Short Story
The Tunnel


“A lame man cannot reach heaven. Therefore I strongly advise you not to join the exodus.”

“Sir, I can manage, please enroll my name also”, I beseeched.

“I’ll help him sir!” Krishna supported me.

“Then it’s O.K. But we are not responsible.” He noted down my name and address and gave back the ID card. After glancing once more at my leg he gestured to the driver and the car moved. Its loudspeakers resumed vomiting,

‘Believers please register your names with the captain in this car! Come forward without hesitation! In spite of the government’s inaction we have traced out the promised tunnel. This is the last chance! It opens tomorrow at sharp four p.m. and closes at six p.m. Join the pilgrimage! Escape from the next Tsunami!’

Street children ran after the car and collected the pamphlets flew out.

“He agreed just because you seconded me. Thanks a lot Mr. Krishna!”
“He agreed just because you seconded me. Thanks a lot Mr. Krishna!”

“That’s O.K man! It’s my duty to help you although it was your parents’ stupidity not providing you O.P.V. in time. We are rebels but oppose only publicly and take secretly whatsoever the government provides. How can I forsake you since I’m your acquaintance?”

“No. You are my real friend!”

“How many tickets are left?”

“Eight.” I replied.

“See, it’s two o’clock now. Sell it out fast and get ready for tomorrow! Do you have the white dresses?”

“Yes!” I said proudly. “I procured it three days back. What about you?”

“I have, but I’ve to iron it.”

“Does the tunnel really lead to the heaven?” I could not hide my anxiety.

“Hush!” He looked around and whispered, “Don’t speak these types of things loudly. Have faith! Doubtful one never reaches. O.K. I’ll meet you tomorrow morning.”

He hurried off.
The car had disappeared and the half-naked children fetched as many pamphlets as they could gather. They handed it over to their parents, who were leisurely sitting and chatting in front of their gutters. Some of them kept those in their pockets while the others tore it away and beat them severely. As their piercing cries were rising I limped away from the by lane towards the busy street.

Due to the opposition against government’s policy my parents had denied oral polio vaccine in my childhood. That time the opposition’s propaganda was totally against the precautionary health measure. My late parents were hardliners and I am paying its penalty in my middle age. Everything was normal with me up to high school; then started a slight fever. It turned polio. Although I survived, it left my right leg a mere bone attired in wrinkled skin. I resorted in selling lottery tickets.

The validity of the tickets was only up to three o’ clock when the lot is taken far away in the capital. So I moved towards the bus stop and tempted the bystanders stretching the tickets towards them.

Most of the faces in the coastal district of Kerala1 were teemed with anxiety, misery and uncertainty due to the low income resulted ever since the Tsunami in 2004. The majority were directly or indirectly depended on fishery. Due to mysterious reason the catch was running low ever since the Tsunami and the recession added up the sufferings. Still lottery and liquor were not hindered. The former gave them hope for getting up early in the morning to read the newspapers for the result of the lot and the latter provided ‘Dutch courage’ and stamina to confront their partners in bed. My limpness was an added advantage for my profession since it aroused sympathy in some of them to buy tickets from me.

I finished the tickets in time and went straight to a shoe mart. I bought a pair of excellent sports shoes with the money, leaving a little amount for the breakfast the next morning. While strolling back I was thinking about the sudden change in the events that shook the entire district.

It was with much surprise and excitement that most of the people took the unbelievable revelation of a sect regarding the de novo origin of the promised tunnel. They declared that a tunnel would appear in the hilly area of the eastern district on February 29th since the solar eclipse coincides with the month. They claimed that the event was symbolically mentioned in their holy books and hundreds of people had turned martyrs in its search all along the past eras. But, the present generation only was the real beneficiary of the long awaited tunnel that leads to the eternal heaven. So that they exhorted people not to miss the opportunity as it was a rare one after many millenniums. It was with the modern occultism and fire sermons using super computers and satellites that they could predict the exact location of the appearing tunnel. The government categorically denied the possibility of any such miracle and asked the people to see if it was the hoax of the opposition parties. The authorities warned the tunnel might lead to hell and that the rich leaders of the opposition were abstaining from it but only the followers are pushed. Some of the people ignored the official declarations because the present living standard was very pathetic. The majority disbelieved and planned not to leave home. I decided to join since I considered six days of walking not more troublesome than wandering in the streets everyday with the lotteries. Moreover, it was the first chance to see another district. I had not moved out of my native place ever since my birth.

Rumors started spreading and the tunnel became the talk of the small Indian state. Even if someone dies on the way it was said that one would get salvation and that was the main factor attracted the old people.

In the late evening I took out the pamphlet and read it once more at the kerosene lamp to see if anything I missed. The list was simple and self explanatory with only ten instructions.

1. Seven pairs of dresses, one must be white for the last day.
2. The smallest possible bag to pack those things.
3. Two caps; one should be white.
4. A pair of sports shoes.
5. Six candles and a match box (no torch or lighter allowed).
6. A large towel and a sand clock are highly recommended (no watch or clock).
7. No water bottle or packed food items should be carried.
8. Head must be clean shaven.
9. Never turn back in the tunnel.
10. After use this pamphlet should be burnt.

Some descriptions of the journey were also given. After reading I executed the last instruction. I took my supper hoping that it would be the last on the earth and slept comfortably.

The loudspeaker woke me up early in the morning.

‘Dear people, we warn you once more! Don’t be tempted! Those who cannot build heaven in their own land how can make it elsewhere? This is the retreat of cowards! Beware of the fraud!’

Although the announcing officials were well aware that those who had already enrolled would not hesitate they were completing their duty as a ritual.

