Elixir of Life

Let us begin with the fable of a king who frantically wanted to take a sip of “Elixir of Life (Aab-e-Hayat)” so that he could live forever. A saint took the king to the well from where such a drink was available. Upon reaching the area the King was horrified to see nearly-dead but alive the elderly people crawling on the ground.

I cannot withstand this chilling sight. Why is like that? King asked the saint.
Well, they have had Aab-e-Hayat to live forever, the saint replied. Now, he continued, they will have to live the life of this world regardless of getting older and being unable to move.
That means I’ll also end up crawling like them if I took the sip of this drink, the king asked with a shadow of fright on his face.
Absolutely; the Saint replied smilingly.

Without going further into the king’s story, a question comes into the mind that why people right through the ages preferred long life! This question needs to be explored and understood through some logical explanations.

Human being is a creature whose aims and objectives remain flexible and ever-changing during his/her entire life according to the social environment encircling the individual. With the passage of time the cherished goals are realized but new ones crop up instantly. A kid dreams of possessing a truckload of chocolates and ice cream. School boy dreams of possessing expensive game console e.g. X-Box, branded sneakers, plentiful school holidays, etc. An undergraduate fantasizes of having sports bike, friends from opposite gender, pair of Levi’s jeans, expensive cell phone, etc.

Ask a near-graduate what he/she aspires in the forthcoming practical life and reply of almost all of them would be; a good job or higher studies, a car, a house/apartment and a matching spouse. Believe me no one would think beyond these basic wishes. Just how long it takes to fulfill these desires in one’s life? Not many years; would be a unanimous response. If it is so, then where does one get lost? Actually one goes astray in the labyrinth of multiple longings that grow side by side never letting a person to realize that the cherished basic desires have long been achieved and new & strong ones have replaced them. A good job has been secured but promotions, incentives, higher salary etc., keep the one restless perpetually. The individual maintains a small secondhand car but longs for a better one; a luxurious sleek sedan. He has managed to buy a two-bed apartment but seeks to move into a house. And then incessant wants and requirements of family; simply, there is no stopping to the wish list.

The foregoing scenario depicted the life of a middle class man but what about the “Forbes” class; the powerful politicians, the authoritarian generals, the successful business tycoons, the IT magnates, and media moguls! All these elites play magic and make their wealth increase exponentially. Even lavish expenses do no harm to their accumulations which keep on growing.

These relentless unfulfilled dreams generate a desire within a person to live on and on and on. All will agree that even Aab-e-Hayat would prove insufficient in quenching the thirst of wants and desires.

Can a man stop yearning for it?

In Praise of Wife

I can’t express how much care and affection you’ve been showering on me since our tying up into the nuptial knot more than 20 years ago. Still, I take pride in recollecting the following happenings we’ve been sharing for years:

1. I used to wake you up early morning just by my touch so that you can prepare breakfast for me. Time went by; I started blowing soft whistle through my lips for the very purpose. Every time you became conditioned with my repetitive and irritating habit which turned ineffective, I switched over to a new one. Finally I gave up. Darling, it is sweet of you for agreeing to share what I prepare for the breakfast in spite of the fact that it is hard to sacrifice much needed sleep.
2. You never forgot in all those years to call during my hectic office hours that you would warmly greet me at our doorstep aimed at vanquishing my day-long fatigue so that we could go for a shop straight away without wasting time.
3. You taught children not to talk deafeningly before me, and kept the volume of TV low so that I could concentrate and comprehend what you tried to explain through unstoppable talking!
4. While doing laundry, you always assigned me soft jobs like rubbing the collars & cuffs of shirts, bottoms of pants and trousers, towels, etc. Still, you helped me squeeze off water out of clothes by holding them tightly from one end while I twisted the other ends ferociously.
5. Dish washing has been the easiest of all jobs, and why not; I just cleaned the greasy / oily plates & utensils, collected leftovers of kids and guests, and applied cleanser powder and soaps. The difficult task of rinsing them was always your responsibility. So what, if the precious glassware often slipped from your hands and turned into pieces.
6. I still can’t believe how you came to know that I liked ironing clothes. Don’t you think I’m the best when it comes to pressing cotton-ware and ladies clothes?
7. No one would believe how caring you have been throughout these past years; you would never let me prepare supper considering that I was tired after a hectic day. Instead you always correctly and convincingly suggested dining out. How sweet!
8. You never frowned when my in-laws visited us frequently. I know you’d have greeted in the same manner had your in-laws visited us! I wonder why they never did!
9. You never forgot to buy gifts for your in-laws during “Sale”, on “Cut-price shops” and “Buy one, take one free” instances. They must’ve loved them!

