Tuesday, June 19, 2007

An obituary

I sought their company almost every time; be it a leisurely walk to nowhere, the daily jaunt to the office, the occasional strenuous treks, and my shopping escapades… But alas! No more! I have been deprived of one of my most reliable companion; my unfaltering shoes have finally given up.

They had faced ruthless treatment at my hands(or feet should I say?) even before, but without a whimper. But a trek to a national park infested with leeches as the heavens poured down was too much even for my reliable pair. And mind you, they didn’t go down without a fight!

The leeches, those wonderfully slimy creatures, so eager to suck my blood! Un aware, they were, of my tenacious shoes! Even though leeches from all possible directions assailed my shoes, they just let a precious few in. But in the process they ended up being; Soaked in muck disguising every sign of the faint silver and pink color that once was theirs, kicked and stamped heartlessly at all plausible leech-free zones, dabbed with all possible leech protection like chunna, salt etc.

I do feel guilty that I treated them so inhumanly, but what could I have done?! The sight of leeches had made my mind numb and when I came to my senses, it was too late. At the very first sight of my battered shoes I knew that they’d never be the same again. My heart pains to recall the pretty sight they were when I bought them a year back. They are unrecognizable by now, just a faint reminder of what once was.

I have no heart to wash them now, in half a mind to burn them! But lets see, maybe I’ll attempt to resuscitate them just once, I have given up hope though. I know that my shoes are dead by now, but their sole continues to live.

P.S. - Will post on leech theory and the trek in some days, I am still in bereavement.

11 comments:

Sandeep said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sritama Sarkar said...

Mind blowing Sur!!The irony of the situation and your excellent writing style really made it a must read..You rock!!

zulu said...

mebbe i should start caring for my shoes a bit more...did know neone could like them so much..tat apart awsome writeup..

Cluster One said...

I second Vinay's thoughts. A neat piece..

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Smartalec said...

my heartfelt condolences, mate! but aren't shoes supposed to be treated inhumanly... agreed though that any pair of shoes that belong to sur shall undergo the same treatment... well you have to choose between shoes and treks (and i hardly have any doubt that you'll choose the latter:P)
cheer up! my shoes are subjected to torture everyday when i walk the paths inside my campus... how embarrasing to have shoes which are in such deplorable condition yet not having a good reason like urs for justifying their condition:p

Anjali said...

Nice writeup suruchi :)

yettofindaname said...

way to go maachi.. you rock!! :)

Debanshu Mukherjee said...

Alas! Your shoes got khalas!

Sur said...

@sritama
Thanks sri! u made sure tht ur testi comes out in record time! ;)

@vinay
Thanks vinay! and mebbe u should also carry a jacket with u next time! :D

@nisarg
nothing compared to ur piece dude!

@SA
ur condolences come at a time when i need them the most!u r my friend after all! :P
yup, its gonna be more treks and a new pair of shoes! :) is it?! ur shoes are in deplorable condition?! i am feeling less guilty now!;)

@anjali
thanks!

@ni
so do u! waiting for ur himalayan trek post!

@DM
thats an awesome bit of poetry dude! :D

desh said...

nice one sur
btw dont burn them, dont wash them, bury them :)
waiting for the leeches to come up though