The Frail Old Man

I see him in my dreams; I meet him in my waking hours; I feel his presence with my eyes closed; my heart speaks to him even when we are miles apart; he is within me and outside of me and he is a stranger as well as a close friend. He is with me when I breathe and will be when I can no longer breathe.

He is the frail old man; clad in a white cotton dhoti wrapped around his waist, which goes down barely beyond his knees, his upper body lightly covered, a simple smile worn as an ornament, eyes radiating love and understanding as a means of communication and heart big enough to take in everything that is directed at him but return only those words and actions which are pleasant.

 One day, I met him in his modest home which he calls his little heaven. He was up even before sentinels of the night gave up their vigil. In the dark shadows of the creepers and plants of his balcony, he was radiating such a glow that he could be seen from a distance. I went up to him and sat next to him. He seemed to have noticed my presence even with his eyes closed and put a loving hand on my shoulder. The warmth which passed through his hand into my body dispelled my fears and gloom which I gathered over the night and filled me with hope. The strength in his touch defied the frailness of his body and my mind became still.

I came out of the trance when I heard the sound of soft and delicate feet approaching us. I opened my eyes to see two tiny tots cuddle up to the frail old man. Leaving me wondering as to where from they came, they climbed in to his lap and he hugged them very close to his heart. The unspoken words of love between them seemed to have filled the entire environment and the early morning birds started chirping as if to welcome the three of them in to their fold.

The old man held the tiny tots close to him, got up from the chair and started walking up and down the balcony as if he was taking them for a morning walk. The older child whispered something in the frail old man’s ear. The old man lifted and put him on his shoulders while keeping the younger one in his right arm. Three of them were so happy in their own world that time seemed to have stood still for them. They started laughing, acting as if they were catching butterflies, crossing streams, climbing trees and hiding in closets. I could hear the frail old man narrate stories which made the tiny tots very happy and they were planting kisses on his cheeks. A memorable treasure indeed and a lucky man beyond any doubt.

“What a beautiful world! I thought”

“How could you do that? You are frail and old. Where from do you get the strength?” I asked him.

“The strength is not in the body. It is in the heart. When it is filled with love and understanding, it is the strongest amongst the strong. Its strength enables you to scale great heights, to overcome difficult situations, walk an extra mile to meet someone beyond midway and make sacrifices to bring a smile on someone’s face”. He paused to say something endearing to the tiny tots and they laughed heartily.

“It does not ask what you received. Instead, it encourages you to give without putting any price tag on it” he continued.

“Life is about spreading happiness; happiness comes out of giving happiness and feeling happy on seeing others happy”.

“I am sure that the truth will be embraced with earnestness and a big heart by one and all”.

So saying, he melted into the beautiful early morning wonders. I raised my head to see the God of Light riding on the chariot of seven horses glowing with soft golden and orange rays.