The Journey

"You are absolutely good for nothing" Loopesh heard a voice in his head say. 

He looked around and he felt like he knew the truth behind those words. He went to his cupboard and started packing all his cassettes and books. He did not want to be there any longer. He had to get away from it all. He also packed some clothes. 

He went to the train station and bought a ticket for Chennai and went to the platform to wait for his train. The train came and he got on board. 

He slept all night and woke up early to the sounds of vendors selling tea and samosas. He bought some samosas and ate them slowly thinking about his future. 

He had no idea what he was going to do in Chennai. He just knew that he had to get away from it all. He had not even told anyone where he was going. Tough times for a kid. He knew he had to figure something out on the way. Ten hours to go. 

He got off his bunk to go to the loo. It was occupied. He waited patiently. While he was waiting a man asked him if he way alright. He answered that he was fine. The man smiled and continued smoking his cigarette at the door. The loo got vacant and he walked in. 

When he came out he saw that the man was still there smoking another cigarette. He smiled at him and walked back to his berth. He climbed on to it and saw that the man was getting on to the berth opposite him. 

"Where are you going?" asked the man. 

"Chennai" replied Loopesh. 

The man smiled and said "Many a mile have I travelled to see, that my thoughts are still within me". 

Loopesh looked at him slightly spooked by what the man had said. 

The man continued "Many a thought have I left behind, only to find that they were not mine." 

Loopesh was puzzled by this and looked at him or an explanation. 

The man very calmly looked at Loopesh and said "We are not our thoughts even though they influence who we are. They are there for us to observe and not react to. If our thoughts were our only truth, we would not get very far in life. Despair would get the better of us even before we had time to reflect and we would be cut down by our thoughts. Learn to observe them. Don't react to them. Be watchful. Not all that you think is a true reflection of the real you. You have immense potential and it will be a waste if you try to run from yourself. Be a seeker. Be watchful. Be you." 

Loopesh was totally blown over and took his bag and got off his berth. 

The man asked him "Where are you going?" 

"Home" replied Loopesh. 

He got off at the next station and bought a ticket for home.

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