The curiosity with in the young child came up on. Absorbed in his own doings, he interpreted the things around as he deemed fit. But he soon realised that there is more to the sorrounding than he and his thoughts. He started to wander, in search of that more. And soon he found himself staring at a path, the path which he had never came across before. The staunch fear of unknown gripped him. A feeling which he had never experienced before. The curiosity compelled him to stay wondering at the path, yet he could not gather the courage to venture on to the path.
Henceforth, everyday, the child would come at the path and spend his all day. Dreaming of what the goodies the path would unfold if he ventured on and inspite of the goodies the child thought it would provide, the child could never step foot on to it. Each day, from dawn to dusk, child would wait religously. As if the whole purpose of its existence was the path. The passers by would stop and offer care, but the child so oblivious to the world around would not respond to anyone.
This went on for many days. Until, one day, the child met another child. Finding himself in the company of someone simillar, for the first time, the child ventured with his thoughts and feelings. Thinking that this child will understand him, which was true. The new found friend had distracted him from his previous obsession. The obsession of the path. And the child was back to his normal ways, only sharing his thoughts and feelings with his new friend. His new friend was like the break in the clouds which brings the welcome sunshine necessary for the growth of life. Not only his friend lent him the ear, but also answered some of the questions that he himself could not answer. The faith of the child on his friend increased over time.
One day, the child took his new friend to the path, the same on which he had sat waiting. The child confessed his fear, his hope, his dreams to his friend. To his surprise, his friend had ventured on to that path. Under the guidance of someone or one’s own, the child never questioned his friend. He was just happy, that his friend had promised to guide him through that path. The child was overjoyed. He could not believe, finally he would be venturing out on to The Path. He could have never dreamed that his found friend could be the reason of so much change. Change that he had welcomed with both his hands open. Now the life of the child revolved around his new friend.
Finally, the dreaded day came. Both the child and his friend were to venture on to The Path. As they traversed over the landscape, the child realised his thoughts of the path. Places where he guessed accurately and things that he was not so correct. The child’s happiness new no bounds. Sometimes he would venture off the path to look at the banks of The path, he would climb the trees to have a more distant view. He was so happy and engrossed, like any child. But soon, he realised, he had lost track of his friend.
Suddenly, fear gripped him. He could not now take a single step forward, such was his fear. He was shocked still, as if frozen, but he was not frozen, for he was sweating as if engulfed by fear. He could easily associate with this feeling. It was the same feeling, which would engulf him every time he ever tried to venture on to The Path. The only think he can think off was, to run back. And so he ran, never looking back. He was afraid, of what, he knew not. He ran and ran, until he reached where he would sit everyday. With such fear, he vowed never to set foot on that Path.
Next day, the child did not knew what to do. He was snappy, showing utter disrespect to anything and everything he encountered. He showed anger at everyone he came across. But in his heart of heart, he knew the truth. The truth, that he was the coward. That he had relished every second that he spent on The Path. That he was grateful to his friend, to show him whatever little he had.
The only thing wrong with the child now was, he lacked his curiosity, his imagination and thought on the world. As if his soul was taken away from him. He was no different than the pebble lied next to him. Both of them useless, of no value to anyone. Both of them with no reason and purpose of existence. Both of them could easily be ignored, neglected.
This is the story of a Child, who once dared to venture on The Path, with his friend. He had forgotten, that his friend had never promised to complete the journey. It is the story of the child, who assumed too much, ignored too much, feared too much. This is the story of the child, who will be always grateful to the friend, who showed him what lied on the path he had never dared to venture alone.
This story is dedicated to a Friend !!
PS: This not to be read in between the lines. There is no hidden meaning. There is no need to let the horses of one’s imagination run wild.
Tags: Crap by Kid
No Comments »
