One Hundred and One Cranes

The night watchman followed the figure thinking he was witnessing something fatal which he should stop. He hurried behind her towards the cliff, his mind racing ahead of him, trying to stop the young figure from committing some, horrendous, irretraceable action.

The figure reached the cliff edge. The watchman opened his mouth and was about to shout, "Ma'am no..." just then the white shroud fell down and the monk in his white monks garb looked at the watchman with a serene face. He had a garland of one hundred and one origami cranes in his hand which he was about to release from the cliff when Shankar the night watchman had stopped him. Shankar kept looking at the monk. All of a sudden realisation stuck him. “You are Madhav Sinha the industrialist.” What happened to you sir?” Madhav smiled. “What happened?” Shankar stuttered, “I mean you never dressed like this.” Madhav once again smiled and answered, “Nothing, it’s just that I have decided to make a fresh start on a new journey. “Oh “ exclaimed Shankar. And what about those cranes. “Nothing” once again exclaimed Madhav. They are symbolic Shankar, my offerings of all the worldly goods that I have decided to leave. I stay at the monastery of the lotus hill and have come by here to do the offerings to the universe and God whom I am giving back what I had taken. He smiled and added, “Not that, that God wants it but it is my way of showing expiation and assuage for my actions of past years. Saying so Madhav turned around and sat on his knees to offer his cranes to the universe. 

Shankar stood there speechless watching Madhav for a while. He was surprised and glad that he met Madhav. He turned around, murmuring, “A fresh start to the year indeed.”

Anuradha Singh