The Coming

I fidgeted inside the warm pool of fluid as I slowly gained cognizance of my trapped presence. I tried to kick and move as I struggled to remember the events that preceded my current predicament. My mind was weak. So weak that even the act of thinking added to my fatigue, and my thoughts groggily shifted from one topic to another in a kaleidoscope of confusion. I somehow had to get out of this place. I tried to push and move – but was too weak to fight back and I lost consciousness.

When I woke up, there were voices around me – in sounds that were alien and yet, somehow, familiar – reaching my ears in a garbled tone due to the fluid around me. I could not understand anything – but these sounds gave me hope that there is something beyond what I am able to comprehend now, in this semi-comatose, weakened and addled state. I struggled … and I dozed off again. Was this my plight … was this to become my routine from now on? And why was I here?? I kept struggling and failing and losing consciousness, but somehow I realised that I was also getting stronger. My kicks had gained more strength and I could struggle for longer durations now. It is strange how familiarity leads to comfort. Now, as I was struggling to find my way out, I had also started to enjoy the warm familiarity of the pool I was in. And the voices in the familiar alien language was almost soothing and making me want to stay here. I told myself that I had to escape and I knew I had to do it soon. 

One fateful day, the sounds seemed to increase in volume – someone other than me seemed to be in pain. Was I the subject of some curious psychedelic experiment? I struggled to recollect about myself and how I got here. I knew I was much stronger now and therefore gave my hardest kick so far. As if to punish me for the kick, someone started to squeeze the walls of the pool … pushing me to one side. I tried to resist, but the pressure was immense. I got pushed out into an open space. The voices were clearer now – but I still could not understand anything.

… and then someone slapped me hard on my bum. I could take it no longer and I started to cry at the top of my voice. I opened my eyes to see light for the first time. 

I was born !!