How Much Life You Have Really Lived

               My name is Rumman, and I want to tell u a simple story, my own story. Sometimes I think that this world has changed a lot and, quite obviously, the habits of  the people would also have been changed with the passage of time. I mean who would prefer reading a story today than sharing interesting things on social media. But then i let the ink of my pen deteriorate the paper thinking that a person who has no time for stories has no time for God as well, because God is the best storyteller. Anyway, let's start from the beginning.

               It was the class of zoology and the teacher was about to start the lecture. The first thing teacher said was, "I want pin-drop silence in the class." Everybody in the class, and even the window-pane which was producing some faint voices due to the breeze blowing outside, became silent. Such aggressive was the tone of the teacher. At that particular moment, a boy entered the class with big headphones round his neck, and a basketball in his hands. He too had got two legs, two arms, two ears, two eyes, two lips, one nose, but he still looked different from all of us. His name was Basit Qayyum, but everybody in the college called him Baasu. Teacher asked him, "Why are u again late today?" Baasu, throwing the basketball on the ground and then catching it, said, "It's a long story, actually I was . . ."

"Go have a seat." Teacher interrupted him.

I think teacher had also learned that Baasu would come up with something new everyday. Because being unpunctual and irregular was as usual for him as it was for me to be always punctual and regular. I was always serious about my studies and he was never. I always got first position in the examination and he, well, he also got first position, but only when the list was seen from downwards. I thought he was wasting time, so I decided to talk to him, so that I could advise him to think about his future.

"What are u doing Baasu? Don't u have the least amount of concern about your studies, your parents, your future, your life?"

He turned back and said, "It's my life and I know how to live it. You better care about yours."

"My life! It's way better than yours. I'm topper in the college and my future is pretty secure." I said with pride.

"It's boring. And being good in college doesn't mean your life is better than mine, neither does it guarantee a pretty secure future." He said carelessly.

"Really? And would u please elaborate that point?" I asked.

He said, looking deep into my eyes, "I don't want to elaborate anything because, at this moment, u will listen only what u want to listen. I know just one thing that things which I'm doing are more satisfying than what you're doing."

I thought for a moment how foolish he was and then I said, "Yes I know those satisfying things which u are doing, playing and swimming, wandering on roads aimlessly, hanging out with friends, traveling to different places, dull parties etc etc. But I've a lot of time for these foolish things. After finishing the college, I'll do all these things which u are doing now, at wrong time."

"And how do u know that u will be alive till then?" He asked.

I wanted to reply him but nothing came to my mind. I was quiet. He broke the silence and said, "Learn to live this present moment first, then think of tomorrow which may never arrive. This life is transitory. Nothing matters here. What only matters here is that HOW MUCH LIFE U HAVE REALLY LIVED." He walked away after saying this.

                I remained there for sometime, as silent as a cold freeze night of the winter. At last, I concluded that it was better for me to just concentrate on my own life and do what i was doing. So, months passed and no one counted them. But finally the day arrived. I finished the college with first position. Now a beautiful future was waiting for me. I received the degree and, quite happily, took the road to my home.

               As I reached the main road, a car hit me. I felt something hard, I don't remember but it was very hard, hitting my head. Then I found myself in the hospital when finally I opened my eyes. And now as I write this, I can listen to the doctors whispering in my Father's ear that it is just a matter of days and then I will eventually die.

And now I think that how mistaken I was in my beliefs. How good it would have been if I just enjoyed fully the 'present day' instead of waiting for 'tomorrow' which never arrives. Now I keep on asking myself a simple question all the time which I have.

  "Rumman, HOW MUCH LIFE U HAVE REALLY LIVED?"

                  (Awais Babar)

 Follow for more stories. Thank You!