41 views
LIFE AND DEATH
#WritcoStoryChallenge
The car sped through the dark night, it's headlights flashing, warning the incoming traffic
The car sped through the dark night, it's headlights flashing, warning the incoming traffic. The car seemed out of control and took a sudden turn with screeching noise, the car broke the concrete barricade and fell on the other side of the gorge.
Pedro was a normal boy, a call center executive. His father, a retired bank manager, was a respected and disciplined man. Pedro was tired of listening to the people around him saying that he was not like his father. He had a small job with no future and earned very meager amount even after being well educated. His parents would advice him, complain him and sometimes even nag him to get a well respected job and get settled in his life as he is nearing the age of getting married. It is not that he did not try. But he was looking for a shortcut to become a rich man and show the people around him that he has a status of his own.
That was only a part of his life. He still had many issues to attend to. At the office, he was attracted to a girl, but due to his repeatedly changing attitude, he lost her. She waited for some days hoping that he would express his feelings towards her. But Pedro was busy in battling his own self and she left the job and never tried to contact him again.
Pedro kept on changing his job in search of a shortcut to become a rich man overnight. He lost many of his precious years in this manner and remained only an executive wherever he went. Often he would lie to his parents about getting a job in a descent company just to see them happy and enjoy respect for sometime. But in some days, his lie would make him suffer greatly. His parents loved him, but didn't trust him anymore. People around him took advantage of this and dominated him to an extent that he lost the confidence within himself.
He bagan thinking that his relatives are right about him and that he could never maintain his family.
After a couple of years, he was married to a girl of his choice and led a good life for some months. But due to his joblessness and irresponsible behaviourS, he lost respect in her eyes too. Whenever he tried and get a job, his parents, his relatives and people around him would dominate him saying that his job is too small and the pay is too meager. This in turn led him to lose the interest in the job. He became a good for nothing.
One day he had a heated argument with his parents and wife. These things often used to happen in his house. But this time it crossed all boundaries and in a fit of rage, he went out of the house.
He took his father's car and thought of filling some fuel in it. While returning from the fuel station, he went on thinking about his worthless life. All sorts of memories came into his mind and he couldn't control himself and there was an urge within himself to die and end the battle once and for all. In depression, he took a sudden turn and the car crashed the barricade.
Pedro woke up in a hut that resembled a large tent with mysterious designs on the walls and ceiling. Heavy Chandeliers hung from the ceiling which lighted the tent. He tried to get up, but couldn't move an inch. He felt someone sitting towards his left and he called out to him.
An old man with a white beard and a long brown gown came to him.
'Where am I?' Pedro asked confused.
The old man told him that he is in a place between life and death and he himself has to choose where he would want to go.
'What? I can't move. This feels like a dream.' Pedro said.
You are tired and were unconscious for a long time.'
I’m I dead? asked Pedro.
‘Not yet.’ replied the old man calmly. ‘But you can die if you really want to. I can send you to God.’
Pedro was getting confused.
The old man explained to him that God wants him to realise his mistakes before meeting him.
The old man asked him, 'Why would a boy such as yourself try to take that extreme step to kill himself?'
Pedro thought long for a reasonable answer. 'Sometimes we run out of options in life,' he said.
'Really?’ Old man turned to him. 'Don't you trust God? Is this the best reason you will present before God, when you meet him?'
‘Then what could I have done? The pressure, tensions, my life has been a burden on myself. How could I go on?
'You had choices. Many of them.' Old man got up.
‘Like what?’ Pedro asked irritated.
Why didn't you speak to yourself before making any decisions? Old man asked.
'I do always. And I take decisions which often I regret after sometime.'
'Then that is not you, you are talking to. Every person has two distinct identities in his mind. One is the Good and the other is the evil. When you turn deaf ears to the good one, the evil one will take over your mind and instruct you to do its bidding. You think its your instinct. But you are cheated.'
Pedro knew that the old man was right. He said, ‘I wanted to be a successful and responsible person. I wanted to earn respect among my people just like my father did but failed and instead became a burden on my family.’
Old man said, ‘First understand, that everyone has their own destiny. You cannot be like your father and your father cannot be like his father. People around you can say lot of things just to make you feel depressed. They can be right sometimes or may not be. It is your choice, if you want to listen to them or not because you cannot shut their mouths.’
Pedro looked downcast.
‘When you took your first job, you gave hope to your family and became an envy to others. Soon, you quit your job in search of finding a short-cut to become an over-night successful person and made your family disappointed and in turn became a laughing stock among your relatives. Instead of thinking practically, you believed in myths and magic. If you could have continued the same job, may be in some months you could have developed your skills and then may be you could have increased your pay. Parents would have been happy that at least you are trying to be a responsible person and they could have depended on you.’
Pedro was silent.
Old man continued, ‘Your parents loved you and had high hopes in you. You could have understood that and could have spoken to them. You could have been more transparent. Do not lie. Never. But you were just going on cheating them with fake promises and baseless hopes and temporary happiness and when your lies exposed, obviously they’ll be upset on you. What do you expect? They lost trust in you. You repeated it so many times and lost so many years doing these things. Still they kept your respect in the society because they knew that your respect is their respect. You ruined everything with your own hands and you blame them?
