The Hermit – Fate

The old hermit was in a new form and in a new place. He wore a dhoti and braided hair with chillum in  his mouth sat on the banks of Yamuna River. The tourists took selfies with him during the day as he sat calmly eating the temple food. And during the night he was at other side of the banks away from the crowds, the noise and polluted river.

One night when the moon was glowing in the dark sky, when the whole city was asleep, the hermit sat on a stone bench in meditational posture. His penance was disturbed by noise of a car. The wheels of the cars screeched as it halted and then the car door shut aloud. The hermit heard footsteps coming towards him.
And as he opened his eyes, he smiled as if he knew what was about to happen. The young man, Ravi Kishan drove the car. He walked towards the river with mighty force. His face looked as if he was angry, furious, yet helpless and sad. He dipped inside the river and tried to hold his breath for long but failed each time. The old hermit couldn’t help but laugh at this scene. Ravi came near the hermit and when he stopped laughing and said, “Go ahead. Why did you stop? My life is a joke anyways. Continue Baba” angrily.

Then Baba, the old hermit calmly smiled and said, “Take this chillum and sit next to me.” The young man liked the offer and smoked the weed. Both sat in silence and watched the river and full moonlight. It was beautiful away from crowds. The tourists were on the other side of the banks where Baba sat during the  day and in the nights he sat here.
The young man decided to talk as the chillum reached his brains.
“Baba, I wish I was you. I mean life is so simple and there is no pretence or expectations…”
Baba interrupted, “So you wanted to take your life cause of others expectations?”
And burst out laughing.

Ravi got up furiously and before he uttered a word, Baba gave him another weed and this time he refused.  “Fine, don’t take it. But just sit here for some time.”
You know even the rivers and rains have expectations. The farmers want them in such and such quantity and place. But the rains have their own moods. When it doesn’t rain, there is drought. When it rains too  much, there are floods. But thank God for that we have no control over the nature- the sun, the moon and the rains yet.

Ravi looked more miserable than before. He fell silent for few minutes. Baba seemed shake Ravi’s beliefs. But  Ravi wondered how anyone will understand his problems. So he asked, Baba “Do you know who my father is?
He is MLA of this constituency. He has influenced hundreds of people. Everyone has high expectations out of  me. But I just don’t want and can’t be like him…” Baba felt sorry for Ravi, “Beta, have you ever wondered your life is not like your friends? The car you came in, people aspire to have them. And you inherited them.

Ravi interrupted irritably, “That’s the problem with you and everyone. I am fed up of listening that I got things with no effort of mine. I am nothing without my father. And I have to prove myself etc etc. I am sick and tired of all this.” And he got up again looking at the flowing river and Ravi’s anger matched with the currents of the water. Baba said, “You are getting me wrong. And who said you got everything with no efforts. I think those who envy tell you all this so that you give away what you have. Don’t believe people who say that you don’t deserve what you got. It is not true. We all have what we really and truly deserve. You have got cars, bungalow and position. You are born in such a place. Don’t you think there is reason for it? Baba gave a pause as Ravi calmed again.

Baba then said, “Even the lion in forest wishes to be a cow sometimes, to be loved and honored. But the lion is a lion and cow is a cow. And it knows it doesn’t have horns like the cow in defense and neither can it be tamed  like a cow. Beta, learn to accept yourself first then bother about society. You are born with certain things cause of yourself. Let me tell you a story but before that, leave the idea of drowning in that river again because you
look funny.” chuckled Baba.

“Long ago there lived a mighty King with his queen and two daughters. The King loved his princesses and gave them whatever they asked for. He made adequate arrangements for their training in arts and skills in different areas. One day, he called both his daughters and asked them a question. “Princesses, by whose favour do you think you have gained skills and knowledge?” The elder princess was eager to please her father. She said, “With
you greatness and generosity I have received all comforts in life. I am whatever I am and I have everything is only because of you.” But the younger princess surprised the King with her reply, “Father, whatever I have, the palace, these clothes, you, all are because of my fate and destiny. If you wouldn’t have given me any of it, I would have received from somewhere or someone else.” The King felt humiliated and punished her. He married her to a beggar who suffered from leprosy. She was given rags and was banished from the kingdom. And the
elder one was rewarded by marrying her to a handsome charming prince. She also was given loads of riches from the royal treasure. She was escorted with servants and maids in her palanquin. But fate played it games. The elder princess was looted by dacoits on her way to her Kingdom.

The younger princess refused to take back her words and took her fate with a smile. She lived with her leper husband in a small hut. She took great care of him. Within months he was recovered and looked like a prince now. The leper’s mother revealed that he was actually a prince. And she left the palace to secure his life from his uncle who assassin him in his infancy. So soon he went and reclaimed his throne. And the younger princess became a queen.
Soo the King felt guilty of his punished and called his daughter back. The King asked forgiveness from his daughter and agreed that fate is the master of our destiny.”

Baba ended the story and Ravi hugged Baba and said, “Thank you for everything Baba.” He drove his car much happier and thought, “Fate should always be embraced. I have inherited luxuries but also have lot of responsibilities with it. I have what I deserve and not because of anyone or anything.”

Must Read The Hermit – Children