Happiness and Peace

It was a hamlet. I reached there when the dusk was crawling in.  I like nature greatly. So I go out trekking especially on the routes of the Himalaya whenever I get chance. I am fond of the simplicity and hospitality of the people who reside in the interior and remote part on the lap of the Himalaya. They do not have wealth; have to earn bread by sweat yet how nice they are.

I like to visit some places several times as in many cases a relationship builds up with me. They sometimes even write to me and request to bring some medicines or any other articles that seem costly or unavailable in their nearby market. I like it very much. Whenever I go to meet again I meticulously take all the things they asked for. They are poor but don’t like to take as a grant. Rather they pretend to be angry with me if I don’t want to take money from them for the goods I brought for them.

So I mention them the price very less and they think it may be possible as I reside in a state capital which they have never seen but know the name of it very well.

The life here is very calm and quiet, seldom stirred by an incident like the death of any villager or the marriage of someone. There is nothing for recreation but to go to the nearby town which is almost five to six-hour journey by shuttle cab or bus. The fare is not always affordable to them and they have to walk long to catch the vehicle.

Pramila saw me from far that I was coming down towards their home. About two years back I first visited them and she takes me as her family member. She greeted me with a large smile and pretended to be angry as I delayed so many days to revisit them. In her family, she resides with her husband, her sister and her father. It’s their practice that the husband has to come and reside in the house of his father in law.

She took my haversack and asked me to come into the house. I rested on the couch and got relaxed. I had to make a whole day walking to reach here. I closed my eyes and the cold breeze entering through the door and windows was giving me relief and it gradually wiping the tiredness and exhaustion. Pramila went out to prepare tea for me. Suddenly I got the sound of the barking of a dog and very quickly it was nearing to me. I understood that Tauseen was coming with Zuuk and Zuuk surely got the smell of their guest. Zuuk jumped on me and became very agile to show his love and joy seeing me after so many days. I’m a dog lover so I enjoyed it with much pleasure. Last time when I came and stayed for a few days, Zuuk always was with me. Tuaseen shook my hands and hugged me warmly. He is a very nice person and I like him very much. He is a farmer like others of this village. He gives the maximum hours of the day in his field to grow crops and though he has to sweat for every grain of crops, yet he looks very happy. He talks very well in a sweet voice that really attracts one. Though he has the minimum schooling yet he has his own view in everything within his reach. He is the chief of the society of this hamlet, not only that, people from nearby villages also regard him for wise decisions and advice.

Pramila entered the room with a pot of tea and cups and some fries of local vegetable. Yes, I was waiting for the tea to refresh myself. Finishing the tea Tauseen told me to have the dinner without him as he was to go to the nearest village for some work and would meet me after my dinner. I then opened the sack to bring out the articles I brought for them, some medicines, some sweets which they liked during my last visit, some spices which Pramila asked me to bring, and some imitation ornaments as a gift to her. Her eyes were gleaming when she got the articles I brought.

I was sitting on the bed after dinner and was looking outside through the window. It was a full moon night and the silvery light pervaded everywhere made a picturesque and mesmerizing beauty. I was drinking the beauty of the night through my eyes. My utterly hypnotic state interrupted when I heard the knocking on the door. I know it was Tuseen and I asked him to come in.

-What about your production this year?  I started the conversation.

– Not bad, but why didn’t you come last year? He complained.

– Went to some other place to trek.

We were talking on this and that.  I noticed he was thinking over something. I asked him –what’s the matter Tuseen? Has anything happened?

Tuseen smiled but it mingled some sadness.

-If there is no problem you can share me Tuseen. You look very sad.

-You know I just returned from Chukhai Village which is very near to us. There I met Fusan, my friend. His son for some years working in a hotel in a town but all on sudden died. It was about a month back it happened. Fusan loved his son greatly and really the boy was very nice. I have nothing to do yet I often go to him so that he may get relief from sharing his grief with me. We have nothing to do because the creator of us has predestined everything in our life. We know that but when problems come we forget it. He stopped for a while. There were no new words. I have heard several times the same words from others. But what he said next astonished me greatly.

–You see everyone is running after happiness very few want peace in life. He said.

-What do you mean! What is the meaning of happiness and peace to a bereaved father who has lost his young son only a few days back?

– That is the problem, my son. What is the definition of happiness and peace to you? He raised his eyes to me.

I became confused and bewildered. Is it Tuseen- a farmer about sixty years of age, living in a hamlet, in a remote hamlet of the Himalaya who has no schooling at all.

I simply can’t believe it. But I have never thought what happiness is and what peace is. I think there is no clear-cut definition. It is the realization which varies from one to the other.

-I have never thought about this. I confessed. He then narrated his own philosophy or views whatever may be said.

– why is Fusan lamenting? You know he lost his son. It’s a great pity for the parents to witness the death of their offspring. It’s a perpetual truth. But you know what we do in our life that is to get pleasure. When your pleasure is hampered either you will be arrogant or lament.  Even you see when you cry for the pain that you cannot bear, the tears relieve you for some time and then the great healer ‘Time’ slowly appease your pains and grief. The pleasure is the happiness. This happiness comes from the fulfilment of your desire and demands. But that is always for a limited time. When one desire is fulfilled then you start to grow another desire to have it. So happiness never last. It grows and spreads in everyone’s mind. You have to search for peace that gives you the pleasure and happiness which will last forever. Then what is peace? Peace is that feeling which overcomes all the desires and grieves within you. Then you will feel the pleasure and happiness that will never go out of you. No sorrow or desire will grow within you. But it’s tough really. Yet we have to pursue it. Every religion says it, I think. He stopped to take a breath.

I was quite baffled. Tauseen residing in this remote village how he could get such a realization! He may be right or wrong. I never thought of these as he described me.

But starting with the death of his friend’s son where he ended I could not imagine foremost.

Tauseen said – Goodnight son, perhaps I disturbed you. Have a nice sleep.

He went out keeping me in a perplexed state of mind.