fहndi - Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya

7. LIFEThat day when I entereda magnificent wedding pandalthe fragrance of flowers, melody of musicthe fake smile of the newly-wedded couplethe mystic smoke of ceremonial firecould not capture my pulse, rathera strange loneliness stirred my soul,an unusual pain of withdrawalOverpowered my consciousnessI don't know why.That day when I attended the funeral ofmy friendthe real smoke arose fromthe burning human flesh whichportrayed something beyond realityI wondered what it was.A reawakening or a reality of lifeOr the end of an illusion?Or what?Is death freedom from relationship?Is death freedom from tomorrow?Is death freedom from emotions?Is death freedom from origin?Is smoke a material realization?Of beauty, of ugliness... or is it thewisdom of being without ego?Is it bliss... clarity and peaceOr what... ?Courtesy, Roli Books.Kusum Ansal, born 1940, is a leading author whose ouvre contains poetry, novels, shortstories and travelogues. Some of her well read books are—ek aur panchvati; pate badaltehain; weh aya tha; yadon ke hamsafar. She also writes in Punjabi. Her works have beentranslated into English, Greek and Russian, Kusum Ansal organises a literary forum ‘Samvad’and is actively associated with a number of social service groups. She lives in New Delhi.78 :: April-June 2013fgndi •