19-Lakshmee or Saraswatee?
A young man in transit from boyhood to adulthood visits his grandfather
after a long while and they start chatting. The old man makes some coffee
and they sit at the window watching the setting orange globe in the distance.
They do not have much in common but the old man's earthy wisdom and easy
talk soon begins to grip the boy's interest.
The topic turns to girls and suddenly the old man says - "I know two
very lovely girls. One is extremely attractive and has a great charm which
all find irresistible to look at." The boy perks up. Then unsuccessfully
tries to hide his excitement. The old man continues - "And the other
one is less attractive. but she has a host of other wonderful qualities."
Then suddenly he says "would you like to date one of them?"
The boy flushes and looks attentively at his twiddling toes through his floaters.
"I'll tell you more about them." Grandpa continues and the boy looks up
expectantly.
"The attractive one can make anyone very happy but she is a bit flighty and
flippant while the other one is more stable and studious. Whom would you prefer
to meet?" The young lad turns red at this unexpected discussion of girls with
his grandfather while the old man is obviously enjoying the experience.
"I seem to have aroused your interest, my young friend," the grandfather
chuckles while the boy slowly shakes his head with an embarrassed half grin.
"I'll tell you more about them." he continues, "The simple one is
amazingly intelligent and once you get to know her she is a joy to be with. From
what I know of her nature, once you befriend her, she'll be your friend for life.
You seem to know these girls well."
The boy musters up courage to ask - "Oh yes. I've got to know them quite
well by now. With all their pluses and minuses."
The old man knowingly pauses, sips his coffee and pensively stares at the
sunset. After a fidgety wait the boy whispers "So?"
"So what?" grins Grandpa. "Oh, the girls. What else?"
he muses. "She is very creative and always comes up with an answer to
almost every problem."
"Who?"
"The smart one of course."
"And what about the attractive one?"
The old man looks at his grandson and smiles knowingly - "I know where
your interest lies, young man. This girl you call attractive, some even
find gorgeous and many can't take their eyes off. But she has some negatives
to counter that."
After one more slurp at the coffee he continues - "I've known her to
play hard to get sometimes. She can just look through you and some find it
unnerving. She's also so moody she will strike up a friendship with some
real crazy characters, even shady ones. I just don't think she has it in
her to be faithful to anyone. She is too flippant and unpredictable."
The boy visibly wilts in disappointment.
The old man laughs. "Don't look so glum. I know a way to get her interested
in you if you want."
"Oh come on Grandpa." the boy says, "I'm not really interested."
"No, no, you should be. Why not? I've known guys have their chests swell up
proudly when she walks beside them. It's a great feeling to have such a beauty
on your arm and have the whole world turn round to see you together. You attract
everyone's awe and respect."
"Yeah grandpa, but if she is so gorgeous she can be enticed away from you or
even she could leave you in the lurch anytime. You yourself said she was, what
was it "flippant"."
"True, but she is also exhilarating to be with while she is with you."
Doubt creases the boy's forehead at his wise grandpa's opinion. After a pregnant
pause and more coffee he can't resist. "What else?" he asks the old man.
"Well, she is like most normal women, but not quite. She can be like your
shadow. The more you run behind her, the more she will evade you. Stop and walk
the other way and she is sure to follow you."
"Cool, Grandpa."
"What?"
"Oh, nothing."
"There is a bit more. She also has another feminine streak. She and her
intelligent friend are very close, but a touch of jealousy always creeps in
if you shower attention on the smart friend."
"And the smart one? Is she also the jealous type?"
"Oh No, she is just opposite. She generally doesn't give countenance to
those who run after her pretty friend."
"Wow, she's real cool."
"Huh?"
"Tell me Grandpa, how do you know them so well?"
"Because I've known them over the years."
"And what are their names?"
"The attractive one whom everyone runs after is Lakshmee, and her
stable friend is Saraswatee.
REFLECTION
Lakshmee is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, but can never stay at one
place; while Saraswatee is the goddess of knowledge and after getting her, even
if you want to send her away, she would not go. She is light who opens up the
door of light. Life is truly opened up to the one who chooses to follow her, but
one should feel blessed to receive an occasional benevolent glance and a
fraction of grace from the goddess of Wealth, Lakshmee to remind him that there
is fair play in Nature and some semblance of balance in life.
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