Mountain and the Sea

The Mountain. Proud, Strong, Aloof, towering over the big world.

Saw the waves of the sea rise strong and high but crash against the base of the mountain.

It haughtily called out the veiled blue sea, "Dearest, your waves are so tempestuous. Yet you never reach even the base of my greatness."

The mountain roared with an icy glaze.

The Sea. Young, Moody, Testy with its deep blue waters called out the mountain,

"Taller the tree, Quicker be its fall." The sea crashed its waves and left again with despair.

Every day the mountain enjoyed tormenting the sea with banter, insults, and mockery. The sea raised its waves and hit the base of the mighty mountain but could never rise above. Dejected and with failures piling up every day, all the sea could do was silently retrieve with its head bent down.

The mountain is so arrogant, thought the sea.

Why is the mountain so proud?

Why is it so special?

Why does it look so majestic?

All it was a blanket of snow. Just snow?

The sea had to admit something begrudgingly.

Every morning when the sun rose, the sea saw a breath-taking scene. The snowy mountain's caps glistened as if heaven sprinkled its glitter and dew drops on it.

How would it feel upon touch? Would it feel as beautiful as it looked? It was so blinding that even the sea withheld its waves to admire the mountain's beauty. Why does the sun first visit the mountain? The mountain is so peaceful and calm. Exotic birds chirp and hum while animals run and climb the tops. Unlike the sea, the mountain is not moody. Why is it so elegant? Why is it so dignified? Why is it so tranquil?

I want to be like the mountain.

No.No.No.

All this treacherous mountain is a cold, shiny piece of rock. Solid and devoid of tenderness.

That is what the sea concluded. There was no room for the sea in the mountain's wilderness. That is how it was and will be, forever.

However, the sea noted something strange within itself the past few days. There was a surge of water, which was only increasing daily. The sea sneered in its heart and rose its waves again.

My day will finally come.

That fateful night. The moon was high in the sky in its whole grandeur.

The sea creatures, big and small, quivered with fear and sunk to the bottom of the sea, clinging to their very lives.

The sea today is not to be trifled with, sighed the moon.

The mountain observed everything quietly. Why is the sea so vehement tonight? Seeing such vigour, the mountain could not resist teasing its dearest young sea.

"Beloved Sea, why are you being so rough tonight? Aah, is your friend Moon aiding you tonight? Ayee, why are you trying to scare me like this? You do realize it's of no use. " The mountain said with a titillating smile.

That damned smile. The mountain looks as wondrous even in the night sky. Is it wrong to say that tonight, the stars and moon combined failed in front of the icy caps of the mountain?

But tonight, was different.

The sea prayed to the moon above, "Lend me your power tonight, for this arrogant mountain has to be put down."

The moon, quiet and genteel, grimaced suddenly.

"As the call, so the echo."

The sea paid no heed and adamantly continued to plead.

But what did the moon mean?

It didn't matter as the sea had already plunged into action.

What started as dull crashing sounds now changed into spine-chilling roars that echoed throughout the land.

The waves that once looked timid in front of the mountain now had raised their gigantic hood and threatened to devour everything in their path.

Tonight will be the ultimate night.

The mountain froze. Today it had indeed angered the once cheerful young sea.

Repentance was no option.

The waves swept, swarmed, and engulfed the land the mountain stood on.

Just then, the mountain base cracked slightly.

The sea did not hesitate to act in that moment and extended its wrath into the crack tearing apart the mountain slowly. The waves kept on pushing ahead without turning back. The core of the mountain was gnawed upon painfully.

The once-mighty mountain was now reduced to just rocks.

The mountain stabbed to pieces, finally submerged into the depths of the sea.

The sea bellowed loudly, "Dearest Mountain, why are you so quiet? Oh yes, the base of the greatness you challenged me with led to your destruction!" The sea laughed heartily and waited for a response.

A deafening silence was all that the sea heard. It pleased the sea. The exhilaration and joy it felt! Its waves celebrated triumphantly…..

Why is it suddenly so quiet?

