1 "WE ARE HAPPY"...the words to remember

Today I met them again…the elderly couple…yes the same couple who once asked me for a glass of water ….and showered upon me hundreds of blessings just for fetching them some water. I have met them many times and every time I feel a strange kind of happiness…

Since morning I have been haunted by the vicious thoughts….I am trying to search deep within me the way how I can lessen their suffering. I zoomed into my conscience and found no answer. It’s just the unease that has occupied me and does not allow me to think about anything else.

I was on my way to Library and saw a bullock cart advancing towards me. I could hardly subdue my gladness. Then I rushed towards them and asked them to stop. I went near them. I could feel the serenity in the voice of the old lady. She was happy to see me and then gently tapped me on my shoulder and touched my face. Her expressions were calm.Her silver hair was being straggled by wind. Every wrinkle of her face was portraying atrocity of the old age.

The old man was quiet for most of the time I stood near them. I asked him, “Bapu ji kidaan chalda?”(How is life going, Grand Pa?)

He didn’t say anything but managed to reply with his gestures…I got a little sad on seeing that. The glow I witnessed on his face last time was a little diminished this time. He had grown more feeble and could hardly manage to make the bullock cart move. 

I asked the old lady, "Bebe ji Ki haal hai?"(How are you granny?)She replied with much despair, “Puttar Gode nahin chalde hun bahut dard hundi hai.”(The pain in knee joints has grown severe, my child !)

I noticed she was losing “something” day by day. That “something” I may not be able to define consummately, but yes, that has to do something with energy, will to survive, urge to live…..

I said, “Hun tusi kamm ghatt karya karo te aaram zyada” (Now you must work less and rest more). Her answer was “Roti kithon khayiye?”(How do earn bread then?”)

I was like very much dismayed after hearing her those words.

They gather dry grass and sell in the market. That is how they make their living. Last time when I asked about their family, She replied, “Sade Bete vi ne, bahuyaan vi ne……par koi kise da nai…asi bojh ban gaye haan ohna te. Sada taan bas Oh hi hai. ” (We have sons, daughters-in-laws…but we have become burden to them. So now we have only one more member in our family other than two of us and that is THE ALMIGHTY”…..It’s only He whom we call our own!!!!!”)

Her answer almost set me still.

Their struggle to service the hardest phase of life is worth appreciation. I have learnt a good lesson from the Bebe Ji and the Bapu Ji…..The life has become more or less a test for them. I imagined...Had I been at their place, I would have never been able to sustain in such days.

To my utter surprise , she said, “WE ARE HAPPY ”…and gave me a contented smile. I can never forget that moment. Her those words are still echoing in my mind. Despite such back breaking hurdles, struggle to survive, she said, “We are happy”…This was something that my mind refused to believe. I could only say, “TUSI APNA DHYAN RAKHIYO”(Take care)…to conclude the conversation. She again touched my forehead and cheek softly with her rough hands. THEIR CART STARTED MOVING AND I STOOD STILL, WATCHING THEM MOVING AWAY…..

2 The Fern And The Bamboo

One day I decided to quit…..I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality…..I wanted to quit my life

 I went to woods to have a one last talk with God.

“God”, I asked ,”Can you give me one good reason not to quit?” His answer surprised me …..”Look around”, He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?” “Yes”, I replied.

“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.

In the   second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again nothing came out of the bamboo seed. “But I didn’t quit on the bamboo”, He said.

In three years there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.

In year four, there was nothing from bamboo seed. “I would not quit”, He said.

“Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant”. But just six months later, the bamboo rose to over ten feet tall. IT HAD SPENT FIVE YEARS GROWING ROOTS. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.

“I WOULD NOT GIVE ANY OF MY CREATIONS A CHALLENGE THAT IT COULDNOT HANDLE” .!!!He asked me, “Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots.”
"I would not quit on you"
"Don't compare yourself with others", He said.
 "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern."
 "Yet they both make the forest beautiful"
 "Your time will come."
 "You will rise high."
God said to me.
"How high should I rise?", I asked.
"How high will bamboo rise", He asked in turn.
"As high as it can?", I questioned."Yes", He said, "Give me the glory by rising as high as you can". I left the forest and brought back the story.

I HOPE THE WORDS WILL HELP YOU SEE THAT GOD WILL NEVER QUIT ON YOU.
Never, Never, Never give up. Don’t  tell the God how big the problem is,tell the problem how GREAT GOD IS !!!!!