‘You lose interest in anything very soon. You lost the girl in your office. She loved you. But you were too busy to recognise her love. Years later you met another girl and proposed to her and got married. But you couldn’t balance your own life and lost control of your instincts and did whatever you thought was right. Finally, you lost respect in her eyes too. You blame everyone except yourself. Tell me, you claim to know so much about God, do you even have the courage to face him with all these sins?
Tears rolled down Pedro’s eyes. He wanted to get up but still couldn’t.
‘Did you think about your parents before taking this extreme step? What will they do after you? What will happen to your wife? Will they be alive? By killing yourself you are killing them all.
‘Forgive me sir,’ Pedro cried. He couldn’t control his grief now. ‘I had never thought of any of these. I’m a wretched young man. Every word of yours is like a whiplash on my sins. I was blinded by my ideologies. I realise my mistakes now. I want to seek forgiveness for my sins, but it is too late now. How can I face the God? What do I do now? I can never see my family and neither can I apologize to them. How unlucky I am. This is my punishment that I will have to suffer in hell with a regret in my heart for not getting an opportunity to make amends with my dear ones.’
The old man looked at him with calm expression and placed his hand on Pedro’s forehead. Immediately he felt peace. He said, ‘God is the best judge and he hates injustice. As for you, you will recover from your physical conditions. God has given you an opportunity to correct your mistakes.’
Pedro wept with thankfulness.
‘Take rest and sleep a little. You need it badly. But remember, God is watching you.’ the old man rose and started to leave.
‘Wait sir, at least tell me your name.’ Pedro wanted to get up, but still could not.
‘It doesn’t matter’ The old man smiled before leaving the tent. Pedro started to feel dizzy and went into a deep slumber.
He woke up in a hospital where a doctor examined him and said that he will be alright in a few days. His parents and wife came to him and blessed him and were happy that he is doing fine. He smiled to them tearfully and apologized for his deeds. He held his wife’s hand and apologized to her too. It was a happy reunion.
Days went by and Pedro had almost recovered and he joined a small company and worked hard. His family was happy and he too felt contented. May be he earned a little money, but he has the love of his family with him which gave him strength and hope and determination. In a few years he was really able to save some money!
Success is not only about Money!
Think before you end your life. Honour the gift of life you have received from the God.
#WritcoPrompt #WritcoQuote #shortstory #writcostorychallenge #philosophy #inspiration #relationships #meraishq #LifeQuote
© Ashraf
The car sped through the dark night, it's headlights flashing, warning the incoming traffic
The car sped through the dark night, it's headlights flashing, warning the incoming traffic. The car seemed out of control and took a sudden turn with screeching noise, the car broke the concrete barricade and fell on the other side of the gorge.
Pedro was a normal boy, a call center executive. His father, a retired bank manager, was a respected and disciplined man. Pedro was tired of listening to the people around him saying that he was not like his father. He had a small job with no future and earned very meager amount even after being well educated. His parents would advice him, complain him and sometimes even nag him to get a well respected job and get settled in his life as he is nearing the age of getting married. It is not that he did not try. But he was looking for a shortcut to become a rich man and show the people around him that he has a status of his own.
That was only a part of his life. He still had many issues to attend to. At the office, he was attracted to a girl, but due to his repeatedly changing attitude, he lost her. She waited for some days hoping that he would express his feelings towards her. But Pedro was busy in battling his own self and she left the job and never tried to contact him again.
Pedro kept on changing his job in search of a shortcut to become a rich man overnight. He lost many of his precious years in this manner and remained only an executive wherever he went. Often he would lie to his parents about getting a job in a descent company just to see them happy and enjoy respect for sometime. But in some days, his lie would make him suffer greatly. His parents loved him, but didn't trust him anymore. People around him took advantage of this and dominated him to an extent that he lost the confidence within himself.
He bagan thinking that his relatives are right about him and that he could never maintain his family.
After a couple of years, he was married to a girl of his choice and led a good life for some months. But due to his joblessness and irresponsible behaviourS, he lost respect in her eyes too. Whenever he tried and get a job, his parents, his relatives and people around him would dominate him saying that his job is too small and the pay is too meager. This in turn led him to lose the interest in the job. He became a good for nothing.
One day he had a heated argument with his parents and wife. These things often used to happen in his house. But this time it crossed all boundaries and in a fit of rage, he went out of the house.
He took his father's car and thought of filling some fuel in it. While returning from the fuel station, he went on thinking about his worthless life. All sorts of memories came into his mind and he couldn't control himself and there was an urge within himself to die and end the battle once and for all. In depression, he took a sudden turn and the car crashed the barricade.
Pedro woke up in a hut that resembled a large tent with mysterious designs on the walls and ceiling. Heavy Chandeliers hung from the ceiling which lighted the tent. He tried to get up, but couldn't move an inch. He felt someone sitting towards his left and he called out to him.
An old man with a white beard and a long brown gown came to him.
'Where am I?' Pedro asked confused.
