a thing called home

he woke up with a start, his mouth felt really dry. slowly all the silence was filled with noise and sounds all around him. he felt dusty, sweaty and uncomfortable. as he lay on the ground and slowly opened his eyes he felt the green grass comforting him underneath. it was cold, but not really colder than what he felt. as he adjusted his eyes to the world outside he saw people packing things, some already on their way. some people eating a little bit of food which was supposed to last the entire journey. the sun was bright, the mountains glorious .. the valley in front of him magnificent. but that was all that seemed positive. he turned around his back and saw what they had left, left behind ... the thing that was home for so many of them now abandoned, torn apart, fleeing to a different place.

slowly he got up, the weight of his backpack which was still hanging around his shoulders tugging a bit. as he took it out he reached for the cask of water, a few drops to quench his thirst. that strange taste of the teeth which he so despised remained as a result of not brushing for the last couple of days. but atleast he could look forward to better days, a better life. hope. he sat and rested and looked at himself, dirty thing hands. his legs didnt have the strength they used to have before. months of curfew and insecurity didnt help things. he was still in the clothes from his class at the university but not recognizable. the black shirt he wore to signify the protest, the ragged blue jeans with stains ... now torn a bit and all soiled. he ran his fingers through his hair, not smooth as they once used to be ... dry he even flinched when his fingers got entangled in that long hair. he was lost. he was away. he now had given hope to find his family and friends, even a recognizable face in this mass of humans. he felt all alone.

but he had to carry on. there were small children running here and still oblivious to the pains of life, oblivious of what had happened to them and their country. the joy on their faces after being finally set free, not fear but joy. it filled his heart with hope, true the life that he had known till now was destroyed. all that he had was no longer his. previously he had a passion, he lived for a reason .. now all that seemed meanigless. only what was left was his ideas, his principles, the truth and his human emotions. he had to go continue on with hope and find a new place to live. life suddenly seemed hanging by the thread, while once he was merry without a care drinking and dancing now it seemed so insignificant. there were no words .. he moved and started walking to a place where he would now call home.