Hope and Determination amidst Adversity!
Peer Faizan Bashir
We often listen to the stories of those, who have suffered either psychologically, emotionally or physically to such an extent that life seems heavier than hefty mountains. Some of these unfortunate few may turn up with flying colors while others give up. However, instead of giving in to adversity and suffering, the right attitude and approach to both is that the one who suffers shall not let anyone else suffer though. This is the essence of humanity and what being human means.
I have a personal odyssey or even tragedy to narrate that might illustrate the foregoing point.
The conflict in Kashmir took a toll on me and the lives of my family. The manifestation of this conflict rendered us homeless. Everything we had, got destroyed in what amounted to an inferno. We used to live as a joint household family. But after the life changing incident, everyone was in pain, weeping and screaming day in and day out over the irredeemable loss.
We were left with no choice but to live in a rented accommodation. One of my aunts occupied that piece of land on which used to stand our house, and gave us very little money for it (about 1 lakh rupees). But, this money had to be parcelled out between my uncles. The paltry sum my family received got exhausted by daily expenses, and we were on the verge of destitution.
But, this was not the end of our travails and trials.
As we were happily living in the rented accommodation, one day, news broke out like the bolt from the blue that my mother shuffled off this mortal coil and left for her heavenly abode. I was a mere two year old toddler by that day, unable to grasp the truth that whosoever lives has to, one day, pass onto another abode. I would mope around the places where my relatives lament over my mother’s death with tears dropping down incessantly!
Now that my father was alone in this world, the question of taking care of his young children, including myself, was settled by us being taken care of by our aunts and relatives. My father, who never remarried, bore this with utmost equanimity, just for the sake of our happiness. So, suffering upon suffering, including the death of my mother, visited me and my family. But, what helped us pull through was faith in God and patience. I would cry often times, and our reunions whenever these would happen would be days of great joy for me.
During the whole journey of my pain and tragedy, I was provided everything by my paternal aunt. But, despite her graciousness and generosity, my whole being was racked by paradoxes: On the one hand, I was trying to get happiness, but on the other I was getting hollowed inside.
However, it was patience that helped me cope up. I never gave vent to what I have suffered, neither to my father nor my paternal aunt. And, I came to believe that with hardships comes an unwavering determination and enthusiasm to do something for oneself and for the people.
And, I have resolved not to allow others to suffer, to the extent I can. The general lesson I have learnt is that, in life, ups and downs are bound to happen to everyone, but it is hope that we must not lose. The particular flows from this wherein I now believe that each day I will turn out to be successful not only for myself but for the happiness of others!
(The writer is a student. He can be reached at [email protected])
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