The Circle Of Destiny

It was a pleasant twilight. The yellow ball of fire changed to hues of orange, and then almost to tangerine. The tangerine was minging with the light blue color of the sky producing a vast contrast of different colors. The clouds were cotton candy as they blushed at the warm touch of the sun. Everything was almost at a standstill and the effect of the light made the scene look like a painting. As the sun was slowly setting down, the sky started showing patterns of different colors from light purple to dark blue. With a pleasant breeze, a sweet smell in the air, and a tune, a beautiful, soothing tune of a Harp made the scene mesmerizing. There was a mysterious silence everywhere, silence yet with a beautiful sound dancing in the air, a strange oxymoron of nature. It felt as if heaven was showing its own game to purify every living soul.

Enjoying all this natural beauties in a park was Jack Walker. A young chap of 20, a tall stout figure with short hair, hands in the overcoat pocket walking along the shore of the lake wandering about the origin of the music but somehow every time he felt the music soothing all his worries. After few more minutes, he came to a halt. He noticed something in the lake. He bent down to look carefully. It seemed like a black silhouette of a man. Something made him feel uncomfortable, a chill went down his spine but he kept his eyes stuck on the water, he was convinced that the water was not at all lifeless. The more the time passed by, the more the music grew louder and the more concentrated he became. Now he could see that the silhouette had come more closer, he could figure out a hazy face in the water. He felt a warm breath on his shoulder, his heart started beating faster. But wait.......The face is not in the water!!!! but it's on his back. Again an eerie chill went down his spine. As soon as he collected all his courage and turned his head..... SPLASH!!!!! He fell in the water. He didn't know swimming. As the water closed in, darkness enveloped him. His heart started pounding in panic. The urgency of air was more apparent than ever. Their eyes opened wide, his hands and legs moving rigorously. He tried to scream but couldn't. Red and Black blotches danced in front of him. Somehow he understood this was the limit, this was the end. As a last attempt, he used all his strength to come up. He tried to let out a giant scream but...........

Richard sat upon his bed, palpitating rapidly, his forehead completely bathed in sweat. It was evident that he came across a deadly nightmare but the scene was not completely new. 

In the past week, since Jack Walker died by drowning in Park lake, he is watching this nightmare. Every night he sleeps, he finds himself as Jack Walker walking peacefully enjoying the melodious atmosphere to his death. Richard was deeply disturbed. Jack's death deeply shook him. They were one of the best buddies and now his heart was broken to a million pieces. 

As the shorthand of the clock touched eleven, he got ready and departed for the town hall. A small ceremony was going to be held there in the memory of Jack.

The sky was overcast with some gentle blows of wind. There were not many people or cars on the road. Amid this silence there walked a tall boy with his hands in the pocket of his overcoat. Richard's  felt a little better under the influence of the lovely atmosphere but unfortunately the happiness was short-term.

All of a sudden, a figure appeared from nowhere and bumped into Richard. It seemed that the man was in a hurry. There was a medium-sized Rose Bouquet in his hands which landed on Richard's lap. Suddenly, Richard's expressions were changed on seeing the flowers. His forehead started accumulating sweat. His heartbeat increased, his eyes filled with sudden fear. His lips trembling. He was so much frightened that he couldn't even shout. At that moment only, the man came and picked up the bouquet. He advanced his hand forward for Richard but it seemed that he was still in a shock to move.

A passerby came across the scene and came to help Richard stand on his feet. 

"I am very sorry man, are you alright?" asked the man with the flowers.

"Yeah, It...It's Okay" said Richard still stammering as a result of sudden shock.

After that, he also thanked the other man and started again for the town hall.

On entering the townhall only, the first face he encountered was of Robert's. "Hey Richard man, what took you so long?" Robert also sensed that something was wrong.

"No... Nothing Robert, it's just that I can't forget him, I still cannot believe that Jack Walker is no more. You know whenever I try to close my eyes I watch him, I watch him walking peacefully through a park to meet his end. Robert I cannot forget that presently Jack is nothing but a memory" small drops of tears came down from Richard's eyes.

