Life Lessons @ 40

The Flag — A short Story.

I was walking through the fields all alone, exploring the new terrain, careful not to wander off too far when I saw a flag jutting out from the ground. It was a red in color, looked like a part of someone’s scarf which was attached to a metal stick, the ones you find on old TV antennas. Clearly it had been there awhile.

I decided to ignore it as its none of my business. A farmer must have left something in there. But then again, I was the new owner of the farm and as the deed said the land and all its produce belongs to me.

Nevertheless, I let it be and went back to the house. I wanted to retire early as I had an early morning train taking me back to reality; my life in Mumbai.

But I just couldn’t get myself to sleep. I even had an extra glass of super strong local beer: Knock Out, hoping that it will literally knock me out. However, the scarf kept fluttering in front of my eyes.

So there I was, walking back through the field with a torch and a spade, determined to understand the extent of my inheritance.

Minutes after I started digging, I realized that city life can be really passive for a lot of the muscles in the body. My arms and my shoulders were already in pain. Sweat started to drip and my heart was pounding. This better be worth it I thought and I kept digging waiting to hear the sound of metal. But no sound came.

I felt the stupidity of my action becoming apparent. What did I expect a box of gold? A bag full of money?? A dead body??

I was tired, exhausted and disappointed. A waste of time that wrecked my beauty sleep.

However, I decided to give it one last blow. Then one more. Then another, when suddenly the floor beneath me caved and I almost fell in.

There was a clear hole, a tunnel that went deep inside. I didn’t know what to make of it. There I was, excited and scared at the same time. Could there really be a cave full of gold? I thought? Maybe diamonds? But I was too scared to explore further. My heart started beating even faster. I considered my options, fearing the dangers of an unknown tunnel, while logic told me that I should come back in the morning. But then the scarf was still there, glinting under the moonlight.

Next morning the police were all over the farm and I had missed my train. It turned out it was an old Naxal Bunker. There were weapons hidden inside it. The area had history with the rebels in earlier times and such bunkers were not uncommon.

The police confiscated the weapons and closed the bunker. As for me something changed. I was happy and content, and really thanked the Knock out Beer for not doing its job that night. Because if it had, I wouldn’t have found the tunnel, neither would I have gone in and found the weapons and most importantly I wouldn’t have found the beautiful thing that I am still holding in my hand. It is red in color, bold and truely beautiful.

PS: everything is meant to be a metaphor — Inheritance is life itself, Flag represents unknow opportunities, the tunnel the fear of unknown, the beer all distractions and comforts, the red scarf is meant to be our instinct and following it gives us courage which is truly bold and beautiful, etc etc..