The care taker

 

 

The Master handed over keys to the new inhabitant Jeevan.

Jeevan was a young lad with no major impressions in life, almost like a blank canvass . The Master had ensured some basic items of sustenance,  furniture etc were available to the occupants .So Jeevan started his first phase with minimal consumption. However, one fine day he woke up amidst commotion outside his house. There were new neighbors who had shifted in the morning. Their lorry carried some ornamental  furniture and showpiece items that were being carried by many laborers and placed inside the house. The screeching sound overflowed into his silent abode. Jeevan sped off to  work. However  , he could not help but think of the new neighbors and their belongings.  By the time he returned in the evening their house glowed in full glory , replete with spectacular items basking under focus lights .

Jeevan groped as usual to switch on his lights on return . In the process he also stumbled upon some furniture in the dark. He opened the windows for some fresh air but the first thing he could clearly see was the neighboring house. He sat on the wonted cot to sip some water. Somehow he was restless tonight. The room appeared to be dull and dim. He tried to sleep the whole night but rather found himself calculating how much money he could spare so as to match those who had set new standards. He was not sure of how much more comfortable or useful the new items would be but it was a race now ! He decided that he would get adequate rest now only on upgrading the house.

So the next few days Jeevan spent in ppeeping into their house , feeling how  he was no match for them  and planning for the new items. Finally after a week he could avail an emergency loan and got some equally decorative furniture . Now he was an equal in the race.  All this while, notable to mention is that the neighbors were not even aware of this competition they had landed into with someone.  However, it will not be wrong to state that basically these decorative pieces were eventually to make a statement of their affluence and  class.

When finally  Jeevan excelled in his job he found there were more things to buy for which he would work harder for affording them. So eventually Jeevan was struck in a vicious cycle , unsure if he was enjoying these things or rather latter were making him work more ! By now Jeevan’ s house was decked up so well that it hardly could be identified by the raw form he had moved into.  However, sometimes Jeevan fondly remembered those days of freedom and leisure when he had more of life and less of things .

One day the inevitable happened. The Master ordered him to just leave the house in a few moments . Jeevan pleaded for some time to carry the furniture he had amassed with so much of hard work. The Master would not listen. He said these signs of prosperity were of no use and he would have to restore the original version only.

 Sadly there is no rewind that we have in life. We are caretakers only and need to return The keys someday. The house He gives to us needs to be taken care of. Life deserves to be rich and not look rich . The sooner we appreciate the better.