The Profound Lesson of Life Embracing Existence over Despair
A Heartfelt Encounter with Dr. Ashfaq Hussain
In a profound exchange with Dr. Ashfaq Hussain, the essence of life’s struggles and the desire to live became strikingly apparent. His words resonated, echoing the undying spirit within us all, challenging our perception of adversity and hope.
The Prelude A Defiant Spirit
Amidst a conversation, Dr. Hussain fervently declared, “I don’t want to die, I want to migrate from this city to another. And when these clueless folks carry me, at least don’t attend my funeral, for you must know that I am alive even now.”
Confronting Mortality A Whisper in the Ear
When he returned from a near-death experience, he whispered in my ear, “My friend, the angel of death approached. But before he could claim my soul, I said, ‘Buddy, do as you wish, but please grant me a little more time. I need it more than you. Do you understand?’ He replied, ‘Alright, stay as you are. I’ll be back soon.'”
The Sublime Wisdom Beyond the Fear of Death
Every time we mentioned death, shrouds, or graveyards, Dr. Ashfaq Hussain would interject, “Friends, don’t stop living. Speak of life, for we live only once. But among us, someone would always counter, ‘Doctor, death is the ultimate truth.’ He would smile and continue, ‘But my friends, insignificance is a greater truth. Those who immerse themselves in daytime worries seldom grasp the depth of the night’s contemplation.'”
The Stoic Resolve Grappling with Adversity
He once consoled me as I battled illness, remarking, “Why do you look like a watermelon instead of a face? I presented my blood report, and he burst into laughter, tossing it aside. ‘My dear, have you never seen an ailment in your life? Otherwise, this trivial issue wouldn’t trouble you. Look at me. For four years, I’ve been on the brink of death. My liver has become a reservoir of pain, my kidneys have retired, and I extract six bottles of water from my belly every week. Without assistance, I can’t change a single rupee, nor can I breathe openly. Yet I can’t ring the bell to the seventh sky. Have you ever seen me disheartened? Or heard me reciting slogans of helplessness or the Prophet’s praise?’
The Immutable Optimism Finding Solace in Faith
In moments of solitude and despair, I shook my head in disbelief. ‘Why am I so happy?’ I asked. ‘What’s my secret formula?’ Once again, I shook my head in disbelief. ‘Ah, it’s my desire to protect the life within me from dying. I guarded it just like a mother shields her unborn child.’
The Epiphany A Lesson in the Art of Living
Witnessing this indomitable spirit, I realized, ‘As long as the urge to live throbs within a person, they cannot perish.’ This realization has become my faith and experience. Behold, the man whose liver has withered, but who yet lives for he yearns to be alive. Dr. Ashfaq fell silent. ‘There was indeed a life within me,’ he whispered. ‘It permeated through every fiber of my being.’
The Invaluable Lesson Living Beyond the Veil of Mortality
Dr. Ashfaq, now silent, left me with a powerful lesson. ‘Life was abundant within me. It radiated from every pore. It was in the creases of my fingers, in every wrinkle on my face. Life was not just living; it was embracing the will to live.’
In his silence, I discovered the profound truth that as long as the desire to live burns within, even the withered can thrive, defying the grasp of mortality.
