A story by Kahlil Gibran

Asylum by Khalil Gibran (I loved the story so much that i am posting it for everyone to read)

I was strolling in the gardens of an insane asylum when I met a young man who was reading a philosophy book.

His behavior and his evident good health made him stand out from the other inmates.

I sat down beside him and asked:

‘What are you doing here?’

He looked at me, surprised. But seeing that I was not one of the doctors, he replied:

‘It’s very simple. My father, a brilliant lawyer, wanted me to be like him.
“My uncle, who owns a large emporium, hoped I would follow his example.
“My mother wanted me to be the image of her beloved father.
“My sister always set her husband before me as an example of the successful man.
“My brother tried to train me up to be a fine athlete like himself.

“And the same thing happened at school, with the piano teacher and the English teacher – they were all convinced and determined that they were the best possible example to follow.
“None of them looked at me as one should look at a man, but as if they were looking in a mirror.

“So I decided to enter this asylum. At least here I can be myself.’

Fearless Now

"The young know how truly difficult and dreadful youth can be. Their youth is wasted on everyone else, that's the horror. The young have no authority, no respect" ~ Anne Rice

"You fool! Why did you lend your maths exercise book to your friend just two weeks before the exam? How are you going to study? I'll ground you for a month if you don't fetch full marks in the exam!", and so with this ultimatum ended the reprimand of Joy's mom.

Not that his life would be much different if he gets grounded, it was just this fear of non-compliance with his mother's wishes out of which Joy studied the rest of the next day, after getting his exercise book back. It may seem a bit pensive but Joy had adjusted himself to that routine of forever-groundedness. Getting up early morning and studying, going to school after breakfast, coming back from school in the evening, and again studying after some light snack made by his mom, then dinner and then sleep. He followed his mother's instructions to the letter. Neither his father, any other member of his family nor did the tender little heart of this 9-year old boy had any say in his mother's regiment, which was carefully designed to take him to the top in his career.

Joy never retorted nor felt bad for himself, he just accepted and went along. His mom was greatly successful in her mission. Her son was the topper in all the subjects throughout his junior-school life and even in class X board examination. And even at 16 , a crucial stage of youth, when youngsters go astray in the worst possible way, Joy was the same shy, obedient kid that he was 7 years ago. He was polite and helpful (to a scope that his mom allowed him to be).

Class XII's board exam was approaching and the students were getting serious with studies. Joy's mom had pre-planned his career. He would have to top the boards and then get in one of the leading engineering colleges in the country. One day, while Joy was waiting at the bus stop to return home from school, an old lady got robbed in front of Joy, he tried to catch the thief but his mother's regiment, though had taken care of his mental agility, had completely atrophied his physical abilities, hence he could not retrieve the lady's purse. He instead gave his bus fare to the lady so she could reach home and he decided to walk back home. It took him 30 minutes longer than the usual, but it took his mom the rest of the evening and night to scold him. But this time he felt a sudden snap in him, similar to the crack in the wood caused by a screw that has reached its limit of being twisted. For the first time he felt rage, all the childhood discipline reaching a volcanic culmination. Is life all about discipline and success? Is there no room for sloppiness? Is humanity a sin? Are all the lessons of philosophy and ethics meaingless? He could not sleep.

The next morning he woke up at 9 am instead of his scheduled 5 am. He did not study till the evening, watched TV, in short did all the things against his mother's wishes. His mom scolded him, threatened to through him out of the house, slapped him. He did not listen. From then onwards he had made sure to NOT to follow his mom's wishes. Though he topped the board examinations. But he managed to sabotage his competitive exams by either submitting blank papers or going to movies instead of the exam venue.

His mother was devastated, her perfect little boy had so skillfully managed to ruin his life despite her life long dedication. At the requests of relatives, and teachers he agreed to study BSc in a top notch local college , the admission had come by default due to his scintillating academic history. You can find him out of the class through-out the day, hanging out with the worst company.

आधी आज़ादी

The story was a flashback story in Rajat's mind ,when he used to be a soldier in Indian army and was posted at an army camp in the forests of Kokoda-Juganar, 300 km north of Raipur and few kms from the famous Baster belt. The Naxals were battling for control in this part of India's Red corridor. Rajat had heard lot of stories of ruthless police and Naxal clashes and victimized villages but had no hint of the storm which was waiting for him . After few days of patrolling , rajat was able to interact with the denizens of fields and forests and enjoyed teasing village girls and motivating school kids crossing fields by sowing the seeds of patriotism among them.

It was a dark stormy night, Rajat was having a gut feeling of something wrong gonna happen as its been one month he had been posted here but he had never seen God soo furious . Rajat went out the camp and sat under the tree , trying to talk with trees and apoplectic wind . It was in the wee hours rajat saw an army personal ,who was on the patrolling duty in the village, came rushing into the camp. That person told the CO of the camp that a group of Naxalites were in the village and they had killed the other army persons on the duty . Without wasting time and obeying the orders of the CO, everyone picked up the Guns , armed themselves with bullets and kissed the picture in their valets . Shouting "Veer Bhogya Vasundhara " , everyone jumped into the vehicles and were ready for the fight . After 20 minutes vehicles running on kacha roads , vehicles finally reached the village. But it was a dreadful scene there . Before army unit would have reached, local police had reached there and all around were the burning houses and a long queue of dead bodies. The Amry captain approached to the police inspector of that region who was shouting at the police men for arranging the dead bodies and ammunition captured from Naxals and asked him about the whole devastation. Inspector refused to explain anything and recommended Captain to read tomorrow newspaper. Rajat suddenly saw the dead bodies of the local villagers and even the kids in that queue . He was shocked to see all this .Most of the men of the village were in that pile of dead bodies and Police had tagged them as Naxals or killed by Naxals . Rajat couldn't stand to that blood bath so he freakingly ran toward the river . He didn't know what to do and how to forget such a heinous crime .


On his way , he saw few ladies with torn clothes and bleeding , he came to know that all had been raped but he didn't know who did all this : Naxals or Police !!!!!  He didn't muster courage to ask them as they were even afraid of  shadows . He reached near the river . He was gasping heavily and his mind was blank . Suddenly he saw a minor girl climbing a small hill . He relentlessly ran toward her , as he knew that she would jump from the hill top . He reached the top of the hill from the other side and so did the girl . Rajat shouted at her not to jumped. She turned back , seeing someone in army dress she baffled more. Rajat stepped one step ahead asking her to calm down but she was crying loud and said "You killed my parents , raped me , killed my four year younger brother and now you want me to calm down" . Rajat stepped another step and she stepped backward toward the clif . He knew whats going on in her mind. He closed his eyes and said "I am sorry" . He stepped back and turned downside the hill until he heard the splash of water . He thought of jumping into the water and saving her but then he thought "Does saving her from death will really help her in any way" and with this thought , he moved toward his vehicle. The splash of water had tainted his soul and he went into a mental trauma when he returned to his camp. From that day to till now , rajat didnt utter a single word and has completed his 30 years in Army asylum today.

Silence Prevails,
 Aditya Deadpan