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Victory Beyond Fear

October 16, 2018 by Fall Writing Contest 2018 38 Comments

Ashna Chand is a passionate Indian writer artist. She loves to explore art, nature, creativity, and all the positive aspects of life. She believes her writing possess strength of vision and cheer. You can explore more of her writing and ideas at SchoolOfShine and blogspot. You can reach Ashna on LinkedIn.

This story is by Ashna Chand and won the Readers’ Choice Award in our 2018 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.

Victory Beyond Fear

It was a dark midnight. The howling dogs broke his sleep. As he opened his eyes, a floral green face with blood red eyes and dark brown hairs verged upon him.

“Oh! Go away, please,” yelled trembling Amar.

“There is nobody here, honey. Why are you scared?’’ his mother inquired in worry.

“A wild monster, Mom. He was about to smash me.”

“Did you see that weird monster again? I have told you endless times, stop watching those horror movies with your wimp friends.”

“Oh! Come on, Mom. Switch on the night lamp and let me go to sleep.”

“My sweet little honey, you had just turned fifteen with a phobia of darkness,” his mother criticized.

After a few minutes, Mother hugged him intentionally. She wanted to bully him.

“Mom . . . Mom!” Amar yelled again.

“It’s me, honey,” Mother replied.

He hugged her and went to sleep.

Mom was sipping tea and reading a newspaper the next morning. One of the taglines in bold held her attention. “MONSTERS ARE IMAGINARY CREATIVE CREATURES FORMED BY OUR OWN FEARS AND AGITATIONS” BY ASHNA CHAND.

“Good read! This is for you, Amar.”

“Thanks, Mom. I will read it on the way. Our school tour starts today and we will return after three days.”

“I would have joined you too if I could. Keep me updated and call me whenever you feel like. I wonder if your terrified friends could make your trip fun and adventurous.”

“Mom, please don’t nag on John and Riaz, as they are my best buddies.”

“What else should I say? How are they going to enjoy swimming or paragliding with you?” suspected Mother.

“I’ve met them twice and both times they were horrified. In one of the incidents, John was screaming insanely in the swimming pool all of a sudden. I was startled to see him. He was dancing over the water as if he didn’t know swimming.

“On the other hand, Riaz is overly sensitive with heights. Would you imagine? I have seen him horrified in a glass lift of Central Mall. He literary got stuck to the lift door in terror, waiting for the door to open soon. Finally, when the door opened, he rushed out yelling, ‘Oh! Everyone, please run, the scary beast is behind us.’”

“You three friends are offbeat and tend to see monsters everywhere. However, enjoy your trip to the fullest and try to make it adventurous.”

Mom’s words pinched Amar’s heart. He decided to get to the roots of that scary monster which exists only in the darkness. He desired to overcome his fear and lead a rewarding life.

On the way to the station, he read the article suggested by his mom. He reflected on the whole idea that the writer conveyed. The best lines in the article, he felt, were, “The key to dump the negative thoughts and fears is: Fill your mind with positive thoughts and consider the monster as your best buddy.”

Amar usually disliked reading; though for the time being, he found the article most needed.

I and my friends will face the monster boldly, imagined Amar. He reached his destination on time. All three boarded the train together. John and Riaz were fighting to have a window seat in the train. Amar became a mediator between them and set their turn for the same.

“Come on guys! Grow up now and stop fighting like kids. Let’s plan our adventures as they are going to be prominent throughout this whole trip,” asserted Amar.

“No! No! I won’t swim. I still dream about my last scary experience in the blue water,” replied John instantly.

“But you loved swimming,” interrupted Riaz.

“Yes, I used to love it. But nowadays, every time I start swimming that yellow beast frightens me horribly. He is huge, has big round eyes focusing on me. His octopus-like structure approaches me as soon as I start feeling light underwater. And my fun turns into terror. Would anyone believe I was a champion in swimming,” said John. He then turned around to hide his tears.

“Well! John, your sea monster is far better than mine,” teased Riaz.

“What! Is it? I assumed you simply had anxiety on heights. Do you too have to face the monster every time on the altitudes?” John inquired.

“Yes, it comes to me every time I go higher. It is an aerial supernatural structure. As soon as I see this dark blue beast like structure, my body trembles. Hence, I am not in for Paragliding.”

“Thank God! Both the adventurous are in the daytime,” grinned Amar.

“True, else this adventurous trip would have turned into a romantic couple’s honeymoon,” Riaz punned.

“For being in couples, we could have brought our girlfriends,” winked John.

Three of them split each other’s sides with laughter.

“Don’t worry, friends; I have got the key to face the monster. We three will fight against our fears and make this trip the most memorable.” Amar spoke with confidence.

