A Change Within

Chapter 3

The words of his son wouldn't let him sleep. He tossed and turned in hopes to go to the land of dreams but it was as if he was rooted in the land of the living and couldn't move. His whole life flashed in front of him like a movie. Every move in slow motion fixing together like a puzzle piece. After every piece, he realized a new form of love from everything that was surrounded by him. Be it his family or even strangers. At the break of dawn, he finally realized that only he could conquer the mountain of love. He recollected that Shams said in one of his rules;

"Most of the problems of the world stem from linguistic mistakes and simple misunderstanding. Don't ever take words at face value. When you step into the zone of love, language, as we know it becomes obsolete. That which cannot be put into words can only be grasped through silence."

This book was teaching him wonders and he was now adamant to change himself.

He stood up and freshened himself and went to the kitchen greeting Billy, who was surprised at his unexpected presence in the kitchen and even got more shocked when he said he was going to cook breakfast for his kids.

The three boys of the house came entered the dining to see Robert sitting with a smile on his face which was very unusual. "You okay dad?" Daniel asked in a dazed voice. Sebastian cautiously took a seat and looked at him with an unreadable expression. Only Elijah smiled at him seeing him smile like that. "I am perfectly fine, take a seat and have some breakfast."

They sat down and tried eating the breakfast their father made. "What in the world is this? Billy this toast is burnt and I think Elijah's milk is not supposed to be yellow." Daniel spitted after taking a bite of the toast.

"Don't say anything to old Billy, It's not his fault. Today I cooked the breakfast." Robert declared.

Clank! Sebastian's butter knife slipped and all the three stared at Robert as if he was an alien.

"Are you an alien who took over my grandpa?" Elijah whispered scared.

"Dad? Are you okay? Do you have a fever? Should I book an appointment with the doctor?" Sebastian rushed over his father and checked his temperature. Robert patted his hand away and replied "I am fine. Are you not getting late Elijah for school? Hurry up kiddo". Elijah drank his milk in one gulp and ran to his room with Billy behind him.

Both sons were looking at each other and then at their father mouth agape when suddenly Robert's phone rang and he picked up.

"What's up Damon? Today? Ya sure. I'll leave in a few." He then hung up and stood up to change smiling and saying goodbye to the kids leaving them in bewilderment.

He felt a little happy for taking this small step up the mountain of love. He got ready and came down just in time to see Billy bringing out the car for Elijah. He told Billy that he will drop Elijah at school on his way to Damon. Elijah got excited to see his grandpa drive him to school. When they reached his school, Elijah said something that made Robert sad and heartbroken which was new to him. The little kid whispered that he would be so happy if his father could drive him once a while to school too and waved his grandpa bye.

He reached a tea house and went inside. There he saw a tall gentleman mingling with the staff as if they all were friends. The guy was the total opposite of Robert. A man who was spiritually so content that for him everything was easy and beautiful and was full of love and warmth. When people saw Damon Ambrose with Robert, they always questioned their friendship even though they had been best friends for decades. People reasoned it with opposite attracts but the friendship would have been in vain if Damon wasn't his business partner at first and then a person who always was there for him for thick and thin.

When Damon saw Robert, he smiled and called him over to a new table asking the staff for two teas and some cake. Robert went over and for the first time in Damon's life initiated a hug shocking Damon.

"Wow Old man! Are you okay? You're hugging a human being by yourself!" Damon teasingly said.

"I am perfectly fine. Geez, I have been telling everyone today that I am fine." Robert said exhaustingly.

"Well, you are acting out or ordinary."

"I decided to change myself" "Change? How?" "I am going to try loving." "Not to burst your bubble Robby but do you even know what love is?"

"I have decided to learn and try finding it, Damon" "You are scaring me, Robby."

"I realized that I don't want another me in my family and to do that I have to change."

"Let me guess, you finally realized that you were void of love and you couldn't give it to your family so it's like a cycle repeating itself?"

"You are a genius! How did you know?", Robert was amazed by Damon on-point analysis.

"Because I have been waiting for you to realize that for years!", Damon squealed.

Robert smiled sheepishly, "Oh! Okay.... So, um.... I have an issue."

"I am here to help", Damon was overjoyed that his friend was finally taking a new leaf.

"How can I give love to my kids? I cooked them breakfast today which was a flop by the way."

At his confession, Damon laughed, "You amaze me, Robby! Breakfast! You!"

"If you are done laughing, can you tell me the solution here?" Robert was not impressed with his friend.

"Ok ok...before everything Robby ...Did you approach them? Like how you never did before? And before you ask anything else, let me tell you I cannot help you with that because this is your journey now and only you can end it." These words were another eye-opener for him and made him realize that Shams was right in one of his rules that,

"The past is an interpretation. The future is on illusion. The world does not more through time as if it were a straight line, proceeding from the past to the future. Instead, time moves through and within us, in endless spirals. Eternity does not mean infinite time, but simply timelessness. If you want to experience eternal illumination, put the past and the future out of your mind and remain within the present moment."

So only when he leaves the past and stop fearing the future can he change.