Robert somehow expected this outburst. He knew it would happen after all Robert, Richard, and Jack shared such a bond that could never be broken.

"See Richard, I can understand. Even the same happens with me, but you know what, sometimes we have to accept the truth, the fact that goodbyes are painful but a well said goodbye leads to a happy journey and now if we don't give a great farewell, Jack will not get a great afterlife." finished Robert. He explained to Richard in such a manner as a teacher explains to a child but miraculously it worked. Richard cleaned his tears and went to meet Mr. and Mrs. Walker. Robert had some other works so he took his exit after giving a hug Richard. Unknown to them, two eyes were constantly keeping a check on them. They were being watched.

Already an hour was passed since Richard arrived at the town hall. Now he was quietly sitting on a bench outside. A middle-aged man came slowly and sat down beside him, the same man who was keeping a watch on Richard during the whole time he was inside.

"Hey young man, looks like you are not well, are you suffering from any problem?" asked the man politely.

For the first few minutes, Richard was silent. It was natural, one cannot expect a stranger to come and ask him if any problem is lingering him or not. At first, he thought to ignore him but somehow a sense of courtesy forced him to answer "No Sir, I am fine but do I know you?"

"No my boy, you and me don't share any connections at all, but strange human nature you know, since the morning I am watching you, tensed, disturbed, worried and now I couldn't help myself but had to ask you, do you feel anything wrong? Maybe I can help you "

Richard was moved by this beautiful human nature. He was sure that this man is someone holy, someone, who can help him. He spoke "Sir you are right. This man Jack Walker laying on that cemetery was one of my dearest friends I had and now I don't feel good about it, whenever I try to close my eyes, I see him as myself walking towards my death."

"Oh! I see. Now I don't know how will you react to this but I think I know someone who can help you. I mean a psychiatrist or rather a counselor" 

"What !!? About whom are you talking?"

"You take this card, you will find everything about him here" the man handed over a small visiting card to Richard.

"Dr. Damien Levi, Psychiatrist, Counselor

13, Marion Street." read Richard from the card with a suspicious look on his eyes.

"Now, I guess it's the time to leave. I have some important chores before entering the threshold of my house" said the man looking on his watch, he got up to leave.

"Wait, who is this man? Wh...Where can I find him?"

"Follow that card my boy. I believe all your confusions will be answered." said the man while leaving.

"O...Okay but one second. Who are you, Sir? What's your name?" shouted Richard as the old man slowly started to fade away in the thick fog.

"I don't think it will be of any use my boy. You and I are not going to meet again. Today God chose me to help you and I have done my job. I guess this is the end" finished the man with laughter. Very slowly he faded in the fog.

A bit puzzled and confused and noticing the sudden invasion, by the thick fogs Richard also left that place for his home. He kept the card in his pocket.

                                 

"13, Marion Street" read Richard from the card. He was standing in front of a double story house. The area was remote. Only about two to three houses were there around in a considerable distance. This area is located on the outskirts of the town. In fact, the route is itself through the Marion Woods, the main road cut through the middle of the forest so not many people knew about it.

Beside the house was another abandoned house. Between both the plot, was a narrow dark alley. Richard noticed a staircase linked with the balcony of the second floor, probably the way to the doctor's chamber.

He walked above the stairs. It was a small balcony like place. A single bench was standing there in front of the door. Richard knocked on the door. A voice came from inside "Who is it?"

"S. Sir, I am Richard Smith, actually, I have come here to meet Dr. Damien Levi"

"Oh Okay, wait outside. I will call you in." replied the voice from inside.

Richard sat on the bench. He didn't know how but that voice from inside, it was familiar, he felt he knew it, heard it before.

The sun was slowly setting down on the west side giving a bright orange hue to the sky. Some gentle wind started flowing. A dog howled in a distance. Slowly the darkness started to engulf the light. The winds making a strange melody, it seemed that slowly the earth was developing, to a heavenly hell, turning to the land of death but amidst all these, a strange silence remained, a silence accompanied by the howling of the dogs and the mysterious singing of the trees, the scenario presenting the oxymoron of nature.

