commitments to our society, I just need a bit more time.” The plan was to gain sympathy of the people to hide his own inefficiencies and incompetence as a leader.

“Mr President, we are well aware of your situation and our hearts go with you,” Shiva tried to comfort him, “But we need to make some snappy decisions so that we don’t end up wasting time needlessly.”

“You don’t worry Shiva, we won’t be wasting any time as long as I am at the helm,” Robin took exception to Shiva’s statement but did well to hide his distaste.

The entire gathering dispersed to wander aimlessly amongst the dunes, no one knew what should be done but none was prepared to take help from the only man who could have helped with his vast experience and resourcefulness, Steve.

As everybody dispersed in different directions in small groups to scroll through the silent neighbourhood, Robin noticed Kina standing alone by the beach, looking far across the seas at something imaginary. Robin walked up to the beach and positioned himself a few feet away from her, looking in the same direction as Kina but acting ignorant to her presence in the surroundings. He hoped Kina would notice him when her trance gets broken somewhere down the line. And notice Kina did. As Robin acted lost in deep sorrow, Kina’s concentration broke and as she turned around to head back to the tents, she noticed Robin.

“Are you alright?” Kina walked up to him and asked softly.

“Hmh? Sorry, what were you saying?” Robin acted as if trying to wipe the moistness in his eyes.

“You don’t seem to be taking her loss too well,” Kina was saddened by Robin’s plight.

“I miss her Kina,” and Robin collapsed on his knees crying like a child who’s lost his penny in the sand. He grabbed Kina’s hand and put his face on to it and wailed.

“Hold yourself together! Hold yourself!” a soft innocent Kina herself broke down and collapsed on her knees and embraced him, “She was my sister too! She was my sister too!”

“I can’t live without her!” and Robin held her even tighter in his grasp, “I don’t want to live without her! I miss my child! My only child!” And he wailed even louder and hugged her even tighter.

“Don’t cry! Please don’t cry!” Kina tried to comfort him while she herself was breaking to pieces.

“Please save me Kina! Please save me!” Robin said as he hugged her with one arm around her back and the other hand holding her head from behind. He kissed her on the side of her head, “Please save me from my pain!”

“Oh! I will! I will!” and Kina was taken in by his guiles.

Robin stayed there with Kina in his arms for a long time as the fruitless day merged into another sleepless night for a few. The night may have arrived slowly but Robin progressed in his relationship with Kina in leaps and bounds. Meanwhile Natalie and Andy were closely toed by Daniel for the entire duration of the day as he desperately tried to hit on Natalie, but without any luck. However his unwanted intrusion made sure Andy couldn’t reach to either Steve or Clara. Sleep finally crawled into their beds as they all escaped the real world.

But far away from their comfortable new home, five pairs of sleepless eyes desperately searched for a safe haven.

Suzie and Jaden were fast asleep in the comfort of their mothers’ laps. They were too young to know the trouble they were in. Their world started at an innocent query, “When will we get to my father?” And their world ended at an answer full of hope and promise, “Very soon my love!” They were too young to understand why their mothers’ were giving them their share of drinking water while their lips cracked up dry. They were too young to understand why the five adults accompanying them on the boat were so worried of the gathering thick clouds.

“Do you think it will rain?” Rosalyn asked.

“Hopefully it will just rain,” Rajon replied.

“Do you reckon it’s going to be a storm?” Rosalyn asked what she knew the answer to but was desperately hoping that Rajon will allay her fears, as if Rajon’s words were capable of altering the weather patterns.

“Relax Rose,” Alexia tried to calm her down, “I have a feeling, its’ not our time yet!”

“Hopefully it’s not! I love my little princess and I can’t see her perish so mercilessly in front of my own eyes,” Rosalyn broke down.

“Don’t worry Rose, if we had to die, we would have died days ago,” Alexia stated with a conviction, “There is someone watching over us! So don’t worry!”

“You are loosing your mind,” Rajon got irritated, “This incident has shaken your mental balance. Try and go to sleep. Hopefully that will fix up some of the kinks in your mind.”

“Ok! Don’t believe me! Just wait!” Alexia replied like an incensed Lioness, “I tell you today, we will hit land even before the first drop of rain lands on our craft, even before the first gush of storm pushes at our sails. I am telling you this now!”

“Yeah, we’ll see,” Rajon replied nonchalantly shaking his head.

And their raft continued on its’ solitary march under an ever darkening sky. A solitary rumble every now and then kept sending a chill down the spines of the five souls under duress. The night was indeed sleepless.

“Why don’t you try and go to sleep?” Omar asked Lisa.

“I just can’t! It seems so hard tonight,” Lisa answered, “I am scared.” Lisa broke down and sobbed softly, trying not to wake Jaden.

“You are not alone Lisa! We are all in this together,” Rosalyn tried hard to control her own tears as she tried to comfort her.

The lightning and thunder increased in intensity, the wind picked up its’ speed but the ferocity was still missing. The rumble wouldn’t let them sleep and the wind wouldn’t upturn their boat, but the entire atmosphere was too uncomfortable and too scary. The kids finally woke up and started to cry.

“I am scared mother,” Suzie spoke softly as she rolled her fists in her eyes.

“Don’t worry sweetheart, I am here with you,” Rosalyn hugged her and kissed her on her head and tried to comfort her.

The sails were pulled down and the covers were secured to the edges. They desperately hoped what they were expecting never shows up.

This night was longer than any other they had ever lived before in their lives. But it did have its’ other end. The rumble and winds continued giving them a loyal company, but the morning light brought the first cheer on their faces since the last two days.

“Land!” a single shriek from Rajon was enough to lighten up the hopes of everybody present on-board the raft.

“Yes! We are safe!” Omar yelled as he immediately grabbed his oar and nudged at Rajon to pick up his own.

The two oared ferociously to add their strength to the strength of the motor pushing their craft. Rosalyn, Lisa and Alexia struggled with the sails to set them in a way so as to add wind energy to their efforts. They made speed.