I knew the river Ganga

This had once struck me, in my childhood.

That I had been there in my previous life.

Not that I remember it anymore.

I just know it.

Now, I am small.

Playing with toys.
They don’t have life.

Have friends.
They will be namesake later.

I’m living a good life.
It will be marooned in a couple of years.

In a couple of years from now,
I will be only matter. A lost soul.

But, I still don’t know that.

Now, I am playing.

It’s marbles.

I had once used my fingers to dig a hole.

Today, because of rain the place is wet.

The hole is filled with water.

And, I have to touch it.

And there, it struck me.

“Water!”

My previous life, I recall now.
‘I am water.
Ganga was there.

Its water flowed.

Its tributaries many.

I was one of them.

A water body.

Used to flow.

Carrying everything.

From life, to death.’

I couldn’t take it. This flash of thought.

It was too huge. I was too small.

What is water? One of the five elements.

In school, I learnt it.

But, I am not one. I am just a boy.

Leave me. Please. Please leave me…

Now, I am in my early twenties.

Water has been my childhood friend.

I love rains. I love water.

But, I am carrying a burden.

A truth. I can’t recollect it.

It’s some memory of my childhood.

Now, I am small.
Powerless. Full of life.

I am playing. It’s marbles.

The game I love the most.

It’s raining. I am winning.

I want to play more.

But they are leaving.

One by one. Leaving me alone.

Suddenly, it again struck me.

“The rain.” It’s because of it!

Now, I am water.

‘I am carrying a dead body.

It was bathing in me. Every day.

Now, it has drowned in me. Forever.

Its death- I can taste it.
Taking the corpse to where it belongs.

To Ganga- the land of the dead.

Where even I am destined to die.’

I am screaming. I can’t take this.

I love water. I really love water.
It can take my life with it. Just can’t.
Leave me alone. Let me be. Just be.