… And then, the teardrop cried

The teardrop was talking excitedly to his brethren, the spirit of adventure burning brilliantly in his heart. “I have decided to go on seeking the unknown; the World, strewn with surprises, mysteries, adventures beckons me, this typical life is surely not for me. We only get a lifetime, which I believe is inequitable given the fact that is there is so much on this earth, yet undiscovered, but nevertheless I would make the most of my time I have, I am starting now.”

As the teardrop announced this, the fellow tears looked at him in alarm, they had feared this for quite sometime now, but still the finality with which he had announced his decision had taken them by surprise. An elderly teardrop tried to dissuade him “My son, you know not what monstrous creatures abound in this world, beasts that can swallow anything in a gulp, beasts that can breathe fire and reduce anything to ash, beasts that are huge…” but he was cut short “These are all nothing but figments of our imagination and I am no coward to be intimidated by the unseen, I am going for sure.”

The elderly teardrop looked hurt but did not snap back. Having said this as he made to go, already feeling guilty at having talked so rudely, he was stopped by the pleading voice of his friend, a teardrop he had grown up with and with whom he had spent many salad days. “Won’t you miss us all? Don’t you enjoy it out here? We will miss you.” He blurted out with difficulty. His heart went out to his friend but there was nothing he could do to alleviate his pain. “Of course I will miss you! I might even come back from time to time. But I don’t know where life would take me and so won’t give you false hope. But the memories of you all would never leave my heart, you will always remain with me and I with you.” He said hoarsely as he hugged his friend, voice barely coming out of his throat, because even he was saddened by the thought that he might never see his friends again.

He thought he had inured himself for this moment, but he had not imagined that it would be so difficult. As he started to go, waving to his brethren with a smile on his face, ready to take the plunge. All the fears, which had stopped him for so long, which he thought he had long since overcome, came back to him in a whoosh. The happy expression on his face belied the turmoil within. “You are a dunce, an absolute dunce. Why would anyone leave this peaceful life for a life of utter uncertainty? You would be completely alone in the big bad world, completely alone! It is not late even now, your brethren would be more than happy if you decide to stay back, think!” said a voice from within. But then, another voice, which was more assuring, spoke “This is what you have always wanted to do, to explore, to discover…you would always live with an incompleteness if you don’t do this now. And don’t be scared, you would make friends on the way, you would not be alone.”

Pacified a little, he slipped out of the eye of the sailor he was contained in. And as he fell he could hear the increasing thunder of the sea beneath him, see its mighty waves crashing on the ship’s hull. Scared to death he closed his eyes, submitting to his fate, nothing could be done now, nothing! Then he felt himself being gripped in a tight embrace, “Welcome, Welcome, my brother! What brings you here? And why are you so out of color, tiny fella?” inquired the sea with concern. With his eyes barely open, the teardrop looked around, he was perfectly safe, and the sea didn’t look even a wee bit menacing from close. A warm feeling of relief swept over him, he had been right after all, the world is not all that bad as it made to be, he hugged the sea (who rolled his eyes in amusement at this.) even more tightly now, and then out of relief and happiness, the teardrop cried.