Aankhon Dekhi

Most of us spend all of our lives running after our goals, motives... money, power or anything. We don't even notice what is happening around us and how others are living their lives.

It was a small village near Ranchi where I was moved by this incident. That year farmers were eagerly waiting for the rain. But, Monsoon was playing tricks.

The Mukhiya of that village, his family and some people were sitting outside his hut, looking at the sky with hope and were frustrated with the games nature plays.

Suddenly his son came from the fields running and shouting... Dad!! rain is coming!! I can smell it!! He said it with much conviction. Mukhiya smiled at his son as if he believed him. A thunder followed and everybody looked at the sky again!! Mukhiya's elder daughter asked if it would really rain. Mukhiya looked in her eyes and replied in affirmative, and her eyes started shining with hope. But again, Nature played its trick. No rain!!

After half an hour, suddenly sky became very dark and eyes more hopeful. The younger daughter of Mukhiya became ecstatic when a tiny drop of water fell on her little palms. She started dancing and showing it to everyone present there as if she held a trophy. And after that even nature could not remain cruel. Here came the heavy rains. It became difficult to distinguish between the rains and the tears of happiness. Mukhiya's son was telling people “look, didn’t I say?" Mukhiya was shouting “Come on everyone!!! Let’s celebrate!! Bad times are gone!!” Everyone was so happy. This year Mother Nature did listen to them. The smiles on every face were worth a million dollars!!

Mukhiya ordered everyone to enter in the hut to avoid getting wet. And everybody followed, except the younger girl whom nobody noticed, was still dancing in the rain...with her trophy!!!!!

( With thanks to the article in Times of India )