ROAD

I silently sat at the bus stop, observing the passengers, waiting for the bus that would take me to my desired destination.

There were individuals standing, others sitting alone like myself, and some engaged in conversation with their companions. Each person was patiently awaiting their designated bus number. This road served as a connection between three small towns. Due to the limited number of travelers, only a few buses operated on this route. Typically, there were a maximum of three or four buses available per day.

After waiting for approximately an hour or more, the bus finally arrived. The conductor, who seemed to be new, inquired about my destination and gave me a twenty rupee ticket.  

He was dressed in a perfectly tailored outfit, serving as an official uniform. His height appeared to be approximately 5 feet 9 inches or possibly 5 feet 10 inches. The color of his attire was light khaki with a name tag that displayed - Manohar Lal Sharma. Accompanied by a pair of solid black shoes. His eyes were strikingly sharp with a shade of light brown. 

I took my ticket and settled comfortably into a seat by the window. The distance of my journey was approximately 20 km. Every Sunday, I would make my way to the city to buy some necessary items for my shop. Running a small kirana store in the town and through it, I managed to earn an average income to sustain my family. 

I was lost in my thoughts when abruptly brought back to reality by the presence of someone occupying the seat next to me. I felt a slight nudge from the side as something had pushed me. The individual was very heavy, weighing around 200 pounds. It seemed as though he was carrying the weight of multiple burdens on his body. His chin was firmly pressed against his neck.

His charming face had a striking resemblance to a pumpkin. He was continuously looking out the window and chuckled as he had a secret to share either the window or about me. Suddenly, he remarked, “This road is magical - always moving, yet silent every day, never complaining about its twists and turns.”

The road is always available for travelers to cover their journey and keep moving. However, we often find ourselves stuck by our own thoughts and issues, acting as milestones. They provide an impeccable solution for measuring distance or calculating a journey, but they never make any physical movement.

I also nodded in acceptance, saying yes. 

He expressed his wish for my continued journey and stepped out at the next stop. I still had 10 kilometers left in my journey. 

While sitting by myself, observing the road once again, his words were swarming in my mind. We often find ourselves stuck in problems and obstacles in our lives. I found myself also on the same track. His simple thought sparked multiple questions within me and pushed me to think about it.

Road provides the way,

Thought follows the way,

Mind runs for the way,

But the question remains - WHICH way.

I traveled down this road every Sunday, believing and convinced that only we were in motion. However, I had a sudden realization that the way is also moving with the desired road. Yes, it is continuously moving. 

His simple insight provided me with the direction that whatever challenges, problems, or obstacles we face in life, we must keep our steps moving. Just keep moving!

Thanks for reading……