In a dream

One day deep in my sleep, I heard an argument. I thought it was an argument between my mind and heart.
Mind was shouting at the heart,"You complain that the world hurts you, but can the world be blamed if you are too sensitive? You just pathetically stick to your vain hope."
Heart replied,"My hope is stronger than your confidence".
M:You confuse between confidence and hope. Confidence is to have the capability to anticipate every situation and the response. Your hope unlike my confidence is doomed. Like a drowning man you hold on and expect to be saved by the few blades of grass that neither have strength nor the depth to hold you.
H:A mind all logic is like a sword all blade. These few blades of grass can make a rope that binds elephants. What do you know about hope, it brings out the extraoridnary in ordinary. It drives the worlds. Ignorant of the majestic world, you take false refuge in your confidence, it is nothing but your vanity speaking.

Listening to all this, a voice deep within said, let not the blade mock the handle that it is blunt. Work together and the blade and the handle become a formidable sword that strikes at the roots of ignorance. I shall be the warrior who holds the sword. Remember, long time ago power said to the world, you are mine and the world made it a prisoner of throne. Love said, Iam yours and the world gave her the freedom of the house.
Who are you? Mind and heart asked in unison...
There was only a sound of soft smile and an eternal silence.
@
[Some of the quotes are from Stray Birds: Rabindranath Tagore. Availiable free online at project Gutenburg.]

Part 1

After a long tiring day of work, Ramesh went to sleep. Cell phone's ring rudely jolted out of the sleep. He looked at the clock with dreamy eyes and it perhaps showed 5.30am. Cursing the caller he picked the phone. He was startled as he heard voice of his father on the other end. His father's usually calm voice was trembling and cracking. Perhaps it was for the first time in his life that he heard his father sob and as he heard the news, Ramesh couldn't believe his ears. His brother had died in a terrorist bombing on a local train half way across the globe. Memories of the time he spent with his brother came rushing to him. The fights they had over trivial things, how they made up with in few hours, and how they were united in hitting the bully in their neighborhood. They came with a torrent of uncontrollable emotions... He sobbed alone in his bed in a lonely country far away. Slowly gathering himself, he dressed up and with a sad heart left for the office to apply for leave... to witness the last rites of his beloved brother.

On his way he heard the news of the bombing on the TV sets in the local train station. Few people stopped to listen to the news. They moved along, pushing and shoving each other to catch the train that was about to leave platform. On the news channel news reader was going on..."one hundred eighty six people killed and over five hundred injured in the train bombings at Mumbai, India. World leaders offered their condolences to India." After that she switched on to the baseball game and was joking about the weather that day few seconds later. A wry smile came on Ramesh's lips as tears swelled in his eyes: His brother's tragic death was nothing but a count in a statistic that determined the air time on news channels across the world.

Beginnings

Jignasu was sad and frustrated. The dream castles he built over years came crashing down in one stormy night. Only ruins were visible in the first light of day where he envisioned a beautiful world. Years of toil in scorching sun, unbearable pain of injuries all lay there in pieces just like his broken heart. With tear filled eyes he looked up and questioned, is that all?
Jnani coming back from the river looked at him, affectionately put an arm around his shoulder and took him to a nearby ant hill that was also destroyed by the storm. The ants were already building their nest with feverish pace. Lining up, they carried small pieces of soil and placed them around their nest in preparation for another storm. Each time they built a nest more stronger and better than the previous one.
Jnani said, "None can go back and make a new beginning. But anyone can start a new and make a happy ending! When you think it is impossible look into your heart. You shall never loose if you are true to yourself. "
Jignasu picked up the shovel as the flowers, withstanding the testing storm, smiled with the gentle breeze.