PHOENIX - The Rebirth Of Hope

Part 2 Chapter 1 : Beliefs and Blessings

"Jai Hanuman Gyan Gursagar—", Samarth was kneeling on the floor with the palms of his hands pressed together and head bowed. He was in the temple nearest to the slum. It was richly built with gold and metal. The railings that separated the gold shrines of Gods and Goddesses were made of gilded-wrought gold curlicues. The shrines were adorned with rich clothing shaded with gold filigree and pristine colors of the glowing type, almost like thousands of fireflies, sitting together.

The best thing about temples was, everyone was allowed from upper-class upstart people to the ones suffering in poverty no matter what the caste, gender, or cultural background.It was Tuesday, Hanuman Ji's day, hence an apt day for going to temples and chanting the 'Hanuman Chalisa'.

 It was also his last day at home so he had made it his mission to visit nearby temples and churches. Yesterday still felt like a good dream. But Samarth knew it was no dream and that his family would be always there with him by his side to back him up.

After applying red tilak on his forehead, he went out of the temple, touching the feet of all the Gods as he went.

Half an hour later, he was standing outside a church, barefoot.

As Samarth looked at the church, he felt a deep sadness. May it be a church or a temple but all the mighty and flourishing memorials that were said to be a living testament of great pride and holy beliefs were a result of cruelly used labor and lowly hired roustabout.

He took a deep breath, to stop those thoughts from seeping deep into his brain and create stature of doubts. He averted his thoughts and took a look at the church's beauty from outside. It was a huge marble structure. The white marble was velvety and pure at the top, where the marble dipped up the sides to form a disjointed triangle, which was a sheet of course material. There were deeply fabricated polychromatic panes that crisscrossed in a plethora of coruscating colorful hues. There were many windows with blue shades and gargoyles peeked from above, their presence sending a gloomy chill in the cold autumn air that wafted through the window. The heavy oak door that stood in front of Samarth had a creamy color and steps were leading to it as if it was a gateway to heaven. But if seen at night paying attention to the scary statues above, it may seem a gateway to hell.

As Samarth took a few steps forward, he pushed open the heavy door slightly enough for him to pass through. The door was really heavy to move and he grunted in exertion.

"Duh', He sighed as he entered the small anteroom. There were shelves there to discard off shoes. Though as Samarth was already barefoot there was no need.

Samarth turned to enter the chapel. The light blinded him as it came reflected through the glass windows. Samarth went inside. There was the delighting aroma of periwinkle and morning lilac creating a sweet heaven. It brought with it the calm and peace that one felt at entering such a holy place.

The frescoes of paintings that lined the walls and covered the whole ceiling were just the substantiation of the beautiful medieval history the church guarded.

And there was the Lord Jesus. In the front, upon the wall, he was hanging from the stake as shown in pictures.

He wasn't to be mourned but prided in. Samarth thought determinedly.

There were no people here at this moment and none were needed to keep company in such a jocund atmosphere.

Samarth moved towards the altar and reaching it, he smiled. He could bet he had been here before. He remembered it now. He had been standing a little to the left at that time. Samarth grinned and shuffled a little to the left. Little him had been standing there with his family before Aashu had been born. He had stood at the exact place he was standing now. He had looked at the huge table-like thing. What it was called he didn't know. There was so much creamy substance inside from the candles that were burning all over it. Samarth had thought it was the largest, longest cake he had ever seen. There were people robed in white standing all around it as if in a ceremony. He had thought that after completing whatever ritual they were performing they would cut the cake.

But now that Samarth realized the extent of his childish thoughts, he gave a small chuckle. He then carefully muttered his prayers singing in the praise of God and thanking him for everything he had.

Samarth finished his prayers and then he heard the shuffling of feet behind him. He turned. The priest was moving towards him with wisdom in the wrinkles on his face, wearing a white robe and biretta and holding a crosier in one hand, a staff with the symbol of the bishop at the top, intricated in gold. He stopped before Samarth.

"Tell me, does some kind of distress brings you here in the adobe of god?"

For a moment, Samarth tried to think of what to say. Finally, he said, "Something like that. I am starting on a new journey tomorrow towards reaching the goal of my life, which I don't know what is. Before starting, I just wanted the Lord's blessings with me."

"That is indeed a good reason. Do you live near the slum?", The priest said, analyzing Samarth and his clothes.

"Y-Yes"

The priest's eyes flicked to Samarth's immediately. He must have noticed Samarth's discomfort. "Tell me why do we love someone?"

"What?", Samarth asked, confused.

"Let's take it like this. Your mother for instance might look beautiful or not but you must love her? Why is that?"

"She is my mother.", Samarth said simply.

The priest started, pacing. He said. "When we love someone, we do not love them because they have good looks or that they wear rich clothes but because they are good from the heart. Looks don't matter if you are not kind or passionate. If you have a good heart, you are kind, generous, compassionate, and not self-centered among many other qualities then that is the sole reason someone likes you."God does not look at you for what your reputation is. He looks at your actions, your karma. He wants you to embrace nature and learn from its virtues. He wants you to be creative."As for your not knowing what your goal is. It is okay not to know what to do but if you have a will, then the right path in life will open itself for you. Your marks in exams don't define you. Friendship, bravery, and good manners can take you where money cannot reach. "Why try to force yourself to get into the community, to be a part of it, when you are born to stand out, do things differently than others. You may be subject to many falls. People might tell you to just follow the rules as it is but then how will the economy change if people don't do things differently."Just go on. Keep going. You might be an incentive to many others who are not able to live their lives to their satisfaction. Pray with your heart and know that God is watching you."

Samarth felt warmth embrace his heart. For the first time, he was feeling like he was doing something right.