The Darkness Within

Rabia and Hassan lived in a busy town. They were a nice couple and had a modest middle-class life. 

Rabia was a wise lady who made the most of all that she was blessed with. Hassan was a good man and made a decent living. However, he always found a reason to be unhappy. He blamed other people around him for his sadness. 

One evening, while sewing in the house, Rabia dropped her needle. Rabia put her sewing away and went outside. There, in the courtyard,  she started looking for her needle. 

When Hassan came home from work, it was already getting dark. He found Rabia desperately searching for something outside the house.

“What are you looking for, my dear?” he asked.

Rabia looked at him. Although she seemed worried, a smile touched the corners of her lips.

“You must be tired. Go inside and eat something. I am looking for my needle” Rabia said.

“Let me help you find the needle first” said Hassan.

He had a good look around too but did not find the needle. At last, he gave up.

He said,

“Rabia, my dear, where were you when the needle fell?”

Rabia replied,

“In the living room.”

Hassan slapped his forehead with his hand.

“Woman, why are you looking for the needle outside when you dropped it inside?”

Rabia looked up at him, and then in a soft voice said,

“When we are unhappy, we point at people and events which make us unhappy. We do not look inside. We keep ourselves in the dark. Don’t our own minds decide whether to be happy or sad? Then why do we look outside and blame others?

“That is the same reason why I am looking for the needle outside when I dropped it inside.

“But now, dear Hassan, you have made me realise where to look for it, so I will search for it inside.”

Hassan smiled and agreed with his wise wife. 

Art: Manjiri Bhave, India

(Retold)