In pursuit of Happiness

Chapter 4

Present day
Mina's point of view
(Note: Chapter 1 deals with Mina's teen years.)
"I'm sorry, but you're fired."
Mr. Shukla didn't seem to look the slightest bit sorry for saying that.
"But, sir, if you could just get the permit for us to dig up the place...I can assure you..."
"I am a busy man, Mina. If you want to find the perfect audience for your fairy tales, grab your stuff and keep walking out of the building," he walked out without even looking back.
I gathered all papers from my desk, which was not mine anymore...I just got fired again...the third time in a year...it was useless working as an archaeological assistant...and I didn't have enough money to fund research on my own...While everyone who heard my theories thought I was deranged.
"Hey, Mina...I'm sorry. But...Do you want a ride?" said Rishabh."
"No thanks, I'm better of by myself."
The guy had the nerve to come closer and take my hands.
I pulled my hands out of his grasp and stood up fuming.
"Stay away from me," I said angrily, "Think of what you are doing to your family. You are married for goodness sake!"
"Aw come on,don't be shy... I was just fooling around," he said, trying to make a face like a kicked puppy.
"Seriously? You think I'll fall for that shit? When I said stay away...I mean it.  Get out of here before I cause any fatal injury to you," I said.
He still stood there.
"Get out, you rat!" I tried throwing a paper weight on his head.
"Okay, okay, I'm out!" He kept muttering something under his breath as he walked out.
I shook my head out of frustration. I'm surrounded by vultures and idiotic people. There was no peace, no constancy in my life.
I gathered my stuff and headed outside to the bus stop to take the next bus home.
"You're early," said my mom, "Don't tell me you got fired again," she said, looking suspicious. I didn't reply, so she found out. "You did get fired!"
"It's the usual, ma. Don't worry, I'll get another job."
"This is why I always told you to get married and settle down. I don't know what you did to scare that poor boy last week. How could you refuse such an alliance. He looks good, is having a stable job...Look at your brother and learn from him. He studied engineering like I told him to, got married to the girl I chose for him, works in an IT company and lives a happy life."
"I don't want to listen to this now, ma," I said, "I'll be back in a few hours, I said walking out of the door."
"Don't you walk out on me," my mom said.
"I'll be back, ma!"  I called out as I got down the steps toward the gate.
I headed to my usual spot, the outskirts of the city. There were no buildings there, just fields and pure, clean fresh air. I willed tears to fall out of my eyes, but they wouldn't. I never could cry. I was devoid of any emotion.
I took a fist full of the mud there. I felt it. There was blood. There was war. There was death. I didn't know how, but I always felt like I was witnessing history...Peering into the past...It was like I belonged there....
I shook off that thought. I watched too many movies and TV shows...I'm totally delusional.
I let the mud fall from my fingers.
My thoughts began to wander. Why should I be good, anyway? Why should I be honest. Why, I could just follow what the others said at work and not get fired. Why on earth did I ever think my words did have meaning? I'm useless...Just like countless other people told me. Maybe its time I realised that.
The sky began to darken, and little drops of rain started to fall. The wind ruffled my hair, but it felt like somebody was comforting me. "Everything is going to be fine. Stand and fight, my warrior."It felt like if the wind ever had a voice and spoke to people, it would sound just like that. There was some one here.
I turned around but there was no one.
I needed to clear my head.
I dusted my hands and headed back home. The rain began to pour down heavily and the wind beat wildly on my coat. It was a thunderstorm. I had to get home as soon as possible.
Lightning struck a dead tree in front of me and I watched it burn instantly. My brain screamed, "Run!" but my legs felt like lead. I stood there, soaking in the rain as I saw some kind of luminous being reach out and pull me right in front of that tree, while I slipped on the water and landed on the dangling end of the live wire hanging from the electrical line above. I tried pulling back, but some force was pushing me so hard, that I couldn't budge.
I yelled loudly. The shock was about to strike me, as I blacked out.