Living without Brains

After my visa for India was denied for second time I was quite disheartened. I decided to spend my rest of vacations in my home town, ghotki. Even though I have spent 12 years of my life over there that makes 60% of my total lifetime but this time I decided to live or see ghotki in different way, the way I never seen it before. This time I left my principles and my brain at home; so therefore no science, no psychology and no technology as well. Another thing, I promised to do was “I wouldn’t read anything.” and plus “I wouldn’t think about the time or the next moment.” That also means no books and not even newspaper; Even though it seemed impossible for me. Writing this blog on the last day of trip isn’t my intention at all but I just can’t curb myself. Though I haven’t broken my promise yet as it was for “Reading” not for “Writing” so I can write what ever I can. J

It was like living in a way that I had never experimented nor experienced before. Otherwise in those 12 years, all I used to do was computers, studies and friends. I wasn’t allowed to go out late in night nor visiting the farther places as environment isn’t as safe as it used to be in Karachi or in metro cities. Ghotki is a small town which is second most revenue generating district of the state after Karachi. People are quite business minded. Women have quite independence comparing other towns; they can go out for shopping on their own as there is a huge “ladies market”. It is also full of Hindus which ultimately gives more religious independence.

Now coming to a week long journey, I noticed something in that journey which I never did before. It may be because that living in metro city for last two years I have seen the different faces of life, some were stressful, some were sad and some wicked. But what I haven’t seen there is the true happiness and consensus with what they have. Everyone there, used to rush here or there to fulfill some materialistic desires for which even they know that this game is not going to end anywhere.

Coming to a common Ghotkian, the thing I loved most about the people there was they don’t know what time is; they really don’t care how we are spending the time; they just live the day as it comes. Wow. I wish I could have that tension free and un-materialistic life (though not even spiritual). Simple, decent, loveable and most importantly happy is what describes them the best. Someone said it right “Success is best described by how much happy and satisfied you are from your life.” And that’s why I call those people successful in their life.

An incident which I’ll never forget in my life was that three people were setting side-by-side in corner of a very narrow street enjoying the warmness of fire on very cold evening. They were discussing the current world affairs; while discussing everyone agreed whatever the other person says even though none was right. They made their own statistics figures and surprisingly even history. But in last, after spending the hours which even I didn’t notice; they were all happy and ready to live another day. What they’ll do? Even they didn’t know nor do they care about. I personally learnt a lot from that incident.

It isn’t the story of three people but it is the story of every common man living there.

Another place which I loved most and hadn’t seen before was Chana ki chae (tea). It was dhabha and very famous tea spot at national highway, 5 kms from Ghotki city. On other side, it was surrounded by green, beautiful and long farms, birds were sitting on the farms and farmers trying to keep them away, indeed every picture was a story itself; The story of nature. Me with my few friends used to go there daily in morning and spent hours and hours, indifferent to time, enjoying the cold weather with sunny sunshine and even sometimes cloudy. I don’t like tea but as I said I kept my brain at home so therefore no rules. Those who know me, may be wouldn’t believe that I, Avinash Bhojwani, used to took 4 cups of tea in space of few hours but it is true. People coming there sit and discuss different things from politics to business with different point of views but the best thing was they discuss, they laugh and they leave with all those standpoints there. They never take home anything to think about; so next day, same people, same topics, same views and same life and yeah same tea. I was feeling that they aren’t revolving around life but they make life to dance around them and may be that is the secret behind their happiness. Surprisingly, most of the people coming there even didn’t have watch. And I was thinking why they should have.

I was thinking what they want from their life? What they used to dream? I still don’t have the exact answer but it could be they want to see themselves riding a bike or it can be they want a tractor so that their life becomes easy as most of the people coming there were farmers or the same as mine that their children going to school to educate society.

Then a sudden thought came in my mind that even they are human beings like me. When they are so happy even after not having a inch of what I have then why shouldn’t I be? My disheartened mood faded away and sudden real smile emerged. These vacations were the happiest and funniest that I ever had. It may be because I even didn’t see my watch for whole week. But I know I have to put it back on my wrist soon.

-This article was written a day before i got the visa. May be the God gifted me the visa on understanding his laws of nature.