Chapter 1 - Fulfilment

It was a rare sight, but when the teacher saw Hari lost in his thoughts and downcast. This made him curious. How can a young kid, from a prosperous family, living in a beautiful village, and having a hearty and healthy physical form has something to be so depressed about?

Teacher didn't bother Hari at the time, and let him be. After school, teacher called Hari and asked to accompany him on a walk beside the lake.

It was a serene sight, calm lake, and walking alongside it on a beautiful common pathway.

The teacher initiated the conversation, "So Hari! How's everything at the Sarpanch house?"

"All is well at home, I guess!" Hari responded in a bored tone.

"And, how has the school life been treating you?" teacher enquired.

"Everything is well there too!" Hari said with a deeper weary tone.

Boredom in Hari's tone told teacher that finding the solutions to the young boy's troubles is not going to be an easy task. However, the teacher was resilient.

"I find kids of your age filled with enthusiasm and energy. You are not an exception either. But I have noticed that you catch demotivation lately, from time to time", the teacher tried again.

"Might be! Nothing is interesting anymore", Hari's said with a visible disinterest.

"Ah, I see! It is possible. So why does nothing interests you anymore?" the teacher probed further.

"I don't feel the joy I used to. Everything, after a point seems pointless and boring. Whether it's studies, sports, or even my friends. I get bored of everything after a while", Hari opened up.

"Ahamm!"

Hari continued, "Why can't things remain interesting forever. Why does the joy in things die for me, eventually? What will happen if I get bored of everything in this world one day?"

Witnessing the young mind struggling to find fulfilment was intriguing. The teacher responded with a sigh, "I see your trouble Hari. It is definitely a struggle to find new ways to be excited about. However, could you do something for me? It might kill your boredom for a while as well".

"Yes teacher!" Hari replied with a grown interest.

Teacher took out a jar from his bag and handed it to Hari. "Could you fill this up with some sunshine? As much as you can will do the trick for me", the teacher asked.

It was a strange request, but Hari thought of giving it a try. "Ah, okay teacher!"

Next day the two met on the same common pathway along the lake.

"Ah, here!" Hari handed the empty jar to the teacher with frustration and reluctance.

"It is empty!" the teacher commented.

"Yes! I tried, and tried. I was after this thing all day but it I couldn't catch sunshine in it. Initially, I thought that I got it, but when I put it in my bag, the sunshine was gone. Then I realised, it won't work. I mean how can I do it, there's no way!" Hari vented out.

"Don't worry Hari. Leave it! I have another task for you if you are interested", consoled the teacher.

"Sure!" Hari replied with a little less excitement this time.

"Visit the village potter- Makhan, and see his work. He is a gifted artist, and I am sure seeing his creations will excite you".

Receiving another task from the teacher, Hari left to see Makhan after school.

Makhan was a slender potter, who was known for his amazing skills with clay. Hari visited him and expressed his wish to see his creations. The potter welcomed Hari.

Potter's creations were astounding. The pots and clay-art were beautiful and artworks one better than the other were displayed where he worked.

"Here! This one is my favourite", Makhan took a big pot with lotus embroidered on it and showed it to Hari.

Hari was leaving Makhan's place impressed with his work, when suddenly he heard something shattered.

When Hari went inside to enquire about the noise, he saw the lotus-embroidered pot broken into pieces and Makhan standing beside it, smiling.

"Oh no Makhan uncle! It was beautiful", said Hari in shock.

"Yes it was!" replied Makhan with a peaceful look on his face.

"But how did it break?" Hari asked.

"I broke it!" Makhan responded.

"I don't understand, teacher! Why can someone do this to such a nice piece of art, just after saying that it was his favourite?" Hari vented out the next day, when the two met after school.

"Fulfillment Hari!" the teacher replied with the same peaceful look on his face as Makhan.

"Is there something I am not able to get? Please teacher, explain!" begged Hari.

"Hari, your troubles started when you interpreted fulfilment and joy being permanent. Just like you cannot catch sunshine in a jar, and it always becomes dark when it is away from the light, we humans have to keep chasing fulfilment in various life challenges. These challenges become harder every time we keep on completing them, and that's the fun. After achieving happiness, we want to keep being happy forever, but the paradox is- even that becomes boring. So, we have to keep looking for new challenges and leaving our comfort zone. Excitement, joy, and thrill always lies in overcomming challenges. Just like sunshine, we can't keep fulfilment in a jar, with is, forever".

"So the reason I got bored was I had no challenges left in my life?" asked Hari.

"That's right!"

"But why did Makhan break his best art piece?" enquired Hari.

"Well, it's his method of maintaining challenge and thrill in his life. It's not the first time he smashed his art work. He breaks every best one from his lot, so he can again chase and make the best one yet another time, only to repeat the whole process again", explained the teacher.

"Wow! Never thought challenges could be this important" said Hari.

It is not in the pursuit of happiness that we find fulfillment, it is in the happiness of pursuit - Denis Waitley