After my daily routine I took breakfast with the last amount I had. Coming back to my gutter I disposed all my vessels and other humble belongings to my neighbors. They were very happy and wished me good luck in reaching heaven as fast as possible.

By ten o’ clock six buses came to our area for taking us. There was a rush and I managed to get inside one with the help of Krishna. We got seats together and I took the side one to see the outer world on the way. Most of the people were old but some of them were spinsters unable to procure husbands due to lack of dowry. All were in new dresses since they had sold out everything to comply with the instructions. Within ten minutes the buses were ready to move. A man, who looked like a captain, rose from the front seat close to the driver and turned back. He by a gesture asked us to keep silence. I noticed in the other buses also similar persons stand simultaneously.

He roared, “All of you should take the oath before we leave. If there is any disbeliever, please get down immediately!” He watched a while for any slight protest. Fully satisfied, he started loudly,

“In the tunnel that leads to the heaven we do believe, believe, and believe!”

We all repeated as loudly as possible. It was arising from all the other buses also and I felt the entire city was rocking in its echo. My hairs rose.

“In the promised tunnel leading north that is the only way for salvation we do believe, believe, and believe!”

We repeated.

“In the unity of length, breadth and height of the three-dimensional tunnel we do believe, believe, and believe!”

When we completed it he went back to his seat in extreme satisfaction. He signaled the driver to start. We looked enthusiastically at the people seeing us off and waved our hands. The happiness and hopes in our faces made them gloomy although they waved mechanically.

Krishna was interested in sleeping. I was curiously looking at the scenery unknown to me. The bus was moving very fast crossing bridges, lakes, rivers, paddy fields, coconut landscapes and rubber estates. By one o’ clock I was hungry. But the scenes outside made me ignore my stomach’s complaints.

By three o’clock we reached the hilly places. The bus was moving slowly as the road was becoming more and more winding. The buses returning were also slowed down our progress since the road was not very broad.

At 3.30 p.m. we reached a vast area in between two small mountains. There was an oceanic crowd hopefully waiting. We alighted from the bus and became two small dots on the outskirt of the large gathering. I was relieved by the sight. There was no need of any anxiety since all those people could not be cheated together.

“Don’t you believe the truth now?” Krishna asked

“Absolutely!” My only doubt was whether we would reach the tunnel before closing it.

“Are you not hungry, Thomas?” He asked in a low tone.

“Yes. What about you?”

“Why to ask? But we won’t get anything here, may be in the tunnel. Or else they wouldn’t have mentioned in the pamphlet clearly not to bring food items.”
His reply comforted me. We were sweating profusely. There was not even a breeze and hence the stagnated vapor from human engines was unbearable.

Some of them had brought sand clocks. When it showed 4.00 p.m. a grumble started and it grew to an uproar. Everyone wore caps. Although the distant hill was about one kilometer away from us we hoped that it was opened.

“So, the tunnel is a reality!” He must not have heard my excited expression.

Slowly we felt a wave-like movement. We were among the last and the event was like water draining from a large vessel through a small hole.

“I’m afraid whether it would close by the time we reach there.” His words made me gloomy.

It was tiresome for me as the movement of the crowd was discontinuous. Gradually, when we covered half way the movement became faster. The crowd was diminishing fast and the mountain became clearer.

I was surprised seeing the vast mouth of the tunnel far away waiting to swallow anything in front of it. Three elephants might enter together. We were among the last ones who reached it. Before entering I looked at the sun about to set.

“There is no gatekeeper here! Then why did he register our names?”
Holding my wrist he said, “They also must have left. We are far behind. Hurry up!” His tone revealed a little annoyance. Those who entered with us all moved away. The tips of the towels hanging from their shoulders ware waving rhythmically as if those were beckoning us.

Within a few meters it became quite dim. I could see only darkness in front. Echoes were slowly fading and nothing was visible. The only consolation was that the floor was smooth and the path seemed straight and slightly descending. Suffocating stink of burnt out candles was there but no light was seen. A deafening sound was heard far behind. I did not to turn back.

“It’s the tunnel closed!” His voice was shivering. “It must be exact six p.m. now. It’ll open only in another millennium in a different space-time warp.”

“Because you are holding me I’m able to walk. How should I express thanks…?” Words were choking in my throat.

He did not reply. I felt him pulling me. Although his face was not visible I doubted if he was worried due to my lag. The ground was slowly becoming muddy. It became sticky and I felt it difficult to walk.

“Some of them are hours in front. We two only are far behind. Hurry up!”

I shuddered at his impatient voice. Hesitatingly I asked,

“Shall we light a candle?”

“Don’t be foolish as those who did it in the very beginning. These are for the most emergency time!”

There were not even slight sounds in front. I wondered if the forerunners already had reached heaven although six days of journey was mentioned.

“You are very sluggish. Shall I move forward? I’ll wait for you.”

With a shudder I realized his grip was loosening. His fading footsteps turned me numb.

The chill, loneliness and the droplets falling from the roof awakened me. I decided to walk until I fall.

The exhaustion and hunger at last informed me that about five hours had passed after entering the tunnel. I yearned for a place to sit and take rest. Next step I tumbled down on something. I stood up, balanced and lighted a candle.

I was shocked seeing dead bodies in the mud all around. Towels were tightened around their necks; eyes bulged and tongues protruded. The tunnel was ending and was bifurcating into eastern and western branches. Their bags were intact.


I selected the one leading west. I wished not to see Krishna’s body since he

was my only hope, waiting with a small flame.


**

1. Kerala-The southernmost Indian State.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 26.12.2009

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