Riaz and John were confused; they assumed Amar’s night monster had made him insane.

“Guys, I am not kidding. This is going to be fun. Believe me, I tried it last night and it worked. I had a deep calm sleep last night in complete darkness.”

“Alright, tell us what to do,” insisted John.

“Before you begin paragliding, just fill your mind with positive thoughts. Repeatedly murmur, I can do this. I can surely do this. Imagine the monster as your enemy who has challenged you to fly high. Then simply surrender yourself with your whole and soul courage. Hence, you yourself will feel the magic of flying high and will be thankful to me,” suggested Amar.

He further said, “We are what we think; our own thoughts make our own identity. The monsters which we are scared of are our own minds’ creation. If you understand this fact, you can make yourself free from the terror of a monster.”

Riaz and John were inspired by him. They agreed to take his challenge, fight, and ruin the monster by themselves.

Riaz decided to go into the pool in the evening. He wanted to be more confident during the swimming competition the next day. As he saw the blue water, he got butterflies in his stomach initially. He prepared his mind by recalling the words of his friend. He told himself repeatedly, I can swim very well. Also, there is no one in the water.

Splash! The champ jumped in the water. He was swimming easily wearing a smile. He was surprised to learn that there was no sea monster to stop him underwater.

“Hurrah!!” he yelled the next day as he won the prize in the race.

“Now, it is your turn to fly free in the sky, John,” prompted Riaz. “Also, your aerial monster seems to me a dear friend of yours who challenges you for extremely fun sport.”

The three chums were ready to float above the earth. Here they had to play a part, as for this sport each individual had to launch their flight with a licensed pilot.

“Wow! Look at those paragliders launching off from the top. This is so exciting and fabulous,” said John in a nervous tone.

“You take your flight first, John. That will give you strength,” insisted Amar.

As John got ready to fly, he buckled his seat belt. He heard his friends calling, “Enjoy, buddy; we are coming behind.”

Woohoo! The flying John was amazed to see the beautiful skies, calm sea and the tiny world beneath his eyes. In between this incredible experience, there was no space for fear or any monster. There was only purity and serenity that mattered up there.

Each one of them had wonderful smiles on their face after the flight. They felt overly thankful to the tandem pilot for showing this aspect of the world to them.

“Hahaha! In this pic, you seem to be frozen due to fear, Riaz,” commented John, as they were enjoying clicked memories on their way back home.

“Our trip was extremely adventuresome and enjoyable. We have mastered the greatest trait of wisdom — being fearless. Also, my mom is going to be very happy when she hears our miraculous experience,” said Amar, reflecting on the trip.

Suddenly the light switched off; there was complete darkness and the train was moving in speed.

“John . . . Riaz . . . where did you go?” called Amar.

He saw two monsters with a floral green face, blood red eyes and dark brown hairs moving towards him. For a moment, he thought a monster of darkness had returned. But soon he recalled the key to overcome fear that he had read in that article.

He repeatedly reminded himself, Monsters doesn’t exist. And he bravely smashed the two monsters.

Ah! Oops! The two screamed, “Dude, we never knew you hit so badly.”

Amar warmly replied, “You both never gave me the reason to hit you, my dearest friends.”

All three busted into laughter and hugged each other.

Filed Under: 2018 Fall Writing Contest, Drama

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Comments

  1. Kavita Jagwani says

    September 20, 2018 at 2:28 am

    Excellent piece again by u dear. I always look upon ur writings n find them very positive. Love n light.

    Reply
  2. Samridhi says

    September 20, 2018 at 3:39 am

    The article is about breaking free from your fears..Good one.. Will try incorporating the message in my life..

    Reply
  3. Bharat says

    September 20, 2018 at 6:12 am

    Awesome piece with great articulation sending the message loud and clear to boldly fight with your fears and have friends who keep challenging your frights as then only the triumph would be waiting to hug you.
    Great piece of work, Ashna!

    Reply
  4. Ojas Mehta says

    September 20, 2018 at 2:23 pm

    Excellent story. Beautifully written. Very ]nspiring.

    Reply
  5. Manjusha Uttamchandani says

    September 20, 2018 at 8:45 pm

    Kudos on a wonderful story ! Very beautifully written. God bless.

    –

    Reply
  6. Ashna Chand says

    September 20, 2018 at 8:55 pm

    Thanks you so much for appreciations. Love of my readers, inspires me to write more good write ups.

    Reply
    • Haresh Aswani says

      September 23, 2018 at 12:01 pm

      It will help overcome many phobias people experience in daily life.

