It was black. It was huge. It was made made of black magnum. Its height, width and weight was beyond its own comprehension. It was lying aside on a lonely road that began from a river bed, and further ascended uphill to the cliff. It couldn’t speak. It just stood alone and gasped. Neither could it move on its own even for an inch, nor could any pressure do it. People saw it and perceived it differently. Some considered it a good place to sit and relax. Some dried their clothes upon it after washing. Some new enthusiasts found it a good place to scribble feelings for their loved ones. Some utilized its shadow to escape from the scorching Sun. Some took afternoon siestas underneath it.
But, it was a little different. It had a heart that could feel, a mind which could hold beliefs. It could feel the cool air that pampered it whenever it passed by. It felt important while being used for various purposes. Rain drenched it with undeterred serenity. Its confidence booted up when it could stand firm and stable, facing a fiery storm. Flood in the otherwise placidly flowing river made the rock the most eligible shelter for the helpless fauna. It could feel the pain when some of its parts were chiseled and hammered to seperate away from it. The pain which emerged due to being away from its roots was overbearing. Yet,this physical pain was subjective.
If its seperated organ was utilized for making roads on which travellers and soldiers could tread upon and conquer their destination, its bosom swelled up with pride. But when it was just coarsely manhandled and kept aside along with its other unstable counterparts – who could at any point of time landslide and take away people’s life, it wept. It regretted for the crime which it had not even been a part of. In short, it was a righteous soul!
This continued for ages. Vagaries of time were visible on it in the form of freckle lines. It felt old and needed more care and attention. Yet, what it got was the same old amount. It felt dejected and lost. To add more, due to constant digging out its body parts had become weak and there was a fear of being shattered one day.
Hence, it started challenging – questioning and counting its own assets and vices. Sometimes possesions ruled, some other times , its misfortunes. Though this engaged its attention for a while, but could’nt make it happy. It had lost its peace. Introspections went futile.
Then one day it saw a green pasture of grass underneath its shadow. Hovering upon it was a multicolored butterfly. At a distance, there was a bunch of white daisy in full bloom. The butterfly fluttered between all of them. Along with the butterfly, what flowed from one place to another was its colors. They were forming a link. The joy was manifested and it was disseminated in all directions.
The butterfly, the daisies, the green grass were celebrating something which “the rock” had overlooked since all these years. This wasn’t about being good for oneself. This was the HAPPY COMPANIONSHIP. The joy of SHARING. The rock fathomed everything so clearly now. It learnt that its ‘black’ color was composed of rest of all the colors which need to diversify and form a link. A chain to share life among each other.
BEING RIGHTEOUS IS A GOOD THING. BUT TO FEEL THE JOY, YOU HAVE TO START SHARING YOURSELF!
That was a good read. I really like the part in which the rock is feeling things. I have always believed that feelings and beliefs have a close connection. This post conveys that message in an interesting way.
keep writing Shivangi!
Loved reading this, Shivangi. I was having a discussion with Ankit some time back and I did not have the words to explain what I felt. However, after reading this I feel I can explain better. So, here goes:
I think the central theme in this piece is that sometimes we get so obsessed with some ideologies (be it religion or righteousness) or concepts, we take ourselves away from people. Which is really really sad. Isnt sharing moments with people the best form of religion? Isnt giving love to people, animals and plants the best form of praying? Isnt nurturing relationships the best principles to live by? This is what I was trying to express in my post http://www.homeofbeliefs.com/right-or-rite/ in the part about the second degree of flexibility.
I am glad you wrote this post
Keep smiling and sharing!
@ Ankit – thankyou for the read.
@Priya- only few people can actually feel likewise. Infact people fail to understand their own conscience and feelings from within. Infact sometimes even we fail to establish a link within ourselves. Heart says ‘x’ thing, mind says’y’ , your reflexes says another and actions are govered by altogether another set of feelings. It is all about maintaining that balance.