Tale of two stones!

Like many evenings that I spent with my dad and the numerous topics,stories ever that I talked to nana (means Dad in Telugu), this story is  most dearest to me. I've always reflected to this story in several situations that I face in my life.

Long ago, in a hilly village, there were two stones who were friends. They shared and lived many seasons, saw the village growing . One of them was quiet and other was talkative. Among the various seasons and festive's they have seen one such season was for grand village fair  that was held every year. All villagers get busy months before the day of fair. Young craftsmen some weaving, some making colorful pots, farmers harvesting crops and preparing them for selling at the upcoming fair. It was feast to the eyes when all village men, women, children leaving aside all their indifferences are preparing for the big day. There were few sculptors in the village who went far across their territories for bringing stones to hand craft them into statues. One  such sculptor with his mate walked over the village borders to pick up stones for their work. 

While they were searching, the two stone who were friends began to talk and the talkative stone said " I am afraid this year we may be the stones to be picked up for sculpting. We should immediately think of a plan to escape the hammer of these Humans". The silent stone kept its silence. 

Mean while, these two sculptors from the village began to walk closely towards these stones who were friends, The talkative one became anxious and began to find alternatives to escape the upcoming threat. The silent one said stay calm and be in your place. They argued, one wanted to hide and other wanted to face its fate. 

Few hours later, the talkative one saw these sculptors approaching and rolled away into the grass bush leaving his friend behind. 

The sculptors picked up the silent stone and walked away. The talkative one said to it self " I am glad I escaped. He is a fool and so he fell into the hands of the sculptors". It was very happy hiding it self behind the bush.

The fair day approached and many people from all neighboring villages took part in the fair. A village head picked up the statue made from the silent stone and took it to his village. A few years later, a temple was constructed and the statue was placed as the center shrine and every one began to worship it. The stone was sculpted into a gods statue. Some years have passed, the parapharnalia increased. There were many changes in the village. Urban cities had their influence and many trees and shrubs were cut down to lay roads connecting the villages. 

The talkative stone was now exposed to the hot sun and hence wanted to find a shelter. It began to roll  to find a suitable place. After several long months under the sun, it reached the village where his friend was receiving a royal treatment and was placed in a higher honor as the village God.

One day on its journey in the village, the talkative stone reached the temple and quickly identified his friend who was decorated beautifully, it was impressed and began to roll closer and tried to enter the temple. There were high stairs and he could not climb them up. Fortunately, the temple pundit needed a stone to break the coconut in order to offer to God. He saw the talkative stone took it into temple, washed it and struck the coconut on the stone. The talkative stone exclaimed aaah! Listening to this the silent stone looked down and identified his old friend.

After the temple hours these two old friends found their lonesome time to talk. The talkative one said, " Is this fair on our fates, we both look alike, we were always together and today you receive a royal treatment while I am stuck with coconuts and left in dust of these temple floors". 

The silent stone after a pause said "Dear, how is it you are complaining today. Do you remember a few years ago  when were both sitting near the bushes when the sculptors from village came in search of their stones, you rolled away  and hid yourself in the bushes. When they picked me up, you laughed at my fate and watched the sculptors hammer me." The talkative stone accepted it. The silent stone continued " Well, I faced the challenges life gave me and went through a painfull process of hammering and now today, i have been transformed to a better stone and enjoy the fruits" 

You escaped work, you befriended me and hence today you remain untransformed. 

The talkative stone learnt his lesson. 

Then it was only a story to me. But today, this is most dearest and most encouraging story. I recollect this story in any hardships I come across and I gain immense strength to move further!

Thanks to nana strongest! Love you humesha!