      Reply
      • Ashna Chand says

        September 25, 2018 at 6:36 am

        Thank You Mama 🙂

        Reply
  7. Rohit says

    September 21, 2018 at 12:04 am

    Great work ..beautifully written and Inspiring. Kudos!!

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      September 25, 2018 at 6:37 am

      Thank You!

      Reply
  8. Kiran khawani says

    September 21, 2018 at 9:15 am

    Superb Ashna Chand……you are truly a source of inspiration….for many…including ..me and my son Ronnie….who…has that..Amar’s ….some fear some where….I’ll share this piece with him

    Reply
  9. Hiren Shah says

    September 25, 2018 at 5:58 am

    Great work , Excellent story

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      September 25, 2018 at 6:36 am

      Thank You!

      Reply
  10. Ashna Chand says

    September 25, 2018 at 6:35 am

    Thanks a lot dearest Kiran Khawani (Didi). Your appreciation means a lot to me 🙂

    Reply
  11. Preeti says

    September 27, 2018 at 7:16 am

    Very nice

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      October 16, 2018 at 1:26 pm

      Thanks a lot

      Reply
  12. Shail says

    September 27, 2018 at 9:07 pm

    Beautiful and inspiring story….great writting,

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      October 16, 2018 at 1:26 pm

      Thank you

      Reply
  13. Ichabod Ebenezer says

    October 12, 2018 at 4:24 pm

    Congratulations on your win, Ashna! It was very creative the way you wrote yourself into the story, helping out the main character to overcome his fear.

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      October 15, 2018 at 11:07 am

      Thank you so much, Ichabod Ebenezer.

      Reply
  14. Nia Ellis says

    October 12, 2018 at 5:20 pm

    Congratulations on your win, Ashna! I enjoyed reading your story.

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      October 15, 2018 at 12:53 pm

      Thank you Nia Ellis.

      Reply
  15. Dawn says

    October 12, 2018 at 6:29 pm

    Vety nice story. Love the positive connotations which are very true and real. Each negative is a monster and you revealed that.
    Well deserved win. Congrats.

    Dawn Bunsie Hazell

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      October 15, 2018 at 11:52 pm

      Thank a ton Dawn,

      Reply
  16. J. H. O'Rourke says

    October 12, 2018 at 9:55 pm

    Congrats on your win! Lovely story!!

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      October 15, 2018 at 11:53 pm

      Thanks J. H. O’Rourke.

      Reply
  17. Beth Evans says

    October 16, 2018 at 4:04 pm

    I loved your story. I’m looking forward to reading more of your writing.

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      October 30, 2018 at 6:08 am

      Thank you so much Beth

      Reply
  18. Claire LAUZON says

    October 17, 2018 at 2:47 am

    congratulations on winning the Readers’ Award. I enjoyed your story. It is so positive and real. Wish I could write like you. You are inspiring.

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      October 22, 2018 at 2:15 am

      Thank You Claire, You will surely write positive and inspiring story as you wish to. Good Luck!

      Reply
  19. David Monodanga says

    October 17, 2018 at 5:43 am

    Ashna! this is an awesome piece of writing. i am in deep love with it. i am dying to write like you.

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      October 22, 2018 at 2:17 am

      Thank You David. You would surely write, as you like writing.

      Reply
  20. Kristin Johnson says

    October 18, 2018 at 11:54 am

    Good story about facing your fears and believing in yourself.

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      October 22, 2018 at 2:19 am

      Thank You Kristin. I am happy that I could deliver the true message of story to my readers.

      Reply
  21. Belinda says

    October 19, 2018 at 12:14 pm

    I congratulate the author for winning the Readers’ Choice award and choosing an uplifting theme. There is so much dark material out there, that it’s always good to see a writer who wants to encourage and write about people overcoming difficulties.

    However, although the writer has some talent, this struck me as an amateurish piece of work. There is some very awkward phrasing, clumsy dialog and strange pacing.

    I do hope the writer will continue learning and practicing her craft, because she clearly has a lot to share, but it would be very beneficial to hire a professional editor or at least have a rigorous critiquing process.

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      October 22, 2018 at 2:39 am

      Thank You Belinda. I will surely work on my weak areas and learn more to improve my craft. Thanks forgiving me genuine critique.

      Reply
  22. Preetisinghani says

    October 19, 2018 at 2:15 pm

    Very well penned Ashna.
    It’s truly inspiring and educating how to overcome your own fears.
    I’m going to definitely work on this idea of yours.
    Best part is story keeps u hooked till end

    Reply
    • Ashna Chand says

      October 22, 2018 at 2:41 am

      Thank you so much dear Bhabhi, I am so happy you liked it.

      Reply

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