Chapter 65 - Family

Shiha immediately hugged Ruihan tightly.

"aahh.. I don't think they will came down here! right.."

"sshh.. Keep quiet." said Ruihan.

Soon while later.. The wolves went away.

Ruihan said.. "i think we better spend the night over here. It is safe here."

Shiha just nodded her head.

By now! Shiha's condition was getting worse. First, she had lots of blood and secondly, it was deadly cold.

"hey! Shiha.. Don't sleep okay.." said Ruihan. He Smack her cheeks.

Shiha slightly nodded her head.

Ruihan took her palm in his and started rubbing it.

It was hard for shiha to keep her eyes open.

Ruihan was getting worried. He don't know what to do.

So he said.."keep your eyes open.. Let's talk about something.. What would you like to speak about.."

Without thinking shiha spoke the word..

"Family."

Then she adjust herself in his embrace and said.. "say something about your family.."

Ruihan gave a glance at her.. He continued rubbing her palm. And said..

"Ahh.. About my family.. Then, my family is quite big. There is Grandfather-Grandmother, Mom-Dad, Uncle-Aunty, cousin brother and sister and sister in law and a younger brother. My father has two sisters.. It means i had two aunts and uncles too. We lived like a family. Hmmm.. A happy family."

There was a light smile on Ruihan's face.

Shiha's face too had a smile. A lovely smile. She took a deep breath and said.." aahh.. Everything happens for something good only. Its good! That i saved you.. If anything would have happened to you then so many people might be sad. On the other side.. I only have my Grandmother and few friends. If anything happens to me.. Then not many people will be sad.. Hmm.. Its good that nothing happened to you.. "

Ruihan was amazed by her thoughts..

But he felt the sadness in her voice.

Shiha continued.."i always! Wish to have a happy family.. But i think it is just a wish which will never came true."

Ruihan patted her back.. He too felt sad about her.

They talked-about lots of things.. At the end, both were tired and thirsty.

They took nap.. Shiha kept her head on Ruihan's shoulder and Ruihan kept his head on her head. They both slept fpr a while.

They spend whole night like this.

It was early dawn. The sky was gradually turning blue from the dark.

The stars were slowly fading away. But moon was still in the sight..

Ruihan slowly opened his eyes. Then he looked at shiha. She was sleeping soundlessly. Ruihan kept staring at her face. He thought.. 'seriously! She is so pretty..'

Little did he know.. She is much more prettier than this. Her real face is more beautiful..

Shiha slowly opened her eyes.. She was shocked by sudden stare. Ruihan immediately looked away..

Shiha looked above the sky.. She said.. "its getting bright.. Let's charge the mobile.. Then we can call someone for the help."

They both stood up. Dust there clothes. And looked around for something. Which can help them to get out from here.

"i think there is still time.. The sun, still didn't rise. It will take time for the sunrise." said Ruihan.

"haa..but we need sunrise. And I don't think, with my injuries i can get out from here. So you climb first. And find something like a rope..to get me out of here."

Ruihan looked at her and said.. "can you climb up on my shoulder."

Shiha gave a blank look to him.

Seeing her reaction Ruihan explained..

"i don't think, you can climb it with the help of the rope. To hold it, you need the strength from the shoulder and you are already injured. It will hard for you to hold the rope tightly. So either you climb up on my shoulder or hug me tightly while i climb."

Shiha too gave a thought. He was right. She can't hold the rope tightly. She need the strength, which she lack right now.

So she agreed to him. She hugged him like a koala. After that, Ruihan started to climb up. It was hard for him, but he has to do it.

They both climb out the hole. They both sat on the ground for a while.

Shiha didn't have the energy to take a step further. So she gave the mobile to him.

"you go.. And charge it. Then call someone from your side."

First shiha had thought to call Mu jin.. Then she remembered that she didn't brought her chopper and jet from Europe. They are still over there. For that she need to call Lin chu. And it will take time to get the chopper here from there. So she decides to let Ruihan call someone for help from his side.

Ruihan took it. And looked above the sky. Then he said to shiha.. "you stay here.. Don't move ok. I will be back soon.."

Shiha just nodded her head.. She was feeling dizziness..

Ruihan once again looked over the sky. Then he started walking towards the direction of the sun.

Shiha didn't have the energy.. She slowly lay down on the ground.. Soon later she fainted.