My sweetheart; how can I forget our intimate hours; no, minutes. Darling, if it weren’t my weakness to falling asleep just on touching down the bed, we’d have had far better moments together!

Punhoo, the Gardener

I’m one of those privileged people whose office is located just across the compound wall of a large residential complex owned by the large organization I work with. While walking to the office every morning I watch gardeners with curiosity, reverence, and empathy.

Gardeners are found busy mowing the lawns, some remove dry leaves from the grass, some are holding hoses to water the green belts while others cutting wild shrubs from the edges of pavements. The afternoon sight is a bit different when the attendance of gardeners gets thinned. Some enjoy siesta under tree shadows and a few trim trees. Sometimes they are found removing the tree branches hanging over the electricity conductors.

These uneducated and low-paid employees often miss our attention, taken for granted to do their jobs and considered as less important segment of our society destined to live and die without making their presence felt. Luckily I had the chance to sit with one of the gardeners and discuss his life, etc. Here is how our conversation went through:

How are you Punhoo? How are you doing? I asked the gardener.
Thanks Allah. Life is good, work is going well, he replied.
Don’t you get fed up doing similar job for years now? I mean cleaning, mowing, trimming, watering, etc. I enquired.
Sir! Are there some kinds of works which change everyday? He was inquisitive in his tone. Do you perform a variety of jobs for your living? He continued.
No, not at all, but we have different and better environment, chances of promotion, better facilities and excellent opportunities for growing.
So you must’ve been saving enough for your children and their future! He smiled with a sparkle in his eyes.
Not really; it’s hard to cope within the limited monthly income. I said, displaying my disappointment.
Then what a gardener is ought to do to improve his living? Punhoo asked mockingly. I had no answer.
Are you satisfied with your life? I tried to ask in a different way.
Alhamd-o-Lillah (All praise to Allah) I’m satisfied with my work and little income. It’s enough to meeting our needs.
How come? I don’t believe it! It is simply mindboggling to think a low-paid employee is able to limit his expenses within what he earns.
Look, Punhoo explained, my work involves nurturing the green areas, maintain flowerbeds, planting trees and taking care of them so that they are not eaten away by the goats and other animals. More beautiful the landscape becomes more people will enjoy it. Watching people visiting green lawns, sitting under the trees, children running through the flowerbeds give me immense joy and satisfaction. It’s our firm belief that if you let the people happy Almighty Allah will also be pleased and bless us with his mercy and reward. This is my real income. Besides, whatever I earn is more than sufficient to buy Daal Roti. He reiterated.
But this is not quality life. You are living in Stone Age! I emphasized.
Sahib listen, he toned firmly, my bicycle doesn’t require CNG or other fuel to run. I don’t own TV or computer. Why, because my children live simple life, like me. They go to a local language government school and will end up working like me in the gardens when they are grown up. Therefore their needs are negligible. My wife works in a bungalow where she often gets leftover food, worn-out clothes and expired medicines. Hence, our needs are fulfilled by the grace of Almighty Allah.
Sir, you seem to be unsatisfied with your life, he asked me abruptly.
No, no. I’m doing fine. I replied in haste.
He looked at my pale face closely and walked away smilingly.