Monday, 27 May 2013

The Two Roads (Flash Fiction)

She was tired. Once again, she found herself standing at the cross-roads. The path that she had previously walked on had led her to a dead end. Dejected, morose, and extremely fatigued, she felt like screaming her lungs out. It was alright to scream. Her cries fell to deaf ears even when she screamed on top of her voice. No one seemed to be listening to what she really wanted to say.

How had she landed herself in this situation? She wondered about what had to be done next. Taking decisions had never been her strong point. It is never too late to return – people used to say. She had managed to retrace her steps and had landed at the intersection yet again. Once again, she had to make a choice. Which road should she take? Should she take a new path and see where it leads her? Perhaps, it would take her to those who valued her. At the same time, there was also the possibility that the new road could still lead her to old disappointments. Did she have it in her to handle another blow? She was not too sure.
On the other hand, she could go back to the old road that led to her old life. 
Fighting the same old battle on familiar ground seemed like a safer option. Perhaps, she should go back to those who might, someday, learn to value her. Perhaps, she was giving up too easily. Change was a long, painful process and she wasn’t even sure if she would get the returns from it that she desired. Perhaps, treading on a new path was a futile attempt at obtaining something that, probably, isn’t meant for her.

Who decides what is meant for you and what is not? A voice surfaced from inside. She did not know who owned this voice. It did not soothe her. It only added to her confusion. The time to ponder was up. It was now time to act. In front of her, lay two paths. One path led her to her old life; there were thorns on the way but she was aware of where those thorns were and she knew which areas to avoid and where to walk. It would ultimately lead her to where she had come from – a familiar life of hurt, despair, and monotony.   The other path demanded new actions and came with the hope of providing her a different life, perhaps, the life that she had always craved for. Yet, it was unfamiliar territory and she was completely clueless of the hurdles that were strewn her way.

She took a deep breath. There was a determined look in her eyes that pointed steadfastly at the two roads that lay ahead. She had made her choice. She lingered at the cross-road for some more time before, finally, walking ahead in the direction of her chosen path.

28 comments:

  1. I hope she chose the new path!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ahahahaha! Suspense!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. you got one more award from me. :) check my l;atest

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Purnima :) :) Will just check it out!

      Delete
  4. That sounds like me, except that there are two new paths..and the task of making the decision is mine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am sure you will make the right decision, Abha :) I hope to meet you soon!!

      Delete
  5. Wow... that narrative was brilliant Divya... !

    ReplyDelete
  6. Brilliant write-up Divya, its not always easy to make a choice...You have brought out her anxiety and dilemma really well...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :) Thank you so much Reshma! Making choices is difficult but hopefully, in the end, it is all worth it!

      Delete
  7. Wow.. That is well written :) great work :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Choosing a path may be difficult sometimes:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True :) But these choices are what determine the course of our life!

      Delete
  9. Sometimes we do not know which road to choose :-(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Believe in yourself! Trust your instincts - they are never wrong!

      Delete
  10. She seems a really brave girl and finally she knows it! good! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Cross roads are very difficult places. I would have chosen the new one at a certain point in my life but now I think I might stick with the old one. A lot depends on what we have to lose when we make that decision. Good one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :) Thanks Meera....I think decisions change as per contexts...a decision that may have seemed wrong at one point may turn out to be the right one at a later point of time...

      Delete
  12. Whatever path we choose, it is an adventure after all :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Decision making is tought isn't it!

    ReplyDelete
  14. So which path did she choose? I hope it was something which could or would inspire anyone reading this interesting story.

    Merry Christmas, Divya! May you have many more to bless your memories with and to write about.

    Blessings!
    Ellen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank You so much for your wishes, Ellen :)

      Delete