He couldn’t move an inch even though he pulled all his strength.
The grip of the heavy mass of steal was too much for a mortal. Cornered in this dimly lit street, he could not see anything but visualize.
How the hell did this happen to me!
Everything was fine when he left from his workplace this evening. He went to his regular coffee shop; picked up the daily evening mail, spend some time in the market. It was then that he decided to take an unusual turn from his regular path.
The street was strange but he was sure that by the end he will find his original course. It was then that his sight fell on a coin, it was made of gold.
Then he found another and then the next and the next, he lost his course and followed the path of deception. He had collected so many that he couldn’t carry any more.
I should get a bag for these
As he turned around, few coins dropped, when he bent to pick them up few more fell. He had crouched to pick them as there was a small peak of coins accumulated.
He put both his hands in the pile of coins but when he took it out they were tied in a chain. Before he could understand the chain started to grow all around his limbs he could no longer stand.
He shouted allowed but the only response he got was the reverberations of his own sound.
He wanted but he couldn’t move, gradually he collapsed. When he wake up he could see the mass of the chain has grown and they were heavier than before.
He knew for certain that a fateful event awaits him or his wait will prove un-fateful.
For an entire day he was there, shouts went unanswered, attempts proved unyielding, hope diminished and ego tarnished.
Best he could do was to think before he goes insane.
He could constantly feel that the chains were growing heavier by passing time and so was his hope diminishing.
Will keep my hope alive no matter what!
His will to flee became stronger as he decided not to let it go.
After a while the chain bound on his head became thinner, He felt relaxed and became hopeful, the chain on his had now disappeared.
Whatever this is, it’s certainly not earthly!
This was odd, he didn’t figure out how he fell into bounds but by shear use of his will power he could free his head.
I think if I focus on one chain at a time I would be able to untie completely.
He started focussing on the ones tying his hands, after a few hours they remained intact. His hands were the first to be tied with heaviest of metal around them.
Why isn’t this working, What am I doing wrong? Hey wait a minute!!
He realized that his hands were cuffed when he put his hands in the pile of coins.
Did my greed made me captive! Am I so greedy, but who could ignore free gold coins?
He recalled many acts of greediness, the one when he didn’t helped his brother even though he could, the one when he removed the beneficiaries names from office list to save money from his account, the one when he picked up goodies kept for old and homeless and so on.
Guilt surrounded him and he felt awful and filled with remorse. This was not a temporary feeling, this was a true regret.
He felt his hands were becoming light now, the metal around extinguished in few minutes. A few tears dropped and he felt light, both in hands and at heart.
But he was still a hostage, a pile of chains were tied around his shoulders and legs. Past few minutes had made him realize that he was a prisoner of his own bounds.
He started contemplating his life, trying to identify the feelings which drive him. After many hours he was no where and he went into a state a depression, the chain around his head started emerging again.
He immediately recollected his thoughts and gave a push to his feelings and soon the chains which were growing diminished again.
I must have a control on my feelings
He used to see himself daily in the mirror, but today in this dimly lit corner he was able to see his true self.
These moments of introspection gave him the real insight. How he used to treat people differently, people with position were shown respect and the ones below him were subjected to discrimination.
“How dare you enter this room without prior permission?”
These were the words used by him today on one of his subordinates without any reason.
Am I too stubborn and arrogant, do I always carry a burden on my shoulder?
He now remembered innumerable instances of how he displayed his egotistical attitude. He was searching for justifications but couldn’t find any. Ashamed in front of own self, if there was a mirror I wouldn’t have managed to look into my own eyes.
The hatred generated out of his ego has made him hate himself today.
He was now crying deeply, his tears continued till they weren’t dried completely. The chains captivating his upper torso were now gone and he didn’t even realized it for a long haul.
After getting hold of himself he managed to sit down and found that now only his legs were tied. Now he was not looking them as chains but the feelings which bind him everywhere.
The feelings on my head were my outlook to a problem, when I was able to change it I was free.
The feeling on my hands were my greed which makes me do wrong, when I was able to get rid of it I was free.
The feeling on my shoulders was my ego, when I felt how feeble I am in front of creation I was free.
But what could be the ones which are not letting me move around, why am I still confined after realizing so much and becoming a better person.
Wait a minute I am here unable to move because I am attached to it. He again started concentrating on things he is attached to
His belongings, anyone using it momentarily was also intolerable for him.
His position, was proud of it and played all sorts of tricks to hold on.
His image, created an aura of deceit to manifest a likeness.
Lying was easy for him if the goal was worthy. His attachment to people things and events was what he carried everywhere and the same feelings bind him everywhere.
I was free when I was born but I became captive by my choices
He went into deep thinking, contemplating on every thought which came along, constantly keeping an eye on every ripple which generated on the surface of his thinking.
His mind was able to see every bit of emotion which spawns out and was now able to mould and tame it to a subtle stream not disturbing or producing any desires.
He was now free!