The old man told him that he is in a place between life and death and he himself has to choose where he would want to go.
'What? I can't move. This feels like a dream.' Pedro said.
You are tired and were unconscious for a long time.'
I’m I dead? asked Pedro.
‘Not yet.’ replied the old man calmly. ‘But you can die if you really want to. I can send you to God.’
Pedro was getting confused.
The old man explained to him that God wants him to realise his mistakes before meeting him.
The old man asked him, 'Why would a boy such as yourself try to take that extreme step to kill himself?'
Pedro thought long for a reasonable answer. 'Sometimes we run out of options in life,' he said.
'Really?’ Old man turned to him. 'Don't you trust God? Is this the best reason you will present before God, when you meet him?'
‘Then what could I have done? The pressure, tensions, my life has been a burden on myself. How could I go on?
'You had choices. Many of them.' Old man got up.
‘Like what?’ Pedro asked irritated.
Why didn't you speak to yourself before making any decisions? Old man asked.
'I do always. And I take decisions which often I regret after sometime.'
'Then that is not you, you are talking to. Every person has two distinct identities in his mind. One is the Good and the other is the evil. When you turn deaf ears to the good one, the evil one will take over your mind and instruct you to do its bidding. You think its your instinct. But you are cheated.'
Pedro knew that the old man was right. He said, ‘I wanted to be a successful and responsible person. I wanted to earn respect among my people just like my father did but failed and instead became a burden on my family.’
Old man said, ‘First understand, that everyone has their own destiny. You cannot be like your father and your father cannot be like his father. People around you can say lot of things just to make you feel depressed. They can be right sometimes or may not be. It is your choice, if you want to listen to them or not because you cannot shut their mouths.’
Pedro looked downcast.
‘When you took your first job, you gave hope to your family and became an envy to others. Soon, you quit your job in search of finding a short-cut to become an over-night successful person and made your family disappointed and in turn became a laughing stock among your relatives. Instead of thinking practically, you believed in myths and magic. If you could have continued the same job, may be in some months you could have developed your skills and then may be you could have increased your pay. Parents would have been happy that at least you are trying to be a responsible person and they could have depended on you.’
Pedro was silent.
Old man continued, ‘Your parents loved you and had high hopes in you. You could have understood that and could have spoken to them. You could have been more transparent. Do not lie. Never. But you were just going on cheating them with fake promises and baseless hopes and temporary happiness and when your lies exposed, obviously they’ll be upset on you. What do you expect? They lost trust in you. You repeated it so many times and lost so many years doing these things. Still they kept your respect in the society because they knew that your respect is their respect. You ruined everything with your own hands and you blame them?
‘You lose interest in anything very soon. You lost the girl in your office. She loved you. But you were too busy to recognise her love. Years later you met another girl and proposed to her and got married. But you couldn’t balance your own life and lost control of your instincts and did whatever you thought was right. Finally, you lost respect in her eyes too. You blame everyone except yourself. Tell me, you claim to know so much about God, do you even have the courage to face him with all these sins?
Tears rolled down Pedro’s eyes. He wanted to get up but still couldn’t.
‘Did you think about your parents before taking this extreme step? What will they do after you? What will happen to your wife? Will they be alive? By killing yourself you are killing them all.
‘Forgive me sir,’ Pedro cried. He couldn’t control his grief now. ‘I had never thought of any of these. I’m a wretched young man. Every word of yours is like a whiplash on my sins. I was blinded by my ideologies. I realise my mistakes now. I want to seek forgiveness for my sins, but it is too late now. How can I face the God? What do I do now? I can never see my family and neither can I apologize to them. How unlucky I am. This is my punishment that I will have to suffer in hell with a regret in my heart for not getting an opportunity to make amends with my dear ones.’
The old man looked at him with calm expression and placed his hand on Pedro’s forehead. Immediately he felt peace. He said, ‘God is the best judge and he hates injustice. As for you, you will recover from your physical conditions. God has given you an opportunity to correct your mistakes.’
Pedro wept with thankfulness.
‘Take rest and sleep a little. You need it badly. But remember, God is watching you.’ the old man rose and started to leave.
‘Wait sir, at least tell me your name.’ Pedro wanted to get up, but still could not.
‘It doesn’t matter’ The old man smiled before leaving the tent. Pedro started to feel dizzy and went into a deep slumber.
He woke up in a hospital where a doctor examined him and said that he will be alright in a few days. His parents and wife came to him and blessed him and were happy that he is doing fine. He smiled to them tearfully and apologized for his deeds. He held his wife’s hand and apologized to her too. It was a happy reunion.
Days went by and Pedro had almost recovered and he joined a small company and worked hard. His family was happy and he too felt contented. May be he earned a little money, but he has the love of his family with him which gave him strength and hope and determination. In a few years he was really able to save some money!
Success is not only about Money!
Think before you end your life. Honour the gift of life you have received from the God.
#WritcoPrompt #WritcoQuote #shortstory #writcostorychallenge #philosophy #inspiration #relationships #meraishq #LifeQuote
© Ashraf
Related Stories
