DO WE HAVE THE THIRST WITHIN?

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DO WE HAVE THE THIRST WITHIN??

He was talking over phone.  "I have a deep desire to meet you. I need your guidance. I wish to meet you regularly and learn a lot under your precious guidance. But, you live far off, in a distant province. Let me plan. I'll come to you during holidays." His voice choked while he talked to SHREE.

Six months later... He received a phone call from SHREE.  "OK. That is good. So, You have shifted to Tamil Nadu. That is very good.  No. No. It is hardly 200 Kms from my place. I'll just kick start my bike and I'll be there at your doorsteps. At least once a month.."" He talked over phone.

He called SHREE after four or five months. "I could not move an inch from my place. I am tied down. Problem after problem, as if God chose me to give all problems in His stock. My profession has just started a smoother ride. Family life is slowly settling down.  But, No. I'll come. I'll definitely visit you. I have so much to talk. so much to learn. I'll anyhow come and meet you."

One year later, there was again a call from SHREE.  "Oh! Oh! You have come to stay in our own town. I am very happy. Where do you plan to stay?  Oh! The locality you mention is very near my residence. Just two streets away. I will have to hop just ten steps to be at your door. If not daily, I'll definitely visit you once a week and spend a few minutes near your holy feet.  I am fortunate, really fortunate."  Enthusiasm filled every word he spoke.

Six or eight months later. There was a knock on his door. He opened the door to find SHREE on his doorsteps. "Oh! What a pleasant surprise!! You stay so near, yet I could not visit you even once. You have blessed us by coming to us. Come in. Come in." He was excited while welcoming SHREE. "What!!!  Surprise after surprise. You plan to stay with us for a week?? Oh!! That is great. We are blessed. Please take your seat. Give me ten minutes. I'll prepare our guest room for you. Feel comfortable. It is your house. I built this house only to serve, play host to Sadhus. This will be your room. Stay as long as you wish. Just call me if you need anything. We'll bring it to your room. We will be honoured to serve you."

A week later, all in his family had gathered outside the gate to send off SHREE.  Everyone reverentially touched his feet. "Oh, I am an idiot. You stayed a whole week in our house and Oh ! I must be the worst unfortunate. But, you saw yourself how hectic the morning hours were. Readying the children and packing them off to the school. Then starts our daily run. We just push in a few handfuls and run. There is no time even to breathe. We return late evening. Home works and assignments of children. If we do not sit with them, they merely spend time in TV and games. You see. Evenings are so hectic that we don't even know how time passes. We have 56 inches HD TV but don't have time to view programmes. I do not watch serials. But I never miss one serial. The story is so good you see. I watch only News and panel discussions, ...and evenings are gone. We can't even enjoy a relaxed dinner. OK. I thought I should be able to meet and spend some valuable time with you on Saturdays and Sundays. You were a witness yourself. These are the only days we relax a little. It is usually 10.30 or 11 by the time we finish our breakfast. A few minutes with TV, some outings, social commitments, and friends pour in. And Saturdays, Sundays are gone...These are supposed to be days for relaxation but turn out to be more hectic than other days.  Where is time? How do we find time? You tell me. No. No. We should not aspire for these. We should live like anyone else.  You get what I mean??"

He was struggling for words.  SHREE kept smiling all the while.

WHOLE LIFE TICKS AWAY>>>>