Empathy

“In an era marked by war, death, and devastation, where empathy often seems scarce, I wish to dedicate this piece of literature to remind the world that within each person lies a delicate, warm heart—one that keeps us grounded in our shared humanity.”

A slumpy staggering figure dragging itself to an unknown destination was curiously watched by the onlookers in a slightly disturbed area. The ear-piercing bombardments and firings were explicitly creating the vicinity to be vicious. But the figure neither seemed to be distracted nor seemed to take to heels. Curiosity at its height made the figure to be approached. Alas! It happened to be a gentle heart. Striking a conversation with it was relatively impossible as it could not suppress the agony picked to the capacity. With much consolation and comforting it started to vent out its over-brimming emotions.

It borne its residence inside a sweet little boy. The boy was extremely talented. In school he was especially honoured and valued as he brought laurels to school time and again. The heart in the boy was extremely mesmerized by the position and lived in this trance for quite a long time. The young boy grew into a fine young man with good mental and physical ability. He was let at his free will to choose a profession of his choice. An extremely sweet, noble-hearted gentleman as he, was expected to join into the medical fraternity or the administrative stream. But to his parents, it was a bolt from the blue when he declared his wish to join the Armed Forces. The soft and delicate heart inside him got a jolt as well, as it too was kept ignorant of the obsessive passion of the young man. Now that the young man was recruited into the Armed Forces, the vigourous training under the strict and ruthless instructors toned him into an extremely zealous persona. His heart was getting more restless and helpless as the time passed by. Its efforts of reminding him his originally pure and moderate temperaments was brushed away. The inhumane behaviour of its master and his companions were highly tormenting its tender feelings. It could only think mockingly how people used ‘stone-hearted’ to describe remorseless people. It didn’t mind such people to be called heartless as no man with a heart could triumph over death and devastation. It no longer wanted a soldier to be its master.

Having said its tale of unbearable misery, the heart bid farewell to its patient listeners and started walking ahead unsteadily. It was stopped in time by one of the few onlookers who was calmly observing the hardship of the noble heart. He comforted the heart reminding the love it had to its master. He asked the bruised heart to think of the virtuous intention of the soldier in choosing this profession. The heart was pleaded to accompany the soldier to keep its master warm inside after being cold at war outside. The soldier had chosen himself to serve his Nation, no matter what. He would keep his Nation and his people first and him last. It was the destiny the soldier chose for himself and the Nation and its people will forever be proud of him. The heart was thoroughly shaken be these words and thinking of its immature behaviour rushed to be with its stalwart master. It had to be back with him to comfort him at the end of each day and the beginning of each morning. The sweet little heart was happier reuniting with its master and guarded him with lot of love and empathy.

 © Anjana Premkumar 2020