Run after success!!

“I want another one!” was my usual demand whenever dad completed his story. His stories where always short, illogical and improbable but yet I liked them for it was a nice way to time pass and also to be close with my dad who used to come home only in the weekends(he was working in Chitoor). This was before Ranju was born, after that either I lost interest or he was busy playing with her. His stories somehow seemed to have an inherent message for me. Guess it was purely coincidental. He never advised me in person (except about studies!) for he might have thought I was smart enough to handle anything which actually it made me independent and to have my own opinion on things. One of the stories that I still remember (or I suddenly remembered when I went for jogging today) is about a greedy guy who wanted to own the world. It goes like this (I have used my own imagination to make it look more real and sophisticated. The story he told was crisp, banal and childish)…

This guy wanted to own the world and he asked God to concur with his wish. God granted him the wish with a condition. He was told that he could rule whatever land he can cover with his foot by sunset. But he must return to the starting place (by sunset) to claim the lands. It was 12pm. He started from Choolaimedu, Chennai (that’s where I live) and started jogging towards Tambaram. He was doing fine with the pace and had occasional breaks in between for tea. He reached Tambaram by 3pm (yeah not a fast runner) and ideally he should have returned. But the greedy devil in him didn’t allow him to. He continued to jog. He crossed Perungalathur and still didn’t turn back. By the time he reached Vandalur, it was 4pm. Now he had no other choice. He started the return journey running as hard as he can. It was hopeless but he knew he can achieve improbable things for he was a born ruler. His started experiencing pain in his legs; he had no time for tea now. All he could manage by 5pm was Chrompet. Last one hour and still a long way to the destination. His heart was beating rapidly and still he was not the kind who gives up easily. He tried increasing his pace but his legs weren’t responding. Half an hour to sunset and still some solid 5kms to run. He was beginning to lose consciousness and he felt an excruciating pain in his heart whose magnitude increased by the minute. He resembled a cadaver, running with sweat covering his entire body, yet he was sure to succeed. 5minutes to go and one km to travel. He could now see his destination at a distance. He was running like a mad sprinter into the last minute. He lost his consciousness almost but still he ran. Seconds to sunset, a few yards separated him from ruling Chennai forever. With all his energy (?!) and willpower he jumped and his hand touched the start line at the stroke of sunset. He had won. But… At the stroke of sunset, his body cheated him and his soul left him. He died, as a ruler of Chennai of course……

Though an ironical climax, this story had lots of message. One, you can achieve impossible things if you have willpower and that your body will never be the hindrance (at least till you achieve the thing). Two, do not give up anything in between. Three, always have an eye for the time (he should have started back by 3pm!). But the ending makes me ponder over a lot of other issues. Why should we struggle so much to achieve a thing, only to be distraught and be burned out at the end? Is it worth? Is success defined for only something you achieve or for something you enjoy after achieving? Is being greedy good or bad? Hmmm… My dad surely does make me think!