THE JOURNEY.

Manolin is a man in his mid-thirties, lying and flattening the soft grasses with his 5'11 feet brawny musculature at his everyday peace spot, while staring at the cloudless placid sky. He asked his never responding, lifeless friend who was a huge sandstone rooted deeply in the earth. Manolin was the creator of his streamlined eyes, poky nose, and wide toothy smile. He called him Pedro.
"You tell me, Pedro, do I look strange to you? " Knowing the fact rocks can't answer back he answered himself saying
"Then why does every villager perceive me like that? Why? Is it because I jumped straight into the wild water to save the cat from drowning.
Okay! okay, I knew she was the same mischievous cat who continuously used to break in everybody's house spoiling food.
But that doesn't mean I shouldn't save her! Does it Pedro?
Or does it have to do something with me being unmarried, wandering around the village purposelessly unlike my other contemporaries.
Or is it because I am faithfully finding immortality potion everywhere around.
I don't want To die Pedro..... Ever!
Hey do you know Pedro, it's the third day, three days in a row, I had the same dream of achieving that potion.
Dreams do come true  Pedro, but through persistent action.
And I think it's about time I go the extra mile to achieve it.
Remarking this Manolin set on to find the
Venerable old sage Sinduri, to guide him the path.
As the sage lived in seclusion, it was told by other villagers that he could find him in the caves of Angora, situated outside the village.
His bones were determined, his pupils were ablaze with hope, the stiffness in chin showed that he had that strength to achieve it, his soul shouted inside that this quest would change his life.
He knew this journey would take some time. He packed essentials, food for some days, and he thought he could spend nights at different villages and by camping if necessary.
He knew his family wouldn't be worried because it wasn't the first time he left without informing.
He reached the angora, leaving the village, and an uninformed family behind.
The grassy rugged surfaces of hills with sun on his shoulders, gentle breeze was filling confidence inside Manolin, delivering a green panoramic painted view.
After several hours of failed searching, he chose to follow the valley in hope that it would eventually lead him to the cave.
When sun was about to set, he found one cave. With steady footsteps he peeped inside, he saw a large finely rectangular granite stone placed in centre, upon it an old man was sitting in a lotus position, his head was bare with smooth forehead,his eyes were closed and have shaved craggy face, the prevailed silence in cave was only broken by hole on the side of cave dripping drops of water.
As Manolin forwarded to the old man,
He gently opened his eyes,
Being fumbled on what to say, Manolin quickly greeted him and bowed
Are you old sage Sinduri? "
The old man gently smiled
Taking his smile as a yes to his question,
Manolin said, " I came from a nearby village. I want to know where I can find the immortality potion?
The sage didn't hesitate or asked no questions instead showed him the path with fascinating smile on his face he said,
Go to village kshamta, cross the lazarus river, you will find a hill, when you reach there, you will find all your answers!
And he said no more!
Manolin asked, " The moon is up, can I sleep here tonight?
The sage nodded and walked out of the cave, manolin inquired  him ? But he didn't respond.
After some time,
Manolin ate food for nourishment.
He laid down and slipped into slumber while gazing at stars through a hole above the cave.
When sunshine projected through that hole Brightening his face, he woke up, when it started bothering him.
He found that sage still wasn't in the cave.
He resolved not to wait for him, quickly picked up a rock etched thank you for path and shelter in one of the cave's side walls and departed from there. The sage saw his  gratitude and smiled, as if he knew something.
Leaving the hills behind. Manolin headed towards the kshamta village. It was a one day journey.
He knew the way, as he visited the village once in childhood with his father. He was in awe of long Stretches of various crop fields in the village, he reminisced about the waterfall he saw there. He deeply wished that his family should shift and reside there. He insisted on doing so but the family resisted it saying it's unnecessary.
As he was going ahead,
He came across a place which seemed like a temple to him, the surroundings were grungy, leaves covered the floor due to shedding from thick branches of trees as autumn was marching towards winter.  Uproar infested his ears from Chirping of birds. The whole temple was dilapidated, peeling red paint from the walls, a pennant hung from a pole situated at the top of the canopy architectured temple had visible holes and was shaggy. He decided to spend the night there. There were other people who sat on their respective mats on a large floor outside the main room of the temple. He reached towards an old man who sat quite far from other people and bowed to greet him, and asked, " Dada may I stay here for tonight.
The old man responded with a subtle face, I don't own this place, anyone can stay, However long they want.
Indicating a finger towards Manolin's bag, he said, lay your mat, if you have one ,beside me if you want.
Manolin did the same.
After looking around he asked inquisitively, what is this place, is this a temple?
