Meena Mangalathil:

Chapter - 1 “Rafael, I would like to become an astronaut, what should I do?” All smiled. “Its good to have an aim in life Ajay, but there are things, first you should know before you think of a goal?” “Really, that I didn’t know.” All nodded. “Yes Mark, the best way to make you known your aim is through a story.” “Great Rafael, we are ready.” All nodded. “Once upon a time, there lived a Pirate, named Alfonso, who wanted to help the poor.” “Rafael, a pirate is a man who loots. He is not a saint and you say, he wants to help poor. Really Rafael, you have really a weird sense of imagination.” All smiled. “Thanks for the compliment, Mark. But it is true, this pirate wanted to help the poor, but circumstances forced him to loot. So he had been looting from age 12. He was never able to get out of this web. Every sleeping hour and the waking hour, the first thought was help the poor.” “But Rafael, in water, where is the poor, except the people

(62) “Hi guys!!!!!!!!!! So what news today? How was your day today?” “One of my friend’s parent died, Rafael. Her mother was suffering from cancer for sometime. But she was inconsolable today. I do not know why, but I felt it was not fair for the child. It was really heart rending Rafael.” “The lady was very spiritual too Rafael, and still, how did she contract the disease? I do not know, seeing all this, our little faith would go into thin air. What do you think Rafael?” “I’m really sorry to hear about your friend’s situation, Rebecca and regarding faith in God, well we’ll have to look into it. Is it so delicate to go off thin air. Are you in a mood to hear a story?” “Yes please, Rafael” All nodded. “Good, now make yourself comfortable.” All nodded and sat on the grass, some stretched their legs. Some folded, according to their comfort. “Long time back, in a boarding house, there was a girl of age 14, her name was Kalpana. She was actually an orph

(61) “Rafael, in our school, my friend’s dad is a customs officer and she brings all these beautiful things, saying, her father gets when he goes on duty. But we all know that he is taking the things from the people who come from abroad. But is it really right Rafael, to take other’s hard earned things. I really feel bad about it.” “You should be Monica. Never ever wish to have others things. I’ll say a story of what problems arise by wishing for other’s things.” “Once upon a time, there lived a farmer in a remote village. He worked very hard from dawn to dusk in his field. He never wasted his time sitting simply. And while working, he used to pray, God help me. So he was always concentrated on his work and his thoughts in God.” All nodded. “He had his daily ritual, His wife would prepare his breakfast and pack it and a bottle of water in a pitcher and he would take his dog for company. Before dawn breaks, he would be ready to start his work. He prepared the field,

(59) “Rafael, I would like to ask about a very important facet of life.” “Hmmm hmmm. Go on fire away Ajay.” “From very small, the only word, that is being repeated in my family as well as in school or wherever I go is regarding goal. This word is being drummed into me, from very small age.” All nodded. “But my question is, how would we set a goal?” Rafael smiled and nodded. “Good question Ajay. Its better with a story than otherwise, what do you think guys?” “Great, we are all ears.” “Hmmm. This happened years back. It was at the time of kings and queens. In the kingdom of Devlon, there was a king named George.” “Wow!!!! I love to hear that type of stories, Rafael. OK, go on.” All smiled. “Well at that time there were people who had no freedom too, the slaves ,and there was a slave, named Juan. He was the best slave anybody could have in one’s lifetime. In his vocabulary, there wasn’t a word called “No”. He did everything, he was asked to do. And never complained

(51)  “But Rafael, I thought, it was for others we should do good but why should we do good for our Self?” All nodded. “That’s a good question Mark, But again you are forgetting we are all spiritual beings originating from GOD, our Father. Which means, we are the different parts of the same body, there is no difference of any sort between two human beings, except for the covering of the souls.” “Do you mean to say the physical bodies is the only difference between two persons?” “Exactly. That is where we are different, but underneath it all we are all the same.” “Oh!!! Isn’t it lovely?” “Yes Rebecca, its lovely. But unfortunately, no one knows it.” All nodded. “So now back to the question, why should we do good to our Self than to others. Its simple. I’ll say a story to make you understand.” All nodded. “Once upon a time there lived a frog. He liked to swim in any water. It didn’t matter whether it is good or bad, stinking or salty or fresh, or w