Once upon a time there was a man, like many before him and after him, who decided to change his life. “What’s the point,” he said to himself, “trying to do or not do something if I don’t know my Fate?”
If I act contrary to my Fate, he reasoned, I will suffer, and still, in the end, what was supposed to happen will happen. On the other hand, if I do nothing, a boring and insignificant fate awaits me, similar to thousands of other fates.
He had to start somewhere, so he sold what little he had and hit the road along the road that passed through his town.
Quite a bit of time passed and he came to the teahouse and saw a dervish there talking to people. Our hero (his name was Ahram) waited until the sage was alone and sat down next to him.
- O Reverend Man of the Way! - he turned to the dervish. - I am in search of my Destiny, and I would like to know where I should start such an important search.
“People more often believe that this is possible than they achieve it,” answered the dervish, “and it would be better for you to ask how to recognize your destiny.” Don't think you can do this without any preparation.
“Well, I definitely recognize my Fate,” said Ahram, “because every fool knows that Fate is a reflection of a person, and I can certainly find out if I meet someone who is like me.”
- Someone who looks like you is not yet your reflection, especially considering that you, like everyone else, have so many different sides that you will not be able to see your entire reflection. The mirror of perception consists of various small parts that reflect sunlight like small waves breaking on the seashore.
Dervish continued in the same spirit, and Ahram, who had already met with Dervish, soon stopped listening to him. He came to the conclusion that he would hear nothing more useful, however, he thought, I could use some company along the way. When Dervish finished speaking, Ahram said:
“Of course, I don’t understand deep mystical analogies.” However, if you are traveling, can I not accompany you at least part of the way, because I am inexperienced in traveling?
The dervish agreed, and they set off along the road.
Soon they came to a tree standing on the side of the road, from which a strong buzzing sound was coming.
“Put your ear to the trunk and listen,” Dervish said to Ahram.
He did so, and, after listening, he realized that this tree was empty inside and there, in the emptiness, many bees were buzzing.
Dervish said:
— The bees are trapped. If you break off this branch, you will free them. It would be a good deed, and who knows where it might lead?
Ahram replied:
- Old man! I see that you are not of this world at all! Isn’t it said: don’t be distracted from your goal by trifles? Perhaps if someone offered me money to free the bees, I would agree, because I don’t have enough money to travel, but to do it just like that - why?
“As you wish,” said Dervish, and they continued on their way.
Night fell and they went to bed. In the morning they were awakened by a man passing by on a donkey, to whose sides two large cans were tied.
-Where are you going? - asked Dervish.
— I’m going to the market, I want to sell this honey there. This will bring me at least three gold pieces. Yesterday, driving past a tree, I heard a buzzing sound - it was bees locked in a hollow. I broke the branch that was blocking them, and a whole swarm flew out of there. Inside I found this honey. I was poor, but now I can feed myself!
And he went his way.
Ahram said to Dervish:
“Perhaps I should have taken your advice.” But, on the other hand, maybe it was another tree, and I would simply be pitied, but this is not the Fate that I am looking for!
Dervish remained silent.
Walking further along the road, they climbed onto a bridge and stopped to admire the view. Suddenly a fish popped out of the water and stared at them, gasping for air.
- What could this mean? - asked Ahram.
Dervish replied:
“Interlace your fingers like this and you will be able to understand what she is talking about.”
Anwar did as Dervish said and heard the fish screaming: “Help! Help!"
Dervish asked:
-What kind of help are you asking for?
The fish answered:
— I swallowed a sharp stone. There is one plant that grows on the shore that can help me. If you would be so kind as to pick it and throw it to me, I could get rid of the stone and it would feel easier for me.
- Look, you're a talking fish! - said Ahram - In my opinion, this is some kind of trick like magic or ventriloquism. I can't put myself in such a ridiculous position. After all, I am in search of my Destiny. Oh, Dervish, if these strange events have anything to do with you, I think you can help that fish over there without my participation!
Dervish only said:
- I won't do anything. Let's just continue on our way.
They entered the city and sat down to rest in the market square. Soon they saw a rider on a magnificent horse ride into the square at full gallop, shouting: “Miracle! Miracle!"
When everyone gathered around him, he said:
“I was driving across the bridge, and then, believe it or not, a fish spoke to me. She asked me to throw her some blades of grass. As soon as I did this, she spat out a pure diamond, the size of two of my fists!
Ahram shouted:
- How do you know it's a diamond?
- Know that I am a jeweler!
- It’s always like this! - Ahram complained, - The rich are getting more and more, and I, who did not have the opportunity to help the fish because I was busy with important searches, am forced to beg for a piece of bread in the company of the most boring dervish of the century!
- Well, maybe it's not the same fish, or maybe this person is lying. “Let’s look forward, not back,” said Dervish.
— It sounds philosophical, but that’s roughly what I thought!
And they continued on their way.
The next time they stopped to eat near a stone embedded in the ground. A hidden rustling sound was heard from under the stone, and Akhram, putting his ear to the stone, heard that there were many ants under it. The ants said:
“If we could move this stone or pass through it, we would expand our kingdom and find a place for our people.” If only someone could help us. We can't get through this solid material down here. At least someone would remove it!
Ahram looked at Dervish and said:
“These ants want me to remove the stone so they can expand their kingdom.” What do I have to do with ants, stones and kingdoms? First of all, I must find my Destiny!
The dervish remained silent again, and they moved on.
The next day, when they rose from their night shelter, from under the fence, they heard the joyful cries of an approaching crowd. Soon they saw a crowd of villagers dancing to the sounds of violins and pipes, jumping joyfully and even somersaulting. As they passed by, Ahram asked about the reasons for such joy, and he was answered:
- Believe it or not, our shepherd came across ants muttering about something from under a stone. He moved the stone so they could expand their home, and what do you think he found there? Treasure of gold coins! He took them and distributed them to all his neighbors, that is, to us. Tell me, do we have a reason to have fun?
And they rode off on their way, intoxicated with happiness.
Dervish said to Ahram:
“You are truly stupid, because three times you failed to do those simple things that could bring you the luck that you dream of!” You are stupid because you are ready to meet your destiny even less than those who simply do good without dreaming of Fate and the fulfillment of their desires. You are stupid because instead of following your destiny, you have moved away from it by your behavior and inability to see what is under your nose. And finally, you are stupid because you did not understand who I am and did not pay attention to what I say, what I don’t say and what I make clear.
Ahram, like many before and after him, was furious. He shouted at Dervish:
- A smug and tyrannical know-it-all! Everyone can be a sage after everything has already happened! If you are so smart, why couldn’t you take advantage of the situations that we came across, pray tell?
“Of course I could,” answered Dervish. “But I couldn’t benefit from them for myself, because I have a completely different task.” You see, I am your Destiny!
With these words, the Dervish disappeared into the air, and since then no one has seen him, of course, except for those many Ahrams who were born and will be born again.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru