It was a while the three friends were in conversation and the chai kaka got them a second round of cutting chai. Khushal the cripple friend asks the chai kaka to join them and questions him his take on (kaash) the ‘if only’ factor.
Kaka replied all day many people come here for tea and in their (chai pe charcha) conversations, I notice the reference of ‘if only’ brings a lot of consolation for whatever regrets many carry.
A crumpled newspaper page in which biscuits were served carried pictures of some communal riots in another state. Holding that paper Chai kaka says “religion actually is an everlasting one to one dialogue between a soul and God, all the noise on streets and social media is not necessary the reflection of true worshippers.
To worship God in truth is to recognize Him for being who He is and not express who we are. The disconnected ones and the modern preachers from public platforms are not interpreting contents what and how the saintly left religion for us. Humanity the basis of any religion is missing in the modern day preacher’s speech and actions. Kakas last words after which he left were deep; ‘if only’ and the sooner we realise, we were all humans until race disconnected us, religion separated us, politics divided us and wealth classified us”.
Deepak was next keen to share his bus ride experience, which meant much like his ride in life. Seated in a bus Deepak was reading from his braille book. An elderly person comes sits next to him and looking at the Braille book realizes he is blind and ask what he was reading. Deepak replied I am appearing for my final year engineering and was reading from our text book. Deepak was quick to ask his question about the man’s views on, If only’. The man was quite impressed with Deepak, took a while to respond and said “there is always light, ‘If only’ we are brave enough to see it and brave enough to be it”. Kurpa and Khushal looked at Deepaks eye that could not see but expressed a gleam of great contentment relating to the old mans ‘if only’.
Deepak joyfully summed up his observations saying, life is all about the choices in the first take, unlike making of a filmy movie with multiple retakes. One must stop wishing ‘If only’ things could have been different for it is a chapter now in the past, keep the book open and turn the page, for every next day is a choice to make new beginnings with new efforts and new endings.
Khushal the oldest among them in conclusion says don’t weep for the joy that has gone for, it will come round again in another form. Blessed are those who realise His purpose, that real peace is found in resting wisdom in the One who holds all of our ‘ifs’ and ‘If only’ in His loving hands. I am glad the three of us even with our disability our belief is that God has placed us in the manner and place just where He wants us to serve Him.
The Kadak chai glasses went empty and the three said their good byes and left to celebrate another day of life.
For all beings the ideal 'If only' as Gurbani puts it…. “If only with our mind and body there is such great hunger to unite with Him, keep Him enshrined deep within the heart, discarding all faults and sins to chant the Lord's Glorious Praises always”.
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