A Matter Of Time

Their eyes sunken and desperate; there they stood shuddering and shiv-ering in that chilly dark winter night, that old couple, marred by the billowsof time and ruined by the misery of poverty. A thin blanket and bare footamidst a furious gale and no other property at their dispense. Alas! whowere they and what fancy they had in wandering in the wilderness of thattumultous night. The old man’s searching eyes suddenly sparkled with adull ray of distant light emanating from a sumptous mansion. The peltingraindrops became heavier and heavier as they inched their way towards theirdestination through the blood curdling night, blazed by the flashes of light-ning. No sound save the hooting of owl and a faint rumble from the distantmansion.Resplendent in a wild frenzy, the mansions door was opened by a fair crea-ture. They pleaded and entreated as hard as they could but the damselstood apathetic to their ugly attire. A young man came, strong and robustand snashed the door muttering imprecations in the most contemptous tone.The old couple understood pretty well that the beautiful apparition of themansion was a mere misnomer for the mansion was as tawdry as the verygold. The incident passed and was soon forgotten but where did they go.Did they die and got buried in snow or hath providence ordaained a differentstory.Time carried them all away. Winter passed and spring came. Flowersbloomed when birds chirped and wayside trees drooped with fresh buddingleaflets. The rich couple stepped out of their formidable mansion. Theircarriage cantered by a horse took them far far away to a distant land.The lady was allured by the setting sun so she entreated her husband to drivefaster and faster and so he did upon her word, striking the horse with harshhunters. The carriage galloped at elusive speed as though competing withthe sun to reach the horizon but pride hath a fall. The horse faltered andthe carriage stumbled. The ignorant carriage was competing with Nature.Poor creature, which underestimated nature’s invincibilty. Soon it grew darkand they were far away from their home. There was a small cottage nearbywhich flickered with candle light. With fast steps they trotted to the door,it opened with a creak but Oh! why were they taken aback? The same oldcouple which came to them months ago. An intense guilt had gripped them.The old couple treated them with reverence. They were served with a prosaicdish but why could they not eat it despite their ravenous belly. What wasot that had made the man so week and feeble, why did the lady feel herselfto be the ugliest woman in the world. On their earnest request they ate thefood, simple food but delicious, more delicious than all the exotic, luscious

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cuisines of the world. That ugly couple had transcended into beautiful an-gels for them. Could they sleep that night? They felt such a blissful pathos,could they describe it through any form of description.Next morning as the rich man harnessed his horse and asked for the old man’sleave, the old lady rushed with a wrapped piece of paper and put it in hishands. He opened it, it was some food. He tried to give them some moneybut in vain. Soon after as the day wore on they left on their carriage withthe old couple’s blessings. Not a word was spoken but their eyes were wetand all throught their journey they pondered and wondered that could notthe old couple identify them. They had resuscitated to the real life. Couldthey still close their eyes and shut themselves up in their sumptous mansion?

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