Life's Worth

LW- Dying a happy man

Pride

(Loosely based on a true story)

I stood on the balcony, with the sun shining on my face, the warmth it brought to me, it felt amazing. The fresh air, with the smell of dirt, sound of birds, cows and goats, the rich and green rice fields, and the happy people all around. Children laughing out loud and playing in the field. I remember the smiles on their faces. This is what I worked for, this what I lived for, what more could I ask for. I have a decent villa to my name, I have brought joy and happiness to all the people around me, I have made my own name respectable. People all around this place know me and respect me. I could hear the people gathered around on the living room below. There are always lots of people in the living room, people around this state coming in to pay their respect and ask for help or guidance. I dressed up myself, and walked down as people stood on the hallway, greeting me and bowing down to show their respect for me. I walk in middle of the crowd to my chair as my assistant comes to me, and explain who these people are, where they have come from and what they want. I listen to each and everyone of them and give my guidance. With these very same hands I have written thousands of letters to government officials to help someone or the other, this is how I earned their respect and I am proud of it. Once I have helped those who need it, more come in to pay their respect often bringing in something to offer and though I do not need it, it is only respectable if I accepted it. Seeing all these smiling faces, and to know that I am the reason for all that happiness, made me the proudest man on earth.

Once I was done helping them all out, I spotted my son standing in the corner of the room. His head low as always and he looked nervous. Obviously, he wanted something from me.

"What do u need?"

I remember asking him sternly, because I was tough on him, I always was, he needs to earn his respect, not get it simply because he is my son. He needs to know what it means to rise from the bottom.

"I need you to fill up these forms and come with me to this college to meet up with the principal, to help me get into this college."

"Why do I have to do it?"

"Because parents have to meet the principle to get admission forms. They will ask you questions on finances and your background, and..."

"How do kids without parents get into the college then."

"They will need guardians and fill out forms on their own..."

"Then do that, you shouldn't ask for help from me, you should learn to take care of yourself and find ways to make your life better on your own, do not disturb or come to me for help."

He stood still for a moment, his head still down, then walked away. I need to be tough on him, he cannot grow up with this notion that just because I was rich and powerful, he could get things easily. I bet he is going to get a good and decent job then move out and take care of himself, he doesn't need my help and neither do I need his, all he needs is himself to rise up, just like I did when I was a kid.

I walked around the house, admiring the photos of the many bridges I built, the schools and the temples, churches and mosques I had built, the shelters and farming facilities that I had built for the people. Photos of now famous and rich people, who were all once working under me, who all became big because of my help. Photos that reminded me of how much respect I have built for myself, photos of how much joy I brought to people around me.

I got into my car and the driver took me through the village to go to the city. I could see all these people smiling at me, and bowing down at me, as we drove past them. All these smiles because of who I was and what I have done for them. All this love, from all this people, that overwhelmed me every single day.