A river in rainy season has its own majestic charm with flood waters rising nearly up to the brim of the banks. Things of sorts like, small bushes, twigs, wooden planks, logs, rags, plastic containers to mention a few, float in different courses some coming close to other items and parting with them in the next moment. One wonders why this transitory nature of relations is hard to believe among human beings where everything is taken for granted that the relations would be long lasting. How to come out of this delusion and seek out a 'soul mate', if there is any, who will assure permanent relationship with us. A touching story to make one shed a tear or two......
As the train left the station and picked up speed, passengers settled down in their seats. The Ticket Collector entered the compartment and began to check their tickets. He noticed a black colour money purse fallen under a seat, picked it up and opened it. It contained a few currency notes and a photo of Lord Krishna. Holding up the purse in his hand he asked the passengers to provide some proof of contents to claim if any one of them lost it. Immediately an old man raised his hand and claimed it was his and told that it contained a few currency notes and the photo of Lord Krishna. The Ticket Collector promptly returned the purse and left for finishing the job of checking in the compartment. After a while he returned back to the old man, sat beside and requested him to clarify his doubt that mostly people keep photos of their near and dear, but why the old man preferred Lord Krishna. The old man made a deep sigh and started to narrate his story ;
' Sir, It's a long story. When I completed schooling my parents gifted this purse. With veneration, I inserted their photo in it. When I became handsome college youth, I replaced with my photo. When I got job and was married, I replaced with my beautiful wife's photo. When I got a son, I replaced with my son's photo. By the time he grew up and completed his education, my parents and my wife left this world one after another. When my son got married and started paying less attention
to me due to preoccupation with his young wife, I came to realise about the illusory, non-permanent nature of human relations. It dawned upon me that our True Companion all along, right from womb to tomb and even beyond, is the Eternal Soul Mate - The 'Almighty'. Hence, I replaced with my 'Atma Bandhu (Soul Mate)' - Lord Krishna'.
A drop trickled from the eyes of the spell bound listeners around. As the next station approached, the Ticket Collector reached for a book stall on the platform and enquired if a photo of Lord Krishna was available for sale !
Om Shanti !
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