Suddenly a voice came from inside the door breaking the silence "Mr. Smith, you may come in."

Richard got up and opened the door. Inside a man was standing wearing a doctor's overalls with a mask and a skull cap. Richard couldn't figure out the reason behind that outfit but noticed that the doctor's voice seemed childish according to his age and not only that but also the voice was familiar. But at last, ignoring all his brainly conflicts, he went into the room on the left as shown by Dr. Levi. The room was not so large but the things inside were less. A small normal chair was there along with a long one very much similar to those used by the dentists.

So Mr. Smith, please be seated on that long chair" said the doctor.

After Richard seated himself, the Doctor pressed a switch and the chair raised itself a bit.

The doctor drank some water from the jug and then spoke "So Mr. Smith what is the matter? What makes you come to me? And yes one reminder, I can't withstand two things- secrets and lies, so try to tell me everything true you feel and make sure your eyes are closed, you will feel calm"

Richard didn't make any objection and explained everything clearly to him. Starting from his childhood occupation to finally the unholy incident of Jack Walker and it's effects on him, his eyes still closed.

After listening to everything, Dr. Levi sat on the chair in front of Richard. He again spoke, "So Mr. Smith, you mean you have led a very simple life with regular ups and downs, except any major issues or worries?"

"Yes Doctor, something like that only"

"Are you sure Mr. Smith that you don't have any enemies? Are you sure you don't know anything that can lead your own life to the waters of danger?"

Now Richard felt a little tense. In a shaky voice, he answered "Y.Yes Sir"

"Sin is a strange thing Mr. Smith. Once you commit it, it attaches itself to the vessel. Every time you try to forget it, but it will not let you be successful. It will linger you, torment your body, capsize your soul, suck the life from you but will not leave you. So Mr. Smith you are telling me you don't know anything. Now open your eyes, Richard, look around yourself. Tell me what you see" finished Dr. Levi.

Richard opened his eyes. He was surprised, surprised to see an entirely different world around him. He tried to figure it out but he can't. He was still sitting on that same chair but the whole scenario was different.

"So what do you see Mr. Smith?" asked Dr. Damien Levi seating in front of Richard Smith who was laying on his chair with his eyes closed.

"A…an Afternoon, a beautiful afternoon. The Sun ready to take its departure, his orange lights scattering everywhere slowly mixing with the the light blue of the sky. A..An...And in front of me is a building or...or a school, yes it's my school. The doctor I am standing on the thick green lush grass in front of my school. The Beautiful Sound of the Harp being played in the music room of the school adding strange happiness in the air, providing us with an entirely different version of silence, silence yet musical, or...or a strange silence."

"What other things do you see Richard?"

"Four boys...Four boys in front of the storehouse of the school. Three boys saying something to that boy, who is slightly shorter than the rest...Wait a minute...I think...I think...I know this.......It feels so familiar...Ahh, my head...it hurts so much...Yes, it's me....it's me."

"Where are you now Mr. Smith?" asked Dr. Levi with a mischievous smile dancing on his mask covered lips.

In a nick of time, Richard experienced a transition. Now he couldn't clearly watch anything. It was pitch dark. He was inside a dark room. A small narrow beam of sunlight through the keyhole of the door was the only available source of light. He spoke "A boy screaming, crying, struggling to get help, pleading to open the door..the boy now slowly......losing all his energy step by step falling to his knees...Ahh, my head.."

"Now also you will claim you are innocent, Richard……."

"No, I remember….I remember doctor….it was a…..it was a lovely afternoon every….everyone…..me, Jack and Robert…..playing…..outside in the lawn….a….a girl playing the harp in the music room…..Suddenly  David  Jones came ……He was a weak timid boy quite different from us……A short boy strongly claustrophobic….fearful of closed and dark places…..Ahh, my head.."

"So all three of you decide to do some fun with him and lock him in the storage house just to let him die of his fear"

"No…..No Sir…..I…I am innocent…..it was Jack and Robert who forced him…..I warned them not to do it….I warned them but they didn't listen…..I couldn't do anything….they thought it will be a bit fun… but it seems…seems that David suffered a serious panic attack…"

"So according to all of you, fear is fun, it is a shameful bloody disease no one should have? Isn't it Mr. Smith?"

