The Story
John walked into his usual pathway after another exhausting day at the same old workplace. Life had been tough and punishing for him since the accident two years ago. As he moved forward in the redundant path, he had his eyes gazed on the beach, for, water is the one thing in the world that would never be monotonous. After half a mile, he stopped for his usual cigar break. From speaking against smoking his whole life to smoking out his second pack of the day, that accident had turned his life upside down. Not a day went by where he didn't think of killing himself. He had ruined his happy marriage, stopped caring for anyone else and the worst of them all - started acknowledging the loneliness. As he went towards his usual sitting bench, he discovered that it was occupied. A conversation hater that he was, he decided not to trouble the young man and leaned against a nearby pole to stare at the only thing that made him calm his mind - the water. A few puffs later, he heard a footstep. On turning back towards the bench, he saw an old man struggle towards the bench, his regular bench, which had now become a soft spot for everyone.
It had been business as usual for Luther. He could never get tired of the sound of water. It pointed out a very important moral to him - movement. The waves were the embodiment of -" This too shall pass". As Luther dragged his body towards the bench on the pathway, it did not take him too long to realise he had company. He always loved to converse. He believed that life was made crowded so that you empathize with as many diverse souls as possible. As he pushed his tired back against the bench, he spoke up - " It's a beautiful evening, isn't it? The beachside walk is always a blessing". The young man acknowledged the icebreaker and replied- " Yes Sir! Definitely. These are good times to be around. Oh! where are my manners? Hello Sir, I am Jacob and I am new in town, a guest for only a few days." Secretly thrilled that his conversation starter didn't go in vain, Luther started with his usual small talk. But despite very pleasant words, Jacob's voice seemed low. It would go unnoticed in most cases, but Luther was no ordinary man. Call it age-based experience, but he was very good at analysing true sentiments. Owing to that quality, he kind of interrogatively asked -" Forgive me young man, but your words are as good as the clogged tears in your voice. Well, I am definitely a stranger, but a hell of a listener. I believe every story of any person is worth a biography in itself. If it helps you, this evening in all its grace, need not trouble you so much!". Startled by a stranger's sudden interest in his life, Jacob hesitantly replied - " I am sorry Sir. My story, I am afraid, is surely not worth your time. I should probably get going before it gets ..", moving fingers across his watch continued "Oh my, it's 6 already !". Luther sensed the fake urgency and in his soft empathetic voice said- " Hmm, let me just ask you one question then. I do need a story to put me through the night. You need not tell me anything more. Just tell me what you understand when you look at the water". Puzzled by the strange question, Jacob decided to settle down back on the bench. Given the state he was in, a little positive conversation wouldn't hurt. He replied with a tone depicting his heart now," Well if I think about it, it doesn't matter how long you take to build and how good the sandcastles are, water always destroys it. Doesn't it?. Nothing stays forever". With a wise smile, Luther started advising - " Son, isn't it the same water that provides moisture to build a sandcastle? Of course, water is the most destructive force. Hell, it even brings down the fire with ease. As long as we are talking about the beach and sandcastles here, you have to understand one thing. These waves are like negative thoughts that hit our mind. Of course, they are very important because they provide the moisture for your mind to be careful. Without those safety thoughts, no one could build a strong castle. But too many waves just demolish the same castle. But you have to rebuild, again and again, find the balance in the distance where your sandcastle gets enough moisture and also stays away from demolishing waves. That's what life and experience teach you more than anything. Everything in life is a teacher. You just need to develop a good perspective to see it that way". As Jacob heard these words, somehow, there was a new calmness around. Maybe it was the dusk or the encouraging words of a really wise old man, as he heard the waves again, they had a different sound. He realized what it was. It was Hope. An assurance that waves come and go, but given the right distance, sandcastle can stand forever. With the sound of birds flocking back to their nests, Jacob similarly started pulling himself together and in a real thankful tone, said to Luther - " Thank you for those words. Weirdly, it has helped me to get back up to life". Luther, sensing that his walk and talk time was over, started getting up from the bench and bid goodbye to his story for that day -" Ahh! No problem. You know us old guys. We wait for a troubled soul to boast our experiences off. Well, hope you have a good stay around and remember-water is just water. Like it takes the shape and colour of the container, it also just becomes what your mind is filled with". As Luther left, Jacob was still lost in thoughts but now they were more on the positive side. After a while, he reached for his stick and moved towards the opposite path.
As John saw the two blind guys leave, he was dumbstruck. He had just seen two completely blind people interact with each other, one even bringing the other back to his senses, without even telling each other their disabilities. They spoke about what each other saw in the water, without actually seeing it! .This candid conversation that he just eavesdropped, had sort of put him back on the track of happiness. As he finished the last of his cigars, he took a new oath. The water now seemed to talk to him. It reflected the old man's words to him as he stared down the sun. Since the accident, for the first time, he was voluntarily speechless. When he was back to his senses, though desperately wishing to thank the old man, all he could manage was a nod in his direction. His disability no longer diminished his abilities.