Not far away.. Two men were walking towards the trap pit. As they reached their, they saw the hole was uncovered and a beautiful girl was laying unconscious near the hole..

They walked towards shiha.. They saw, shiha's head and ankle were injured.

They took a step near shiha.. One of the men, kept his fingers near shiha's nose to check her breathing.. "ohh.. Her breathing is getting slow."

The other man, immediately went towards the cage they have brought with them to catch the animal. Then he pulled it towards shiha.

"i think we should take her away." said the man.

They both carried shiha and kept her in the cage.. They they started moving the cage. One man was pulling it from the front and other was pushing it from behind. Shiha was lying unconscious inside the cage.

## STORY ##

Purpose Of Life:

Once upon a time, there lived a wise man. He was the head of the local administration of a small village. Everyone respected him and his views and opinions were well regarded. Many people came to him seeking for advice.

His son, however, was very lazy and wasted his time sleeping and spending time with his friends. No amount of advice or threat made any difference to him. He wouldn't change at all.

The years passed, and with time faded the youth of the wise man. As he grew older, he began to worry about his son's future. He recognized the need to give something to his son so that he can take care of himself and his family to be.

One day, he called his son to his room and said-"My son, you are no more a kid now. You must learn to take responsibilities and understand life."

"I want you to find the real purpose of your life and when you find it remember it always and you will lead a life full of happiness and joy."

Then he handed his son a bag. When the son opened the bag, he was surprised to see 4 pair of clothes, one for each season. There also were some raw food, grains, lentils, little money and a map. His father continued-"I want you to go find a treasure. I have drawn a map of the place where the treasure is hidden, you need to go and find it."

The son loved this idea. The next day, he eagerly set out on a journey to find the treasure. He had to travel really far across borders, forests, plateaus and mountains.

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. Along the way, he met a lot of people. He was helped by some with food and by some with shelter. He also came across robbers who tried to rob him.

Slowly the season changed and so did the landscapes along with it. When the weather was unpleasant, he halted for the day and continued his journey when the weather cleared.

Finally, after a long year, he reached his destination. It was a cliff. The map showed the treasure being placed below the cliff under the tree. Upon spotting the tree, he began to dig the ground. He searched and searched- around it, under it, on it- but found nothing. He spent two days looking and digging for the treasure. By the third day, he was so exhausted that he decided to leave.

Disappointed over his father's lie, he headed back to his home. On his way back, he experienced the same changing landscapes and seasons. This time, however, he halted to enjoy the blooming flowers in spring and the dancing birds in monsoon. He stayed in places only to watch the sun set in paradise or to enjoy pleasant summer evenings.

Since, the supplies he carried were over by then, he learned to hunt and make arrangement for his meals. He also learned how to sew his clothes and shelter himself. He was now able to determine the hour of the day by the position of the sun and plan his journey accordingly. He also learned how to protect himself from wild animals.

He met the same people who had helped him earlier. This time he stayed a few days with them and helped them in some or the other way to repay them. He realized how nice they were to an ordinary passerby who had nothing to offer to them in return.

When he reached home, he realized it had been two years since he left the place. He walked straight into his father's room. "Father", – He said

The father immediately jumped to his feet and hugged his son.

"So how was your journey my son, did you find the treasure" he asked.

"The journey was fascinating father. But forgive me for I wasn't able to find the treasure. Maybe somebody took it before I reached." He surprised himself by what he just said. He wasn't angry at his father. Instead, he was asking for forgiveness.

"There wasn't' any treasure in the very first place my son"-father answered smiling.

"But why did you send me to find it then", he asked.

"I will surely tell you why, but first you tell me, how was your journey to the place? Did you enjoy it?"

"Of course not father! I had no time. I was worried someone else would find the treasure before I did. I was in a hurry to reach the cliff." He continued-"but I did enjoy the journey on my way back home. I made many friends and witnessed miracles every day. I learned so many different skills and the art of survival. There was so much I learnt that it made me forget the pain of not finding the treasure."

The father said to him- "Exactly my son. Want you to lead your life with a goal. But if you remain too focused on the goal, then you will miss out the real treasures of life. The truth is, life has no goal at all, other than to just experience it and grow with it every single day."

Moral: It is when we set out in life without trying to associate any meaning or greater purpose to it that we find the treasure of true joy in each moment.