"No Doctor….Ahh…wh…where am I?.....what's this place?" Richard felt another transition but this time it was all different. He was in the middle of a thick forest but suddenly thousands and thousands of flowers started to rain on him. A magnificent scene it was but Richard couldn't move any part of him from the chair. The flower rain continued. He screamed in fear "No…No Doctor…No….I don't like flowers…I...I have Anthrophobia….I don't like flowers…They eat me….They kill me…No…NO"

"No Mr. Smith No, you taught me that fear is a very very bad disease, it should be removed. Fear should be plucked out of life for a happy peaceful living. You taught me Fear is a Crime and it deserves death" Dr. Levi laughed out, a loud eerie spine chilling laugh.

Everything changed for Richard, everything except the sweet music, the sweet melodious music of a harp, the same music experienced by him in his dreams or rather nightmares. He was slowly getting graved, graved by thousands and thousands of colorful flowers. "No….No Sir…..I don't like these godamn flowers…NO.." his heart was palpitating, his breathing at its highest limit, all intoxicated due to the flowers, searching for fresh clean air... "HELP…PLEASE ANYBODY HELP" a blood curdling scream came out from his mouth hardly heard by anyone outside the house.

"The number you are dialing is switched off" came the answer from the opposite end. It was the twenty-fifth time Robert was calling Richard. Now the only option he thought was to check in his house.

For two days, Richard was missing but Robert knew that something he would surely figure out by visiting the Smith Residence because he knew something more than the others. Richard always maintained a personal diary for his daily appointments and activities only known to his dearest friends.

After reaching Richard's house, Robert came to know that the last time when Richard left his home, he had his car. His parents had also filed a missing report for him in the local police station. The next move Robert made was to check Richard's room and he found his diary on the study table and the last note there is "13 Marion Street- the Psychiatrist". He thought of something and then decided to go there on his own by walking without informing anyone.

While he was walking through the Marion Woods, suddenly Robert's phone beeped, he quickly picked it up. It was Richard.

"Hey Smith, where are you man? Bloody hell, do you even understand how much tensed here people are?!!"

From the opposite came the reply "You wait there, I am coming" and the call hanged up.

Within five minutes, a red Toyota Camry came and halted in front of Robert. On the driver's seat, it was Richard sitting in a long hoodie.

"What is this behavior Man!!! Do you even realize…….."

"You just sit inside the car" interrupted Richard.

Robert just opened the door and sat inside the car without a single word. As he was making himself comfortable, his phone rang again but this time it was from an unknown number.

"Hello, who is it?" asked Robert picking up the call.

"Is this Robert Jackson speaking?" came a voice.

"Yes" replied Robert. All of a sudden an extremely pleasant sound, probably the sound of a Harp filled the air with an absolute beauty. Robert felt mesmerized, amazed, hypnotized hearing that out worldly heavenly melody. Never before in his life, he has heard something this beautiful.

Someone was trying to tell something from the opposite end of the phone but the voice was breaking due to an extremely low signal.

"Hello" Robert again answered softly, more politely, his mind completely dissolved, connected with the heavenly tune. The Strange silence, the strange oxymoron of nature. Getting no perfect response, he threw the phone aside on the seat, just to enjoy the music. He felt relaxed, comfortable.

But coincidentally, the phone was not hanged up. With some improvement in signal and unknown to any of the passengers of the car, an answer came from the opposite end "H..Hello…Hello Sir, this is Inspector Walter from the police…s..s..sir your fr..fr…iend R…Ric..hard Smith's dead body is found in the park lake and the last dial…d number on his phone is your He.ll.Hello...Hel..oo…" the phone got hanged up due to the lack of signal completely unknown to Robert who was now completely mixed in the music with his eyes closed, body relaxed. It was a strange silence with a strange melody, a strange oxymoron of nature as the car slowly made an unexpected turn to the left completely opposite from the main road towards the town.