Oldman nonchalantly said, yes it is a temple, I mean it used to be one time, when the priest who built it, he didn't believe in idol worshipping, thus he never placed it one here. He built it to offer a place for  people to meditate. He hoped people will come to calm their minds, to reflect upon themselves and solace and motivate others to overcome their dire situations and will form a happy community, And could also help people on pilgrimage by offering some essentials. As they used temple  as a shelter. But sometimes things don't happen as we wish. No one came because of the absence of Idol, and soon the priest left the earth in peace as age took its toll on him.
As there was no lineage for priest. He was the last of his family. Now this building is just a ruin, which is used by some homeless people.
Manolin questioned, how do you know all this,
I was just a homeless man who used to work on and off. I came here everyday, and the priest helped me with food when I was unable to find work. I used to talk alot to him, as I was his only company, he lived here in this temple and even died here, I was the one who took care of his funeral with the last of my money. Since then I have resided here. It's funny how people worship idols, ask him to release them from their pain, they never realise that God lies in them so they themselves have to overcome their problems and suffering.
Manolin again with curiosity asked, why don't you rebuild this place,
I tried but couldn't afford it.
And who are these other people,
Oh they are just some pilgrimage staying here for tonight, at least this temple didn't go in vain. I usually do some manual labour to be able to nourish myself and come to sleep here.
As they were talking, evening descended to night.
Oldman shared his food with manolin, and after finishing while they were laying on their mats blankly staring on sky,
Oldman asked who are you and where are you headed?
Manolin responded remembering not to reveal his quest as he will not believe it,
oh just visiting to kshamta village ahead. As my relatives live there.
Old man again in sleepy voice asked, what do you do,
Silenced surrounded manolin as he didn't know what to answer so he said, as of now nothing,
He pretended to be asleep to avoid other questions.
Old man too fell asleep,
As the sun rose, Manolin quickly woke up and left the temple and headed to the village,
After hours of walking he finally reached the village now and crossed it to reach the lazarus river. And was staggered by the sight of the river, the water can no longer show his reflection, The current of the river which used to flicker gleaming drops of pearls due to sun was now carrying scattered wastage from village,
An adolescent boy sitting with a vacant expression staring blankly at the direction of the river noticed Manolin, he raised his hand and said, 'hey! Never seen you here, new in the village?
Manolin turned towards the voice and replied  yes, I mean no, I visited this village in my childhood, but it's a completely different village now. What happened to this river? It used to be the flowing beauty.
The boy stood up, his loose colorful robe with a belt at his waist,which was traditional dress of the village swayed in wind, his sloe eyes resonated the same ache as Manolin's, picking up the can which laid at his feet he said, I know, I too had seen the old beautiful day of this serene river, and also witnessed its downfall.
Squinting his eyes, Manolin said, how did this all happen, and you let it?
The boy shrugging his shoulders said, what could I have done? I too am as upset as you are. The villagers just started dumping their household wastage here as there is no proper waste management, and no one cares.
Yes, I can see, said Manolin with sarcastic tone. I mean, I couldn't have done it alone! Said the boy.
If you haven't done it, how can you expect it from others,
Every journey starts alone. Said manolin
it means now you will do it? Asked the boy,
No! Pointing his finger towards the hill on the other side of the river, I have to get there first, said manolin.
Why? Demanded the boy
Manolin, ignoring the question asked,can you help me, where I can get some food for my journey and a boat?
You can get some food from the main market in the village and I have a boat, I can rent it to you.
After purchasing food and taking a boat on lease for 1 day with his savings.
he was about to go off,
You haven't told me what's the purpose of your journey to the hill? asked the boy
Manolin started rowing the boat, and said loud enough to be heard by the boy, I will tell you when I come back.
His muscles faithfully helped him as he rowed the boat continuously, he predicted he would reach the hill in about one hour.
The sun was on his shoulders, he had some fruits while managing to row single handedly,
As his arms were a little exhausted and he was about to reach the hill, he noticed the water was clearer here than the shore of the village, he could see his reflection with several fishes swimming around. He thought maybe it was not too late, then he said to himself, it's never too late.
He reached the shore of the hill, it was a vast, uneven upland, he pulled the boat from the river to save it from flowing back, he also saw one more boat laid away.
He climbed upon the hill housed with leaves as it was dense in a particular area.
As he reached up the hill,he saw a house far away, he squinted his eyes to look closely and he could tell it was man made hatched house, as he moved forward, he saw a man who looked slightly older than him, with long hair and practical atop bun, giggling around playing with a dog which seems to be the basenji, due to his erect ears and his tale was curled to his hip.
The man's colourless robe which wrapped around his whole body was fluttering as he was running around his dog.
The man and dog both noticed Manolin as he was now near them, the dog took Manolin as intruder and showed his disregard by barking which sounded like a yodel bark, but slowly stopped on his master's command.
Manolin quickly bowed and greeted the man and introduced himself and said, I met the sage Siduri. He guided me the path to here!
Oh siduri the man exclaimed, he is an old friend.
