We often want to go ahead and talk to the person we see around for no reason. Then we are consumed with the idea of what to say and what not. We get lost in the thought so deep that we lose the moment. To communicate is the basic nature of human beings. No book can teach a person as much as another person can. Human beings are living books, living stories and living storehouses of wisdom. There is a Kashmiri saying, “aadam bastan manz che ser basaan”, meaning there are secrets hidden beneath the human skin. Sometimes the smallest gesture such as greeting another person can make you feel that you should know him or her. It is not important to know the person to initiate a bond of friendship or think about starting some sort of long relationship. Sometimes talking to someone for a little while is what you may like. The person may be someone from your workplace, someone you see during your commute, someone you may find in a shopping mall, someone you see on the other side of the road or someone you just saw boarding the bus. It is not always necessary to exchange numbers, to promise to get in touch. It may be a connection for a short while. Not necessarily to network, as they say in today’s terminology.
There is yet another breed of people who exist, who may not have access to the knowledge you have, may not be as fortunate as you are, who may feel someone may come and talk to them as they themselves are too shy to do that. You can be of some help over here. If you feel like thanking someone who did a good work but no one went up to say thanks, go ahead and thank them on behalf of people who actually shall be thankful. If you feel someone needs help, go ahead and provide it, in your own little capacity. If you find someone having difficulty in crossing a road, stop your vehicle and allow them to cross it, even if it creates a traffic mess for a moment. Sometimes, you may have to go out and physically hold the hand of another person to help them cross the road; go and do that. Your little gestures can make someone’s day. Offer a glass of water to a delivery boy, hand over a fruit to a traffic cop, smile at a soldier, wave at kids, and donate blood to an unknown person.
Do not stay in your head all day long, do not create mountains out of molehills. If you feel like talking, go ahead and talk to anyone not known to you. Be friendly, be happy, spread happiness, we are here for a limited time, so live it well. Make a habit of talking to strangers every day. A simple hello will also count.
I am reminded of a couplet of Dr Sir Mohammad Iqbal, which goes, “Na tu zameen ke liye ha, na aasman ke liye, ye jahan hai tere liye, tu nahi jahan ke liye”. I am sure it does not need any translation. So, if this world has been created for you, you reserve the right to know as many people as you want. In these times when everyone is obsessed with self-recognition, be the one who recognizes and appreciates the unknown; you may be the only one doing that.

The writer is an advocate at High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. [email protected]

Sufi Mohammed Hussain