On my connection flight from Dubai, I happened to sit next to a man who had a fascinating tale to tell me. Nearly 50 year old, medium built with a broken leg but so full of energy. He works in war-torn Iraqi town of Basra. His son works in Afghanistan. They specialize in risky 'relatively' high-paid layman jobs right in the middle of war zones. A simple familyman, tossed about by challenges to keep afloat his family...has kept his faith in the God Almighty at all times. It was indeed heartening to hear his wise and simple words....you realize, wisdom has nothing to do with education or knowledge. Maybe, Life itself is its best teacher.
The guy has been living the Gulf nightmare for more than two decades. He rightly figured out, a simple middle-class family in Gulf cannot get rich over night. There is hardly any savings in the effort to stay afloat. Now this man next to me, staked all his savings gathered over 20 years (over 50 lakh rupees) on a joint venture with an Arab who robbed him of it. Scorned by relatives and others for stupidity, he withdrew into his family. The alienation strengthened the family bonds and resolve as his wife and children rose to the challenge. He himself led by example, taking on the risky job of a translator (between US &UK forces and the Iraqi guerillas) right at the doorstep of war. Such jobs are high paying and all his worries were taken care of. But come to think of it…it is actually blood money. Money, you get by putting your life on the line. Like a soldier.
The Aircraft’s engine roars to life and his face turns grave…
He tells me this exactly the sound he keeps hearing…the siren announcing ‘incoming incoming….’. It is a directive to run and duck under a bunker which is just a concrete basement which will not survive a direct hit. He says, after the US troops have replaced the UK, the level of combing operations after a missile attack have been much more fruitful.
He says the British contractors employed him to help the troops converse with Iraqi local and militia. The job lets him save close to 1 lakh a month. His son also got himself a similar suicidal job in Afghanistan which I presume is more risky. He says it was very difficult decision for his family but it had to done to get out of the struggle and defeat. Over the last 3 years they risen like a phoenix to build a fortune close to a crore. This time he has wisely diversified his investments, bought houses, bank balances, asked his wife to quit her job to look after his daughters etc…Life’s business is now out of the red, he says.
He swears ‘God gives and takes’. Searching his eyes I found that belief and trust makes life lot easier to understand and bear. His belief and faith remains untouched. For a moment I honestly felt, all the philosophy and knowledge of the world cannot fill in for the absolute faith you have, in no matter what! As long as it is rightly placed, you can achieve wonders.
So what about the crutches and broken leg, I ask.
He fractured it running into the bunker. A fifty year old man with three children running…and that is part of his job, mind you. He doesn’t regret this or anything for that matter. The life in Basra camp ain’t rosy at all. One is a stranger to peace. The siren and sleepless nights. But he tells me, even with all this, the job is highly sought after with many willing to risk it for the money.
That evening, listening to his tale, looking into his face, I honestly couldn’t help wonder who was ‘living’ after all. Was he the dead man walking? Or was it me living a dead life already. A life devoid of risks. Totally resigned in every sense.
You were right, Nietzsche. “Build your cities on the slopes of Vesuvius! For believe me, the secret for harvesting from existence the greatness fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment is to live dangerously”. Making every moment count. Savouring each moment.
Make life precious.
Now, it would be disrespectful on my part to suggest that my friend was having a wonderful life, one everyone should be envying him for. In fact, I am sure he would only be happy to switch lives with me. But nevertheless, one cannot help reconsider the fact that a life devoid of risk, adventure and challenge, however cozy, is worth pursuing after all.
So, in my considered opinion, I should rather take such encounters to be omens urging me to reconsider my options and make the best of them.
Thank you, Friend.
The guy has been living the Gulf nightmare for more than two decades. He rightly figured out, a simple middle-class family in Gulf cannot get rich over night. There is hardly any savings in the effort to stay afloat. Now this man next to me, staked all his savings gathered over 20 years (over 50 lakh rupees) on a joint venture with an Arab who robbed him of it. Scorned by relatives and others for stupidity, he withdrew into his family. The alienation strengthened the family bonds and resolve as his wife and children rose to the challenge. He himself led by example, taking on the risky job of a translator (between US &UK forces and the Iraqi guerillas) right at the doorstep of war. Such jobs are high paying and all his worries were taken care of. But come to think of it…it is actually blood money. Money, you get by putting your life on the line. Like a soldier.
The Aircraft’s engine roars to life and his face turns grave…
He tells me this exactly the sound he keeps hearing…the siren announcing ‘incoming incoming….’. It is a directive to run and duck under a bunker which is just a concrete basement which will not survive a direct hit. He says, after the US troops have replaced the UK, the level of combing operations after a missile attack have been much more fruitful.
He says the British contractors employed him to help the troops converse with Iraqi local and militia. The job lets him save close to 1 lakh a month. His son also got himself a similar suicidal job in Afghanistan which I presume is more risky. He says it was very difficult decision for his family but it had to done to get out of the struggle and defeat. Over the last 3 years they risen like a phoenix to build a fortune close to a crore. This time he has wisely diversified his investments, bought houses, bank balances, asked his wife to quit her job to look after his daughters etc…Life’s business is now out of the red, he says.
He swears ‘God gives and takes’. Searching his eyes I found that belief and trust makes life lot easier to understand and bear. His belief and faith remains untouched. For a moment I honestly felt, all the philosophy and knowledge of the world cannot fill in for the absolute faith you have, in no matter what! As long as it is rightly placed, you can achieve wonders.
So what about the crutches and broken leg, I ask.
He fractured it running into the bunker. A fifty year old man with three children running…and that is part of his job, mind you. He doesn’t regret this or anything for that matter. The life in Basra camp ain’t rosy at all. One is a stranger to peace. The siren and sleepless nights. But he tells me, even with all this, the job is highly sought after with many willing to risk it for the money.
That evening, listening to his tale, looking into his face, I honestly couldn’t help wonder who was ‘living’ after all. Was he the dead man walking? Or was it me living a dead life already. A life devoid of risks. Totally resigned in every sense.
You were right, Nietzsche. “Build your cities on the slopes of Vesuvius! For believe me, the secret for harvesting from existence the greatness fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment is to live dangerously”. Making every moment count. Savouring each moment.
Make life precious.
Now, it would be disrespectful on my part to suggest that my friend was having a wonderful life, one everyone should be envying him for. In fact, I am sure he would only be happy to switch lives with me. But nevertheless, one cannot help reconsider the fact that a life devoid of risk, adventure and challenge, however cozy, is worth pursuing after all.
So, in my considered opinion, I should rather take such encounters to be omens urging me to reconsider my options and make the best of them.
Thank you, Friend.
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