So what's your purpose for the visit? asked the man.
I want the potion or anything that gives me immortality,Sage Siduri told me that my inquisitive fire could be extinguished here.
The man smiled infectiously for a brief time, then said, it looks like you haven't taken a bath for some day. First, go take a bath . My house is right here.
Manolin thought he did need a shower, as his clothes were all shaggy and he looked disheveled. His stubble beard from days  also started itching.
Manolin took a long bath, it was like a medical treatment for his day's fatigue. He cleansed himself and was at peace when a cold stream of water ran through his body. When he saw a robe that was worn by the man, kept on the bed, thinking that it was for him, he wore it imperfectly as he didn't know how to but was able to cover his body.
He came out of the house, and glanced at the man who was sitting at the bench with his dog, Manolin reached and asked the man his name,
Pedro, the man replied.
Your name is Pedro too! said Manolin, amazed by the coincidence.
Gently smiling the man asked, who else do you know named Pedro?
No, no one just leave it! Averting his eyes.
Manolin asked, may I sit?
Yes please!
So could you give me an immortality potion or  else show me the path to it! Asked manolin
What made you think, I am the one who can fulfill your demands? Replied Pedro.
What you aren't, but sage sinduri,
Cutting off Manolin in between, Pedro said,
There isn't any immortality potion, not that I know of.
And why do you want to be immortal?
Well, why shouldn't I? wouldn't it be great! Said Manolin in frustration, after knowing that Pedro doesn't have the potion.
Oh I didn't think so, and please be calm!
How can I be calm? I have been travelling for 3 days, spent all the saved money on that boat to get here to find out you got Nothing! Said Manolin disheartened.
Don't overreact Manolin, I take 15 days journey once a year to my village. And
No journey goes in vain. Pedro consoled Manolin
Just tell me why you are longing so much to live forever?
I don't want to die! And who does? I want to live, I love my family and I want to live with them forever! Said Manolin with passionate eyes.
Okay let's suppose you will live forever, but your family, they will die one day that's for sure and you will see them leaving you one by one. Wouldn't you be all alone then?
What if I get married and make a family once again? Said Manolin trying to defend himself.
Okay, so you aren't married!Said Pedro,
Well then it would be worse, your wife, and children they all will die  eventually, and even if you get married again ,they will too,
More attachment, more love, then more memories, which will give you more pain at their departure. And at one point the pain will be unbearable for you. And it's just not pain, the eternal life will be unspeakably boring too, cause after a certain amount of living and much time passed, you will have all the experiences of life just like a house whose every corner has been travelled already, you will be just trapped in it. And there will be no more new experiences that will drive or stimulate you to live more.
Manolin contemplates on what Pedro said,
Then Pedro said again,
Immortality will hinder us from the basic truth, that we are humans -temporally bounded beings.Everything in our life makes sense because of our time being finite.
Life is the most beautiful thing we are experiencing right now so we should absorb it fully.
That's what I am saying, why don't I have the right to experience it forever. Said Manolin.
You are missing the nuance there, said Pedro
Remember only the rich people says money can't buy happiness, it doesn't matter that it does or not, but abundance of anything let people slip into ignorance of its worth eventually.
Life is precious, the abundance of it, will make it lose it's worth and meaning.
Now words started impacting Manolin.
Then Pedro said again
And your crave for immortality is just because you fear death, which you shouldn't instead learn to live more.
What you think I never had the fear of death, I have had my experiences but that of course doesn't stop me from living and by living I mean living with embracing and appreciating that death could be ahead and I better make sure that when I reach there I don't have this regret, that my life wasn't suffice. And do you know the worst thing isn't death, but the life which is dormant and dead inside you. You need to wake that life up, giggle, dance, do the things which stimulates your heart to be happy, love your life so much that you get short of time to fear death.
Go find a purpose, then you will love your life everyday,
You are right, my life doesn't have purpose and instead of living the life I feared death. Said Manolin
I wonder why sage siduri didn't tell me all of this? It could have saved me a lot of time and money said Manolin with a gentle smile.
As I said Every journey has a meaning and it never goes futile, look closely into it, I am sure you will find something
Manolin thought for a brief time, and he found it.
You are right said Manolin excitedly. I know what I love and what I should do.
Remarking this Manolin departed back to his home after thanking Pedro and patting basenji.
Epilogue:
Manolin now does farming on his father's land and has been married and shifted to his favorite village where he cleans the river everyday with a boy helping him, seeing this other villagers too helped and stopped dumping their waste in the river and they developed a proper sanitation and waste management system. Manolin also reconstructed the temple, it took him some years and a lot of saved money, but now it's a place of peace where pilgrimage takes shelter and people started gathering there in the evening and morning for talks to relax their minds. The old man takes care of the temple.
Manolin died at the age of 56 after meeting with a fatal accident but he smiled at the last moment of his life.