Why does it feel empty?

Why does it feel so meaningless?

The sea turned around and looked at the calamity it had just caused.

That very moment a snowy block fumbled meekly on its waves.

The snow that the sea had longed to touch was finally within its grasp.

The sea, maddened with excitement, leaped towards the snowy block as if it wanted to embrace the block.

But stupefied, the sea felt as if it was in a trance.

The snow melted upon its slightest touch.

Bemused, the sea cried out loud, "Weren't you a tough cold solid block? How could you be so delicate like a dandelion blowing away in the wind ??"

The sea contemplated, and a terrible mix of emotions arose within it.

Why am I not rejoicing? Why am I not celebrating? My strength destroyed the biggest bully of my life. Wasn't it my desire to destroy the very thing I had admired for so long?

The sea just felt empty.

Desolate. Devoid.

What the sea felt tonight eventually matched with that of its appearance. Vast and completely alone.

The sea lost all its zeal and started to dry on its own.

Wait, how did I gain my strength?

The moon undoubtedly powered the sea, but that was only a part. Where did that water come from? The sea scratched its head.

The moon understood the conflict that arose in the sea and answered by reflecting its celestial memories to the sea.

One night when the sea slept peacefully, forgetting all about its rage in its heart, the moon asked the mountain in a serene tone,

"Why do you stop these fellow clouds every night and make them rain?"

The mountain spoke softly so as not to disturb the sleeping sea, "The sea lost a lot of water trying to touch the base. The sea is still young, it needs the water to recover."

The moon was perplexed and asked the mountain again, "Don't you hate the sea? Why help then?"

The mountain chuckled lightly and gazed upon the calm sea.

"I was all alone here on this land. It was truly blissful, tranquil, and silent. After many years of solitude, to my surprise, there was a pool of water that encroached near my land."

"This pool of water was truly irritating. It kept asking insane questions" The mountain revealed a bashful smile as it drowned in that beautiful reminiscence. "Hello Mountain, I am the Sea! Why are you so tall? Why do you have such a majestic range? What do you have that on top? It looks so white like the pearl I have within this oyster! Wow, how old are you? You seem strong, I envy you. You also look so lovely, unlike me!"

"The sea came and perturbed my penance daily. I was cold and lofty at first. I always thought of how annoying the young sea was. I slowly realized I, the mighty mountain, am jealous of this zealous sea!

So young, so free!

The sea could wander everywhere, whereas I am stuck to the ground. The depth of the sea, the varying temperatures of its waters, and the plethora of sea creatures dwelling in them. How could I ever compare?"

"The sea is truly blessed. The sun rests in the sea's vastness and gives out its warmest hues before it dips into those arms. The sun must truly enjoy the sea's company."

The mountain exclaimed with a hint of jealousy.

"Also, you, the moon, love the sea. You are so intimate and affectionate with each other. So much so that the sea allows you to control its waves. All this vexed my heart initially, but the young sea truly enraptured me with its innocence and energy.

How could I ever hate the sea?

Maybe I have been alone for too long, maybe I am a little jealous, maybe I want the sea's attention, so I took this foolish route of venting out my desires by teasing my dearest sea.

But I know the sea has been changing its course lately."

The mountain despaired.

"The sea now wishes to envelop me within its vastness but keeps losing out the water. So I decided to help my beloved."

The moon wanted to cry

"The sea will destroy you! The moment you crack, the sea will break you!"

The mountain understood the fears too well. "It is selfish, I know. My desire to be one with the sea."

With the mountain gone, and the sea's vigour to live dying rapidly, the sun shined brightly in the sky.

The sea looked at the sun and smiled.

The anger subsided. All that was left was anguish.

An incomprehensible loss.

The Mountain was the source of joy and pain in the sea's life.

The sea finally understood.

Without the mountain, it was nothing.

The sea won the battle but lost the war.

Jealousy conquered love.

It did not matter anymore.

Because,

the sun that once rested in the vastness of the sea dried it up to the bottom till the mountain remains could be seen