The story is about a beautiful relationship between the lake and the boy.
In a village, far off from the urban chores, there lived a little boy whose house was near by a beautiful lake. The beauty of the lake was glorified with amazing greenery around with trees surrounding the boundary of this lake. A variety of birds visited this lake for it's natural offering. The afternoon was much brighter as the lake reflected the rays from the sun and brightened up this small village. While, at the night, the sight became a marvelous wonder with the lake reflecting the white moonlight and giving out coolness around. The boy felt very happy to be in and around the lake. He spent a lot of time around the lake. When he was happy he used to visit the lake and spend some quality time looking at the beauty of the lake.
Not only happiness, but whenever the boy was sad over something, he used to visit the lake and throw stones into it. One after the other, again and again, repeatedly. He used to throw the stones until he felt better. In a way, he used to remove all his anger and frustration onto the lake.
Along the lake side, there was a tree. And on the tree, was an old leaf, very dry and about to get withered. The leaf had watched the boy throw stones angrily into the river. The leaf was angry at the boy for doing this, but it wanted to know how the lake felt about all this. The leaf had many questions to ask the lake but it was afraid to ask as it thought that such a mighty lake must not even know who this single old leaf be. But with some courage, the leaf asked the lake, "Oh mighty lake! I am sorry to bother you. I am an old dry leaf about to get withered. I have seen you since my birth but I don't know whether you know me?" The lake heard the leaf and replied with a smile, "Oh my shade-giver, how can I not know you? You have always been over me and protected me from the Sun. You are one of the oldest leaf I have known." Hearing this reply, the leaf was surprised as to how the mighty lake praised such a dwarf leaf for protecting it from the Sun. Even though the leaf was only small enough to provide an inch of cover to the lake, the lake remembered it. The leaf said, "That's so kind and humble of you mighty lake. I am really happy that I need no introduction to you. But I have always had this question in my mind which I wanted to ask you before I fall down." The lake allowed the leaf to ask any question freely. The leaf asked, "Oh mighty lake! You are the one who provides life to us, to the birds and even to the boy who visits you daily. But I have seen the boy throw stones angrily at you every time he is sad or angry. This is not fair! You give away your goodness and the boy throws anger on you. How do you even suffer such an insult? Why aren't you angry at the boy?
The lake again smiled at the leaf and replied, "Oh dear leaf, I do not get angry at the boy because the boy has also spent the good times with me. He used to share the joy with me. How can I not share his sorrow then? When he throws the stones at me, I gulp them down to my bottom. Till now, I have gulped many of such stones within me. The stones which the boy throws at me are not mere stones, they are made up of his anger and he throws away his anger at me. Even the almighty lord has given me the power to absorb any huge thing thrown at me; and these are just small stones of his anger. These stones of anger which I have gulped till now, have helped me raise my water-levels to which I am present now. Not only this, the little boy's family has really worked hard to keep me clean throughout their lifetime. I owe my beauty to them. All the animals and birds visit me only because I am this beautiful and provide pure water to them. But I may like to tell you that I do not gulp down everything that is thrown onto me. The leaves and the flowers which fall down the trees keep floating over me and I do not try to sink them. I am thankful to them as they multiply my beauty. How can I complain about those who have been with me and helped me through my life? I am grateful to all of you."
Hearing the wisdom words from the mighty lake, the old leaf closed it's eyes and devoted itself to the lake as it fell off from the tree. There was happiness and a sense of content over the leaf's final moments before withering off. The leaf was glad that it spent the final moments and dedicated itself to this grateful lake!
The lake again smiled at the leaf and replied, "Oh dear leaf, I do not get angry at the boy because the boy has also spent the good times with me. He used to share the joy with me. How can I not share his sorrow then? When he throws the stones at me, I gulp them down to my bottom. Till now, I have gulped many of such stones within me. The stones which the boy throws at me are not mere stones, they are made up of his anger and he throws away his anger at me. Even the almighty lord has given me the power to absorb any huge thing thrown at me; and these are just small stones of his anger. These stones of anger which I have gulped till now, have helped me raise my water-levels to which I am present now. Not only this, the little boy's family has really worked hard to keep me clean throughout their lifetime. I owe my beauty to them. All the animals and birds visit me only because I am this beautiful and provide pure water to them. But I may like to tell you that I do not gulp down everything that is thrown onto me. The leaves and the flowers which fall down the trees keep floating over me and I do not try to sink them. I am thankful to them as they multiply my beauty. How can I complain about those who have been with me and helped me through my life? I am grateful to all of you."
Hearing the wisdom words from the mighty lake, the old leaf closed it's eyes and devoted itself to the lake as it fell off from the tree. There was happiness and a sense of content over the leaf's final moments before withering off. The leaf was glad that it spent the final moments and dedicated itself to this grateful lake!
- The End
Story written and conceptualized by Siddhesh Lakhan © 2013
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