WANDERERS – XIII

He was listening to every word and the meaning beneath carefully with closed eyes. Noticing she had paused at that moment he slowly opened his eyes and saw her childlike innocent face, a young body that spoke loads of ideology and displayed unique powers that none possessed, yet modest, but a worry of being exposed to the bad world or being exploited! He was coming to understand the meaning beneath her eyes which he had noticed in their first encounter, a smile on her face that would never die and also a sigh of worry! 

He had several questions still open but saw her genuineness, concern to the people’s problems. With more calmness than before, he spoke -

‘Don’t you think you’re denying them the truth they should know? You define truth the way you see it or the way you want it to be!’

‘You know that truth is bitter, it causes pain, it even breaks relations. That which keeps you happy is the ultimate truth and nothing else matters…’

‘…even if it means making them live in an unreal world which is like causing schizophrenia? You can’t do that, it’s is a sin.’

‘And I bear the punishment too in the end, of being denied by their belief in me!’

‘Why do you want to do that? Do you think it’s the only way you can help someone?’

‘It’s descended from many generations and it’s a power to cure, it’s a duty to perform. If the doctor stitches your wound with sharp needles piercing your skin, causing pain and making you bleed just to cure your decease is it a sin?’

‘No but it’s justified, it’s the way it is, it’s fair…’

‘…because the world told you so, and my family was justified with its powers and performed its duty because it’s fair too. What’s the fairest way you use to save someone standing at the hilltop to commit suicide? Is there medicine for people’s pretention?’

He fell deep in more thoughts and many situations that he had seen or experienced flashed at once. There weren’t answers for all such questions, he looked on worried but her smile remained.

‘Yes, ultimate truth is happiness. Truth is not what you know or what I know. Only he knows and that’s the story!’ she almost concluded leaving him speechless at that point.

His thoughts continued to invade and he abruptly stopped them and questioned her,

‘So then why did you say I’m here to help you? I don’t have such powers like you do. How can I be of any help?’

‘I don’t know. But my duty is to save the woman and get her, her rights!’

‘Why don’t you call her husband and imbibe your truth?’ he almost mocked her.

‘I can’t ask anyone to come to me and I can’t even deny the one who’s come by self either’

‘Do you want me to bring her husband to you?’

She didn’t react and he understood what that meant. He had a duty on hand too, along with the sanyasin – rather, an ordinary woman doing her duty!

He smiled and she acknowledged.

Continues…