SWEET CHILLI - a “MIRCHI” Story

HUMOUR WIT  WISDOM

SWEET CHILLI

a “MIRCHI” Story

A Teaching Story

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Let me tell you one of my favourite stories - a “Hirvee Mirchi” story - Waiting for the Sweet Chilli 

WAITING FOR THE SWEET CHILLI 

On his first visit to India, a rich merchant saw a man selling a small green fruit which he had never seen before.

The merchant was hungry and the luscious green fruit looked so fresh and appetizing and the merchant was tempted and curious, so he asked the vendor, “What is this...?”

“Hirvee Mirchi. Chillies, fresh green chillies,” said the hawker.

The merchant held out a gold coin and the vendor was so overjoyed that he gave the merchant the full basket of chillies. 

The merchant sat down under a tree.

Then he started to munch on the chillies, eating the green chillies one by one.

Within a few seconds his tongue was on fire, his mouth was burning and tears streamed down his cheeks.

But despite this discomfort, the merchant went on eating the chillies, chewing them one by one, scrutinizing each chilli carefully before he put the piquant hot green chilli into his burning mouth. 

Seeing his condition, a passerby remarked, “What’s wrong with you...? Why don’t you stop eating those spicy hot chillies... ? ” 

“Maybe out of all these chillies there is one chilli that is sweet,” the merchant answered, “I am waiting for the sweet chilli.”

And the merchant continued eating the chillies. 

On his way back, the passerby noticed that the merchant’s condition had become miserable, his face was red with agony and copious tears were pouring out of his burning eyes.

But the merchant kept on eating the chillies, in his search for the ‘sweet chilli’. 

Seeing the terrible condition of the merchant, the passerby shouted: “Stop at once, or you will die. There are no sweet chillies. Haven’t you realized that by now? Look at the basket – it is almost empty. And have you found even one sweet chilli as yet? ”

“I cannot stop until I eat all the chillies. I have to finish the whole basketful,” the merchant croaked in agony, “I have paid for the full basket and I will make sure I get my full money’s worth by eating all the chillies.”

And so, the merchant continued eating the chillies despite his suffering till he had finished eating all the chillies - of course, he never found the “sweet chilli” he was hoping for.

MORAL OF THE STORY

Dear Reader:

Read this story once more, reflect on it, and apply it to your life.

Do you cling on to unsatisfying things, uncongenial people and strained relationships even when your inner voice tells you to let go and move on in life?

We pursue unrewarding things hoping against hope for some reward at the end. 

Sometimes, a relationship is so demoralized by distrust that it is better to terminate it and put an end to the relationship and break up rather than make futile attempts to patch up and continue searching in vain and suffering in pain for the elusive “sweet chilli”.

We know some things are not good for us and we should let go of these things.

But we continue to persist.

First, we hope to find ‘sweet chilli’ and keep on suffering pain.

Then, even when we discover that there is no ‘sweet chilli’, we still continue to shackle ourselves to painful people, strained relationships, harmful habits, negative careers and detrimental things when we should let go, move on, liberate ourselves and be happy. 

Remember there is no sweet chilli.

So is there any point to cling onto painful relationships and harmful things in vain hope of discovering a “sweet chilli”?

Is it not better, instead of clinging on, to let go all detrimental damaging things in your life and move on in life?

Is there any point in clinging on to suffocating inharmonious relationships? 

Is there any point in persisting with an unrewarding career?

Is there any point in continuing harmful activities and unhealthy habits?

Is there any point in pursuing all sorts of infructuous, incompatible, negative, deteriorating, dissipating and dead-end situations in life?

Is it not better, instead of clinging on, to let go of all these detrimental damaging things in your life and move on in life?

Or do you believe in endlessly waiting for the “sweet chilli” when you very well know that there is no “sweet chilli”!

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. 

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

NB:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

Did you like this story?

I am sure you will like the 27 short stories from my recently published anthology of Short Fiction COCKTAIL
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About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional  and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
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