Picture by James Arthur from Google
THE GANGES
© Kelvin M. Knight, 2019
He stood at the top of the ghats looking down. Crowds pushed and shoved one another down these steps. Everyone was bathed in orange glows. Earlier that evening they’d been bathed in incense.
He knew what the attraction was, knew why it was vital for these men and women of all ages to get to the riverside and bathe. He knew. He understood. He just didn’t feel anything. He’d been holidaying in Varanasi for years, ever since his partner passed away at the breakfast table. Everything since that fateful day had been dreamy, dislocated.
Even this.
This thrumming of humanity. This rippling religious river. He should move, go down one step at least. He should. He heaved his camera up instead, aimed it at the middle of the Ganges. Orange ripples turned black. And, there, the reflection of a tiger. He gasped. He felt tearful. Tigers were Adrian’s favourite animal.
(150 words)
Picture from Britannica.com
The above story was written in response to the What Pegman Saw prompt, which this week took us to:
Varanasi, India
You are warmly invited to the Inlinkz link party to read other globetrotting contributors’ stories inspired by this week’s prompt.
Kelvin M. Knight 
A wonderful place for such an ephiphany. Great photo, too.
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Thanks Josh, it’s almost like the place was made for epiphanies.
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I so like the images chosen. And the tale to go with it. And, of course, the ghats alongside the Ganges is the site of the Hindu cremations, so an apt place for him to see the tiger reflections
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Absolutely crimsonprose. Thanks for your knowledgeable comment and for reading.
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I bow my head
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You picked a great photo, Kelvin, and did it justice with a well-woven tale of recovery. Nicely done. Love the idea of bathing in color and incense.
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Hey Lish, how you doing? Thanks for lovely comment. I love that idea too!
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Very believable and touching; you portray that numbness of grief well, that sense of not being able to get into activities even when everyone around you is moved by them. I like how this is a turning point for him, seeing the tiger; it feels like the first step back up out of the dark well.
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I agree, Joy. Baby steps, but he’s on his way.
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Thanks Joy. Such a lovely and thoughtful comment. You got exactly what I wanted to portray, what I was feeling for this sorry soul.
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Oh, wow! So sad, it brought tears. I hope that seeing the image of his partner’s favourite animal brought peace, and helped him towards closure.
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Hi Penny, I love your wow! moments. Hope your teary eyes didn’t last too long. Thank you for such a heartfelt comment. I kind don’t expect anything less from you my friend.
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Has he at last found the peace he’s been longing for? I ache for him–I sure hope so. Such a fitting tale for the locale.
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Me too Karen. Hope it didn’t disappoint you. Was intending a dreamy floaty tale but this tiger picture (not included with my post) really roared at me. 😁
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Lol, it was a roaring tale! Loved it 🙂
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