Beyond The Horizon
Sundays are somehow associated with laziness, ease and a little inactivity-atleast for some of those who keep their weekly first five days exerting all of their potential in the routine and even programmed work. But in the case of Jane Smith it was different. She always did the easy things first to gain and gather her confidence.
It satisfied to think that she to was capable of something. Then
She proceeded with any other work. Once she decided to accomplish a piece of work ,an task became a kind a sport for her.
Jane, was one among the seven children of her parents. In fact she was the middle one.
As it happens in such a family, Jane often left negligent, unwanted and thus lonely.
This led her to develop a kind of individuality- a kind of persistent drive within, which always made her face anything, and any odd situation with courage and confidence.
Any calamity or disaster which unnerved and broke down others, had no, or the least effect on her.
She somehow managed to push herself through hard situations and impossible ventures.
Another trait in her was to quickly impress others ; as a result of which she had her own circle of friends, many of whom were older than her or from a richer background.
Jane was in short a curious lonely girl from a modest background.
During her school going days she was very agile, zealous and always volunteered to help her parents in all their work. Thus she was an important member of her family.
At an early stage he started earing for her family working for chosen days and hours in big malls and showrooms. She also managed to continue her studies.
Her unchanging nature was her intelligent, friendly smile-
ever beaming in any crisis.
A rich entrepreneur lady whose hobby was to enjoy investing her capital in strange, miraculous looking prospects was impressed with Jane's smile and gestures.
She was prompted to make an offer to Jane in modelling for her advertising agency.
The girl smiled as usual and politely asked for some time to consider the offer.
The third day she stood before Madam Sofia Hamilton that was how the entrepreneur was popularly know.
Without much initial manoeuvring, she set Jane on several of her projects under the able Directors and Executives.
Just one month was enough for Jane in the new world to shine, and since then she became a super model.
But the change didn't in any measure affect her.
One afternoon Jane received a call from her promoter, mentor Sophia.
In just two minutes she told Jane how she was planning to produce a movie.
Jane was cast in a movie as Florence Nightingale, the role and acting, free from all blemishes, brought her name and fame.
Admirers and fans went ahead to call her Jane Nightingale.
And the name remained with her for quite sometime.
Jane remained grateful Madam Hamilton. But she differed from her promoter .
Whereas the former cared for money, fame, and such worldly things, the old lady never seemed to be bothered about it.
It may be true that the rich grow richer and stronger with every enterprise they undertake.
But Madam Hamilton never seemed to bother about such things or account for her gains and losses.
This had a great impact on the flourishing mind of Jane.
Sophia came from a very rich background and even as a child had come to own several companies. She was really enterprising - not for wealth, but for the development and cherishing of human resources.
It was a kind of game for her-a moral training.
She would invest in any enterprise which appealed to her, or prompted her to try her tallent;and she just went ahead.
Nothing had, so far occasioned her to look back or repent. Her confidence was pronounced in her decisions.
Sophia was married at an early age.
Mr. Hamilton, her husband also a rich business man, had lost most of his wealth in unwise investments, race's and gambling.
Before he was declared a bad debtor , he met with a road accident; and after a prolonged treatment in a top class speciality hospital, succumbed to his injuries and damage.
Sophia never believed in stopping anywhere at any stage.
Life for her was not just a journey ; she believed in being an explorer seeking remarkable achievements.
That was how life worked for her.
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Strangely enough she came to be impressed with Jane within minutes; and even to a great extent .
As days passed a kind of Inexplicable parent -daughter
relationship developed between them.
Jane secured her family with everything they needed.
They were housed in a large mansion with all amenities for easy living. Somehow Jane could not ever find herself in the company of her family and relatives.
She spend a very short time, if ever, with them .
In fact she spent most of her time with Sophia whom she had now, to the liking of the latter, chosen to call " Mom ".
Sophia was full soft feelings and love for Jane.
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Some two years passed and both were at the peak of their achievement.
New success befell their way unsought. Yet they forgot not the world they lived in.
They cared for the miseries of all classes of society.
The sick and the isolated lot got their full
attention.
It was not out of any 'complex' they had.
In fact all the while they thought of others.
It was a strange combination.
The one called the other 'Mom' and the lady generously full mouthed and heartily called the other''child ".
While the scattered family of Jane came together under safe shelter, the latter although kept herself away from them.
Now Jane had withdraw herself from the world of fashion, glamour and performance.
She accompanied Sophia as if she were the latter's shadow.
Soon Jane came to be know as Jane Hamilton after the name of Sophia .
None of them particularly knew what she was after or what she sought.
But yet each was satisfied with what casually, unexpectedly or otherwise came their way.
Maybe they both never expected anything in return from what they did.
Jane had by this time rejected marriage proposal, in fact she had no inhibitions or problems at all to get married and settle down as a house wife and the the like.
She somehow found no meaning and significance in it.
Again it was not any religious or exploring ascetic influence which dictated her mind.
It is difficult to guess wheather it was a negative or a positive influence.
But all the same it did well in the case of a good majority of the common aggrieved , suffering people.
The dedicated duo readily responded to calls of suffering people.
They never hesitated; and there was no limit.
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Aged, crippled but still zealous Sophia was in the bed of a hospital for treatment. It was a lost case for the doctors.
Even the best ones had stipulated and mentioned the left-over days in her life now.
But Sophia never bothered to know about the diagnosis nor about the condition of her body.
Jane had become restless and uneasy.
But in the company of Sophia she had come to treat all calamities , disasters and disorders rather nonchalantly and coolly.
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One evening she sat by the side of her 'Mom" holding her hand . On her obverse side was a large window out of which she could view the panorama - the sunset and the golden sky.
As Jane gripped her Mom's hand the latter turned towards her breathing hard within the oxygen mask.
She smiled a real, felt smile. She had just been relieved of the feeding tube since she could not take food through her mouth.
Containing herself despite all the pain, pangs and suffering, she spoke rather indistinctly . But Jane had no difficulty in comprehending and realising what she meant.
" Child " she said moving her index finger.
'
'Mom ' Jane could hardly articulate.
'Mom' she repeated this time a little louder.
"Do not be upset dear... don't feel sorry... life is a journey...
you need to move along... nothing is inevitable....
Nothing one ows and nothing does anyone lose... things go
on... ".
She coughed and added
"And there is an end.... one can dream of flying high... looking
at the horizon... but no one can go beyond the horizon of
life...
" Cheer up dear and move your way till the end... the horizon...
".
Her finger seemed to point at some thing.
With these words she gasped for breath and with a spasmodic jerk she became still.
It needed no clinically pronouncement.
Jane stood for minutes looking at her .
There was a strange expression in her face:it was free from suffering, pain, defeat, shock or disillusionment .
Jane could read and realise almost exactly.
Tears had been withheld in her eyes. She had long back realised that crying was futile and meaningless.
She stood where she was and looked across the large window on the other side.
The sun had just set and the sky was all lined with golden yellow hue with red patches.
She stood gazing beyond the horizon.
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